Barrafina

Superb authentic tapas bar in modern and stylish surroundings. I don't normally bother with restaurant reviews but I felt I had to mention this place. Well worth the visit. Had to que to get in so must be good. Doors open at 1pm and there are no reservations. First come first served. You sit up at the bar and order your food there. I like it like that way, you get friendly with the waiters who are all very professional, friendly and very efficient. The food was absolutely fantastic and extremely tasty. We had claims and tiger prawns from the specials that were on a very eye catching iced display in front of us and cooked before our very eyes. Great atmosphere. We then had some pimentos de padron and the chickpeas. Again both delicious. We then had some jamon that was carved with expertise and served on a wooden board. Very simple but great idea. The wine was fantastic. I would go back here any day. We had a great time and met a lovely couple who were sat next to us. They had suckling pig and told us it was amazing. Better than anything I had in Madrid. 10/10.
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Duncan Fleet, Hants
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 17, 2010

Amazing. Without doubt the best tapas in London and my favourite place to eat. And I eat out a lot. Very relaxed atmosphere with great quality, well executed food. Staff are friendly, especially Toni, who is always charming. I really recommend you always try out the specials.
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C Stephenson
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 19, 2010

Happy to find this place with a couple of spare seats on Sunday. The staff were polite and the ambience really peaceful. The marble countertop reminded me of a couple of classic places in barcelona - but the curzcampo is not on tap and you can't chuck napkins on the floor. They probably need to work up some food displays beyond the fish - have some counter top stuff - but that might be a bit naff.

So it is good with great food - the chefs are probably a bit too cheffy - it is more like a san sebastian pinxo joint than a run of the mill tapas bar. having the head chef running the pass at the counter is not a good idea - the man looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world, and you can tell it. Anyone used to Fino - the big sister joint off Charlotte Street - will know most of the dishes - it is almost a carbon copy of the menu. I will go back - and back again. I like going to Fino - but I prefer the feel of Barrafina. Also this has got to be the best Tapas place in london at the moment. El Parador in Mornington Cresent is the only serious rival.

Cheer up chef :)
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Andy robinson - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 29, 2010

Overall a big miss!!!

Good croquettes (not in the league of Tendido Cero, or Moro), awful razor clams full of sand, tasteless tuna tartar, warm red wine (they need a wine fridge urgently)

The portions are really small and the prices are big. Correct service but not very friendly.
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DIVINO AND THE NEGRA
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Thursday, February 25, 2010

I go there regularily and its fabulous, food, service, everything!
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vina
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, October 30, 2009

Overpriced and with small portions of food. I will never go again.
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3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Sunday, October 11, 2009

An update (see below). I visited Thursday lunch 17th September

I missed the pimento peppers...they seem to go very quickly.

Still a bit overpriced but still good. Last time I was there I bumped into Suggs (the time before the bloke form Top Gear) Nowt in the way of celebrity this time but, good food and a great start to the long weekend eating in London and generally making a nuisance of myself.

I still like the place. Go, if you get a chance but CHECK THE WEBSITE ... no reservations. I see so many people disappointed when I am there.
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Kevin McG - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Totally overpriced. e.g. £4.50 for a warm bottle of beer. Staff think they are better than the customers. I'll never be back again.
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Dr Samuel H Migariaf
1 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I used to regularly eat tapas at a restaurant in Vauxhall until one occasion when I bit into a croquette which was frozen in the middle. It put me off tapas food for a long time. Fortunately my aversion to tapas has been reversed following my visit to Barrafina last night!

I arrived at 6pm and managed to secure two seats. The bar was already quite busy and most of the seats had been taken. I had to wait to 30 mins for my boyfriend to turn up but the staff were happy for me to sit down and drink.

When the BF arrived we ordered seven different tapas dishes. OMFG! The food was amazing! ! So much better than any other tapas I have tried in London. Also, the staff were really friendly and really quick in attending to us if we wanted more drinks or food.

I can highly recommend the following dishes: ham croquettas, cold meat platter, lamb cutlets (cooked rare - perfect!), ham/spinach tortilla and the suckling pig (from the specials).

We spent £40 each and this included our drinks. The suckling pig dish from the specials menu was dearer than other items (£15 I think) but it was a massive portion. We were stuffed by the time we left. Will definitely go back.
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Ewok
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Hi, to start with, I am spanish and normally avoid Spanish restaurants because I know I always get dissapointed. My husband convinced me and I reluctantly accepted.

The first thing I remember is that it reminded me of a Spanish traditional Bar, so that was a plus. Then after looking at the menu, I thought it was promising. I asked one of the waitresses if the pan con tomate was traditional or anglosized. She asked one of the Spanish chefs and confirmed it was traditional.....NOT really. The tapas followed and frankly although tasty they were very average.

I may go back if I feel in desperate need of a "spanish fix" but will not travel to Soho just to go there.
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6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Friday, May 29, 2009