Meson Bilbao

I have lived in the UK for 16 years,i have tried quite a few spanish restaurants to the point of giving up except for MESON BILBAO!!It is the best,(the only) authentic basque,note the basque,not spanish ,restaurant in London.I dont go very often as i live in Oxfordshire now but when i do is like going home to my mums.Take it from me i am from Bilbao.
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una bilbaina
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, October 10, 2008

We ate here a few weeks ago and thought it was excellent. Very reasonably priced, decent vino, nice staff and great great food. It's a little off the beaten track which generally means people have chosen it as a repeat destination, and it isn't too busy. A healthy amount of Spaniards in there is always a good sign too!!

Will definitely go back!!
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Nuj
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, March 27, 2008

I went there after reading the reviews about the food and to be frank was disappointed. First of all the place was difficult to find. The area around had no safe parking and felt unsafe. We were given a table downstairs which was extremely dark. The tapas came quickly enough but not up to scratch. The sangria pitchers were much more expensive. To top it all our mains order for a paella valencia got completely ruined, since the staff tried to pawn off a veg paella for a authentic valencia. It was only after careful repeated questioning were we told that the chef had got it all wrong and after having waited 1 hour for our paella we either ate what was served or could wait for another hour. Frankly we were completely fed up and simply left. I wouldn't go there again
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Hemant Sheth
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Had dinner there Saturday night - the food was wonderful.

Started with 3 tapas and then moved on to the Paella. Each dish was tasty - and the tapas were reasonably sized, not the little things you get in some places.

The service was friendly and efficient - they kept topping up our bread and olives without us ever having to ask (ok, so they charged about 75p per person for this, but I did not mind at all given that they kept topping it up).

I can't pretend to be as educated as some of the other reviewers about the regional differences in Spanish food - but either way, this was good, tasty food at reasonable prices.

I used to go to a couple of Tapas places near Southwark tube - but this place is much closer to me so suspect it will become by new favourite!

I was a little surprised how quiet the place was (maybe 30% full) on a Saturday night - maybe this is just one of those undiscovered gems.
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Gavin Nathan
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Monday, September 17, 2007

I live locally (3 doors away!), so I guess I'm bound to be biased! I'm a huge fan of Spanish food, both in Spain and outside of it, and I can confirm that Meson Bilbao serves the best tapas I've ever tasted in London, and it ranks with my favourite Spanish restaurants in Madrid, Seville and Barcelona. The main-course fish dishes are also excellent, although, never having been to Pais Vasco, I can't compare them with the native product. Don't miss the simply grilled squid tapas - it's seared in all the right places to give a crispy, caramelised mouthful, but still soft and milky inside (no rubber bullets here!). The chorizo in red wine is bursting with solid flavour, and even something as simple as the fried aubergine makes you feel as though you aren't in Britain any more. And, please, all you other 'Spanish' restaurants, come and eat the patatas bravas here; the sauce is simple, and has actually seen real tomatoes and chillies (I've eaten this dish elsewhere, where it seems to have been made from some ghastly, gooey bottled gunk). The wine is good, the food is magnificent, andthe prices are reasonable. OK, if you want Euro-Spanish style, then go to Cambio de Tercio, but the homely feel of Meson Bilbao makes you feel as though you'll need to order in Spanish (or possibly even Euskara!)
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Barry
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, July 21, 2007

My family,I & my friends have been eating at this restaurant for the past 15 years and as I come from the Basque area of Spain,

I can say that this is the most authentic Basque (Spanish) food in London.
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Alberto
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, December 23, 2006

I love this place. I work nearby and we go there for lunch fairly often, as well as supper sometimes. The staff are always very friendly and attentive, and the food is great! Reasonably priced too.
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Jules
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

great tapas for sharing, don't tend to bother with the mains as am always too full! (although they have been fantastic when we've ordered). Fish definitely seems to be a speciality and would recommend the baby eels and grilled squid as a must - the pulpo is anther fav!
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GM
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 19, 2006

This is a typical Basque estaurant. If you are looking for Spanish food like paella, forget it.

Lovely seafood, wine and cidar.
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Duncan
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Its a nice restaurant but please dont look for spanish food like paella.

This resturant is Basque, so the food is different, and the tapas (pintxos as they say) too.

Forget the typical spanish here!!!
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Phil
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 04, 2006