La Bota

I'm one of La Bota's regulars. I've been eating there for ten years or so. Husband and I are always made welcome.

It's a family run business and they work hard. You'll find that if you smile at the waiters, they'll smile back. Sometimes when they're busy - which they often are - they concentrate on what they're doing rather than on being charming. Which is fine by me. But clearly such focus isn't everybody's cup of tea.

Relax and accept that when they're busy, service will be a little slow. It helps nobody to get into a temper about it.

The food is garlicy, olive-oily and I like it very much. My favourite is baby squid bota and potatas ali-oli, and the marinated anchovies. All washed down with very reasonably priced and quaffable wine.

Sometimes, a dish doesn't work. So many others do though, and the pricing is so reaonsable that I forgive such slips. La Bota is a canteen for locals and doesn't pretend to be a slick establishment, if that's what you want, go elsewhere and save the graceless criticism for those high priced pretentious restaurants that more justly deserve it.
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Ph. - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Sunday, November 16, 2008

Yep, I will have to agree with 'Gav' the reviewer a bit further down on this page. Absolutely terrible food AND service! Spanish cuisine? I make better stuff at home,myself!

Service was so slooow. When we finally received our food it was not even worth the wait. Believe me, I am not a fussy customer, but when the food eventually turned up it was just rubbish. Once finished in took a turn of century to grab the waiter's attention and by default we left without any acknowledgment from any staff- a simple "good night" would have sufficed. Nope that was even too much to ask from the rude lot.

Of course I ate , paid and left but only to vow that I would never return again! I've tasted better Spanish cuisine in my local pub! I would be ashamed to be Spanish with that turn out. Have guess what I wil be rating this place...
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Sara
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Thursday, October 09, 2008

Me and my boyfriend went to this restaurant on the 28th of september and to be honest we were seated very quickly. We ordered the tapas of - Alas de Pollo Barbacoa - Chicken wings in a tomato, wine and chilli sauce, Pollo al ajillo - Chicken in a wine, garlic and chilli sauce, Cordero a la Jardinera - Lamb off the bone in a sauce of assorted vegetables

We were full of compliments and it was absolutely delicious, But then we made the awful mistake of actually ordering one of their paellas, and to be frank it was THE worst paella that i have ever put in my mouth. The rice was hard as if it hadnt been cooked and we took 2 mouthfulls and couldnt eat it, we ended up just asking for the check and leaving. Also understandably it is a family run establishment but there was only one official waiter and an older gentleman behind the bar so it was not as efficient a restaurant as i am used to. But credit where credit is due, they are an honest institute as i left my bag there and had to go back, But i for one will definately not be going to theis establishment ever again. One night of BAD food and unefficient service is enough, thank you very much.
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Becky
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, September 30, 2008

I love this place and have been dining here for many years

I don't know what planet these people come from posting nasty remarks

It's very affordable and clean around £35 for two inc. drinks "great".

the waiters are all kind and helpfull
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Jmaie Grant
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, February 07, 2008

I can,nt believe there are any bad reviews here ! The place is always packed , that in itself speak's volumes , the best food , the best value , { £28/£35 two people and drink} proper buzzing spanish bar , I cannot find a better one in North ,London, next to the lively Queens Pub to round off the night . Go for it.
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retro - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 04, 2008

Been going to this restaurant for years and have never been disappointed with the food - espcially like the baby squid bota & pork rabioso. Yes the service can be surly espcially when they are busy, and I think the waiters earn brownie points by not smiling. My last visit was a couple of weeks ago and when the waiter poured me a white Rioja (didn't bother showing it to me first) and I pointed out that I had asked for a red, he condescendingly said it was my mistake but he would overlook it! - And he was the one of the nicer ones - the surly waiter was off on that night. Overall though I would still go back just for the food - you learn to avoid the tapas you don't like on the menu.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, November 17, 2007

I have absolutely no idea what the reviewer below is talking about. I have to admit, I was in two minds about going to this restaurant as the reviews either tend to be fantastic or awful, with no inbetween. However I'm glad I did because it was absolutely fantastic. A nice, loud, busy restaurant with good service. Yeah, it's a bit rough and ready but I just think that adds to the atmosphere. As for the food, a complete taste sensation! We had 6 dishes between us and I honestly couldn't pick a favourite. Try the garlic prawns and the fried potatoes with ali oli (as long as you don't plan on impressing anyone afterwards!) I would go back again and again if I thought my waistline would be nice to me. 10 out of 10!
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Steph
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 02, 2007

Please do read the negative reviews - this place is truly awful.

Microwaved food, tomato sauce that tastes like a can of Heinz soup and the worst service I have ever experienced.

If you like it fair enough, each to their own but there are so many other restaurants in Crouch End (Pick More Dasies, Satay Maylasia being very good) and much better tapas in Camden - (Bar Gansa and the excellent El Parador).

So if you want to ignore the reviews go ahead - if you love the food then i'm truly shocked but keep going, I will never ever visit this place again.
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Gav
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, May 02, 2007

If you are after poncy, small amounts of food on your plate that looks pretty and is oh soooo nicely decorated and over priced with pretentious waiters then go else where. I have been goingto to La Bota for years and it is fantastic. Being from Galicia myself I can honeslty say that this is a genuin spanish restuarant serving up good wholesome, hearty meals at very good costs. It is always busy busy buys because the food is so deliciously tasty and the atmosphere is buzzing with energy a lovely place to go to.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, April 07, 2007

We went for an anniversay meal on a Saturday at 7.30. The restaurant was busy and we were a little too close to other tables for my liking. 6 tapas, bread, and a bottle of rose was £34

Chorizo in red wine was good, as was the special - fish croquettes. Spanish omlette was very chewy and not enjoyable. Aubergine in tomato and white cheese sauce was ok, as was mushroom in tomatoes. Patatas Bravas were nothing to write home about.

Creme Catalan for dessert was very good, despite being forgotten about and taking 30 minutes.

Worst was the service. A surly waiter got tired of me dishing up the spanish omlette to make table space, and instead leant over, jabbed a fork in and flung half of it onto my girlfriends plate!

Twice we had the wrong food brought to our table. The people next to us also had the wrong food.

The same waiter also brough over the chip & pin machine but showing no indication of how much he had entered which was unnerving as I could have been ok'ing any amount.

Overall this restaurant is ok for the price but don't expect good service.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Saturday, February 24, 2007