Fino

The impression you'll probably get from reading the reviews here is that inconsistency defines this restaurant.

On a recent visit we were given charming friendly service followed by rude abrupt service, massively over-seasoned pan con tomate followed by completely unseasoned baby squid. I was in a group of 8 chefs and 6 waiting staff (a catering company night out), so we ordered a good portion of the whole menu, but were all pretty unimpressed.

A few dishes in, some of our group actually gave up on eating saying they couldn't be bothered to eat a mediocre dish, wait 15 minutes then eat another mediocre dish. Contrary to popular belief, people in the industry can be quite forgiving, but this was poor, from service, to the cooking and the pricing.

There are simple solutions to their problems - starting with a more senior and experienced front of house manager able to coordinate the waiting staff effectively. The mediocre and erratically-seasoned food suggests that the chef here simply isn't up to job.

I'd suggest that this restaurant has an incredibly high opinion of itself, but largely fails to deliver.
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R. Wade
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Worst place we have ever been in London!! Waited 35 mins to be seated, no apologies no complimentary drink while waiting.

While seated the waiter told us to speed up because they were about to close the kitchen! We manage to order quick, but after a few minutes the waiter came back telling us that 5 of 6 main dishes were not available! We were not impressed by that, and ordered something else, and after 2 minutes same story: no lamb, no pork, no chicken was available!!!! Only QUAIL, but who wants to eat a Spanish Quail?? We asked to talk to the manager thinking she would have solved our problems, but it actually got worst, due to her rude talking and absolutely no apologies! Proud of her poor service she left the table while we were still talking because she couldn't cope with our GENTLE complaints! She should be fired, for her total wrong attitude, for not offering suitable options, or at least AN EXCUSE.

Never again Fino, there is nothing FINE about that place! Should close down and Manager should be sent to get some manners and basic education!
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Miguelito Maldito
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, December 24, 2010

We had heard great things about Fino so were keen to give it a try. My wife and I went at 9:30 last Friday. The place was buzzing. We were initially shown to a small table which was pushed away in a corner (to be fair it was the only one available at the time). I asked if we could be moved and within 5 minutes we were shown to a much better table near the bar area. The lay out of menu was a little difficult to understand being a mixture of tapas and mains but the waitress was very helpful. The food was superb - particularly the traditional tortilla and the pork belly. My only slight criticism would be that it all came a little too quickly. Give it a try. You won't be dissapointed.
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John
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 20, 2010

I am Spanish and went with a Spanish friend to try this so critically acclaimed restaurant and we left very disappointed and with a firm resolution never to go back. The service was very slow and our waiter was verging on rude. We ordered sardines that were served raw. We ordered “chipirones” but actually got “puntillas” and there was more batter than fish. Also, we suspect they’d run out of salt in the kitchen as every dish was missing it. In all fairness, I have to say that the food was good quality but the portions were so diminutive that after 3 starters, 2 mains and £100 bill, we were tempted to have dinner again after leaving the restaurant. We were waiting literally for an hour since we finished our food to get a dessert menu and we only got it because I ordered it. Again, we were given the menus and were forgotten about. We finally decided to skip dessert because it was getting late, and ordered some Spanish digestive. I got the wrong thing twice, and when trying to tell the waiter, he tried to argue with me that I was wrong and that was what I ordered. Annoyed as I was, I did not give up, and he called the manager, who served the right thing. I complained about the service and he gave us that for free – a good thing, since each tiny digestive was £8.90!!! The service was included – 12.5%...
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Patricia Antunez
5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Thursday, December 09, 2010

This is the first restaurant review i have ever written, i think alone suggests Fino has made a impression on me. I came today with my girlfriend and i have to say i was so impressed. The place looks lovely its has a very romantic setting and a very cosy atmosphere. The room was absolutely buzzing and we came on a Tuesday evening which you wouldn't expect to be so busy but it had a lovely atmosphere. The waiters were great.. i have been to many restaurants over the years and sometimes the food is great but the waiters are often rude or not very attentive or the other way round.. however this was brilliant.. the waiters made you feel so welcomed and happy to be in there and explained the menu and came to check on us.... suprising for a full restaurant i must say.

Now the food was great.. it was really very impressive.. it is expensive but well worth it... even when we was full we felt to order just 1 more dish because it was so nice.. i think it is quite pricey but not really over the top and considering service, ambiance and food it is worth paying that extra little bit.. i would rather pay 50 in Fino than 30 and get bad service and average food.

Overall i would highly recommend, visit this place it is great!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 09, 2010

We were lucky enough to find a half-price deal for lunch, with full choice from the a la carte - the supposed catch was the seating at the bar. In all honesty, this is a great spot - a view over both the kitchen and the restaurant, and the undivided attention of the bar/waiting staff. The place was heaving, and a certain Mr G Ramsay was also in attendance, filming some show or another instead of cooking, reputedly the thing he is best at. We had been warned that filming was going on, but actually it was quite interesting to see the buzz around the place. I don't know if the kitchen had been told to be on their toes with their high-profile interloper, but we were served a succession of faultless dishes accompanied by really excellent wines, by the glass, obviously chosen with some care. The small pintxo style plates were exquisite, especially the prawn croquetas which seemed to have been made with a bechamel infused by crusteacean stock. The joselito ham was peerless, and the chipirones were every bit as good as ones I have had in Spain - and I have been lucky enough to crawl the taperias of both Logrono and Barceloneta.

Tortillas were cooked to perfection, moist in the centre, and in every dish the quality of the ingredients came shining through. At full price, this would be a real treat (the prices cannot be compared to Spain where a similar meal would be both less formal and at least two thirds of the price) but with the deal, it seemed a steal. I finished with a homemade Pacharan (the lethal Basque aniseed style concoction) and stumbled into the Fitzroy Tavern opposite, replete and delighted. For a restaurant that has been around so long (in London terms) to still be hitting these standards is quite an achievement.
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The Greedy
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, September 08, 2010

We went to Fino for a meal with friends on a midweek evening. It was very busy and obviously booking is essential. We went based on previous very good reviews but to be honest we were a little disappointed. We ordered a variety of tapas - sardines, razor clams, tortilla, jamon iberico and whilst the food was of very good quality, we felt the service was lacking.

Half an hour after we ordered we had only received two small tapas plates (at completely separate times) between four of us and in an order which was clearly of the restaurant's choosing. When we complained after forty minutes that we were getting quite hungry and that we would appreciate more plates coming together rather than spaced apart we were told that "that was how they did things at Fino" and pretty much that we would have to lump it.

It was a shame as it left a sour taste in our mouths and meant that we were happy to leave no tip. As other reviewers have said this is an expensive tapas restaurant and to be honest I have eaten at better.
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6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Thursday, September 03, 2009

We had lunch in Fino on Monday 3/8. We enjoyed our food, despite we may have not made the best possible choices. Ham croquetas were good but too heavy on pepper and dishes of tuna tartare with avocado and slowly cooked pork belly were fine but not glorious. More succesful were the arroz negro and a nibble of chips with chorizo. Portions are very moderalety sized and so was the desert, a very decent tarta de Santiago. It is a very pleasant room and the atmosphere was nice; service so-so. One waiter did not seem to be enjoying his work too much.

Overall, and despite the Spanish saying that "comparisons are hideous", I think that the food at Iberica is better, if both places seem to share a twist for very small portions...
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Susana - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Visited with friends on April 16th. Fantastic choice of sherry to start with to get us in the Spanish mood.

We ordered a slection of tapas between us to sample more tastes!

The food was excellent, in particular the chorizo, squid, risotto and belly pork - melt in the mouth.

Wine list extensive, although looked a bit expensive we had a good bottle for £27. Excellent choice of ports and desert wines to finish with.

Unusual deserts which were excellent.
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Michelle Cunningham - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, April 18, 2009

I went to Fino on saturday night as a surprise for my birthday and i have to say it did not let me down at all!

It has recently been refurbished and the venue looked lovely. We had some cocktails beforehand and the barman was absolutely great and recommended the most gorgeous Apple Martini!

The food really was delicious - the squid was perfectly cooked and the daily special of razor clams was absolutely gorgeous. Even the bread they brought us was divine! the pork belly was literally melt in the mouth and the bean and chorizo was also superb;y cooked and seasoned.

I would definitley recommend visiting - it is quite pricey in parts but the food really is worth it. They even put a candle in my pudding!
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Kimberley
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 30, 2009