Fino Restaurant and Bar

Went there last night for the 2nd time, just to confirm my 1st time impressions: Nice atmosphere - makes you feel comfortable and you can spend a good couple of hours w/out noticing, liked particularly the fact that it has a bar where you can stay before/after your dinner, attentive service, good selection of wines... but food definetely overpriced for what it is and for its quality - questioned again whether the "jabugo" jamón and chorizo are actually so, or they're just normal one - you pay the premium for the supposedly extra flavour, but certainly don't get it.

I may still come back, but being aware that probably the venue, service and atmosphere will have to make up for overpriced and not that special food.
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E
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Friday, March 30, 2007

Had a lovely special night here, my wife and I last came 5 years ago and had great memories and we were not disappointed this second time. Had a wonderful waiter (French), the food was spectacular and the wine recommendation was inspired. Total bill was about £120 for 6 plates, one bottle of wine and a sherry with a desert each.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, March 01, 2007

What a disappointment. Fino is overpriced, over rated and the same old serrano ham served in all of Londons tapas joints.

On arrival we were excited. Really welcoming staff, cosy bar. Then when we sat at the pokey table and looked at the menu. Why is tapas always the same old sh... only here its four times as expensive.

Yws the bread and oil was delicious, the prawns fine, the choice of wines top class. But the rest ...ham croquettes were so plastic as to be served at a local pizzeria. The chorizo and bean a revolting school slop. The tortilla is still giving me nightmares now. Inside it oozed out gloopy french onion soup. When I suggested to the waiter that maybe this was not cooked enough , he repleyed that was how it was served. Lovely.

Unless you want to totally waste your money on rubbish do not go here. Lomo on the kings road {now closed} did this food far better, cheaper and with a less snooty atmosphere.
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cartoon
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Thursday, February 15, 2007

Although the food was quite good, it did not justify the high prices. We ordered squid for about £7 - fair enough - but then we ordered a chickpea and chorizo dish (which was simply chickpea and chorizo in a tomato sauce) for £10.50. We assumed this would be a large main dish style portion, and thus were completely bemused when we saw how tiny it was. It just didn't make sense. How could they have the cheek to charge that much for such simple ingredients and cooking? They also put far too much paprika on the squid which made the tatse too bitter. They also made us wait over an hour after having our first two tapas, before bringing out the other 12 dishes. This meant we had to order an additonal bottle of wine that we would not have needed if they hadn't been so slow. We brought this to their attention but the waiter said he was not willing to give us the bottle for free, which I would have thought would have been a fair act of goodwill, especially considering we were drinking their House wine at £24.

The eveing was not as good as it could have been had we gone somewhere else, and as a group of four we had to pay £218 for it.
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Susannah
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Monday, December 11, 2006

Three of us dined there recently. The food was excellent if rather expensive, the wine list was fairly good, but the service was middling. Twice the waiter snatched plates away from us almost before we had finished our food. Otherwise fine: three courses + a bottle of wine at £172 (including £19 service) is not cheap, but the atmosphere is excellent and makes up for the lacklustre service.
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Prof Rene Weis
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, November 22, 2006

I've eaten at Fino a few times and I think it is wonderful. The decor might not be to everyone's taste but I quite like it, and the service has always been excellent.

The food is outstanding. My particular favourite is arroz non negro - squid-ink risotto - which combines the nuttiness of the reice with a delicious calamari flavour, eneveloped in a silky blackness from the ink - the taste, texture and visual presentation are sensational. The crispy squid; green peppers; lamb chops; air-dried beef; and prawns are also absolutely delicious. I can't remember that many other specifics but every time I've eaten there I leave feeling that everything was delicious. I've had a mixed pudding platter which was also delicious.

Most of the food is fairly simply done, but done pefectly and using excellent ingredients. It isn't cheap at all, but not bad value (not great either), because it is really superb. I can't wait to get the chance to go back.
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Richard DM
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, November 06, 2006

I really enjoyed Fino. We went there for a Tuesday lunch (another site has a 50% food discount offer) and are going back there this Tuesday to sample the other half of the menu.

Quick, but not hurried service, not a dish out of place and everything utterly superb.

Highly recommended!
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Michael Cloake
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, October 19, 2006

The food in el Fino was very good and the taste authentically Spanish, fresh and delicious, it is not expensive at all and the service was also very good. Me and my guests were very pleased with the restaurant and will go back there.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

I dined here on saturday lunch with my familyt and have to say how enjoyable everything was from start to finish. The receptionist even gave us diections over the phone when we got lost en route! WE were advised to have 3 - 4 courses each absolutely spot on the right amount. whole deep fried baby squid, prawn and crab croquettes and marinated tuna were the highlights of a thoroughly enjoyable meal with a sensibly priced solidly spanish winelist - we will definitely be back.
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Nikki
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 27, 2006

It was really dissapointing to discover they pay waiter's basic sallaries with the tips!! Food was good just a little overpriced, service is realy good but make sure you give the tip to the waiter if you don't want to contribute with this shameless treat.
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Carol Carrizosa
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Monday, September 18, 2006