El Pirata de Tapas

Been yesterday to this restaurant after reading excellent reviews and Gordon Ramsay recommendation. Unfortunately both the service and the food were bland. I went for the chef menu:

The fried squid were overcooked and therefore ultra rubbery.

The Catalan cream, which is actually a creme brulee was supposed to be served hot, it came half warm, half cold and badly burnt on the top: proof that it was coming out from a fridge.

And so on...

No originality in the menu, nor the presentation of the dishes.

Overall such a disappointing experience.

I learnt the lesson that when a restaurant displays too much its reviews, prizes and recommendations it is simply the proof of a lack of confidence and actually real quality.
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Valmont
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, December 07, 2011

I dined there twice in a week and ordered the same Chef Set Menu for two the first time, for three the second time. The amount of food.... was the same the bill was not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ema - View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Monday, October 10, 2011

Service is bad!! I love Spanish people they are professional and smiley but those working here.. not at all! Our waitress poured mayonnase (not water or wine) all over us (my friend was over from Paris for a party, was wearing something very elegant and had no change) she simply said "sorry, come back with your drycleaning bill and i will refund it"..... as if we could go back weeks later, from far away, with our drycleaner's invoice and very likely find a different waitress working there!

Food is very good but unfortunately the athmosphere was not as happy.
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ema
3 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 4
Monday, October 10, 2011

two words octopus carpaccio. Their tapas at El Pirata were in a class of their own. Perfect place to meet up with friends, enjoy some good food and Check out their great wine selection. Ei Pirata you never disappoint.
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Jenice
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 22, 2011

Following my black risotto with squid & prawns, six hours roasted pork belly, red wine pear & parsnip puree and delicious gooey tortilla, swilled with a glass of ondarre reserva 2005, tempranillo, I see that like its namesake, El Piratas de tapas in Notting Hill pirates the best of old school Spanish flavour and ingredients and combines it with contemporary ideas that make its menu a veritable treasure map. It might be one of Ramsay’s Best London restaurants but it’s also my new favourite local for best modern Spanish tapas.
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Susie - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, September 11, 2011

Have had two fantastic meals at this restaurant.

Both meals were well presented and the quality was excellent. Would highly recommend the chorizo, squid ink risotto, italian risotto, croquettas, grilled asparagus and cheese....I could go on!!! Combine this with some good red wine...and you are sure to have a great evening ahead.

The atmosphere as well is cool and trendy and the service excellent.

All in all - a fantastic little find in westbourne grove!!
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Sherina Petit
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Went here with friends as heard about it on Gordon Ramsay's show. Chef's menu seemed very interesting so decided to give it a try.

We ordered both tasting menus, which was good as both had dishes which sounded interesting and I wanted to try, and we also ordered the tapas.

The food was very good, sizes were right as they are all dishes to share. The cod and scallops were cooked to perfection, croquetas were tasty with their oozing centres, the black risotto was full of flavour. Only disappointment was the paella which lacked enough seasoning.

Two of my friends were Spanish and they couldn't fault the food, it was as good as in Spain.

The staff were friendly and although I was told when I made the reservation that we only had the table for two hours, they didn't rush us nor remind us and we ended up overstaying by two hours. Part of the reason may have been that the food was brought out in waves so the dining experience took time but it was perfect to allow us to enjoy each of the dishes.

Thoroughly recommend this place and it was very reasonable for the amount and quality of the food we had.
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- View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Ate here tonight on a whim. After having come back from Seville on holiday, found the quality of food to be very disappointing. We had the black risotto, paprika squid, pigeon, and steak - all of which were very bland and nowhere near as good as Spain (or even just quality home cooking). The steak was served as one small lump of very rare steak - how does this qualify as tapas?

One small saving grace - the house Tempranillo was excellent. However nowhere near enough to make us want to go back again.
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Alistair
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Thursday, May 12, 2011

We ate at El Pirata de Tapas last night. We were really disappointed. The food was just passable and the paella was overcooked.

We are certainly not going back there.
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5 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, December 11, 2010

We ate here last night after seeing it compete on Ramsays show for best restaurant. The restaurant, the food and the staff were amazing. How this did not end up in the final of his show I don’t know!

We had the chefs tasting menu which was just £25 a head and there was so much food - and all of great quality and packed with flavour. The endive and cheese foam was my absolute favourite swiftly followed by the pork cheeks

I cannot recommend this place highly enough!
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WIALN
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 09, 2010