our review
THE LOWDOWN: The Brindisa group have relaunched their Soho restaurant, formerly Tierra Brindisa, as a smaller version of their thriving Borough Market tapas bar. It's a smart move, given London's current appetite for 'small plates'. Monika Linton, co-founder of Brindisa, explained, 'An offering more akin to what we do in London Bridge is more aligned to how people are now dining in Soho. With the rise in popularity of informal bar-eating, now seemed the time to do what we do best and reflect the style of how people eat in Spain.'
THE LOOK: Smaller and more intimate than the Borough Market original, the Soho branch was already buzzing on our early evening visit. At the front of the restaurant, diners can perch at the bar and lean-on ledges or spread themselves over larger tables which allow more room for the inevitable sharing of dishes. With dark wood, clean lines and blood red walls, the designers have created a space that is modern and suitably Soho, but with all the warmth and noise of a Barcelona tapas bar.
The best seats in the house are at the back where you can sit at the bar under the skylight and watch the chefs at work. This is especially useful for indecisive diners because you can watch the dishes being prepped for other tables and pick out the best looking ones for yourself. (Neat freaks may also find the gleaming stainless steel surfaces and meticulously tidy chefs rather comforting).
THE FOOD: Brindisa fans will be glad to see some familiar favourites on the menu, alongside daily specials and their impeccably sourced hams and artisan cheeses. New to the Soho branch is a 'picoteo' snack menu (Spanish nibbles you can enjoy with a drink at the bar) and the 'parilla' menu of grilled meats like Iberian pork shoulder, lemon chicken skewers and lamb marinated in cumin and rosemary. Another new addition is their hand-made 'pan de coca' - a Catalian flatbread served with crushed tomatoes.
Start with charcuterie like the cured Catalan sausage or hand-carved Iberico de Bellota ham, which is pricey at 22 quid but worth it for that melt-in-the-mouth porkiness. Pair it with cheese like the mild Manchego served with membrillo (a sweet and fruity quince paste). Then maybe a few slices of freshly grilled 'country' bread, best eaten hot and smeared with their rich yellow alioli, dusted with paprika and pungent with garlic.
We loved the deftly fried croquetas, which split open to reveal a creamy jamon-flecked centre, and the fiery grilled chorizo on toast. The lunchtime queues at their Borough Market stall are a testament to this deliciously simple combination of spicy chorizo, sweet roasted red pepper and peppery rocket. When our last dish arrived, we were already full but couldn't resist the gambas al ajillo, still sizzling angrily in their terracotta dish. The plump prawns were fresh, sweet and hot from the chilli and we mopped up the garlicky juices with the last of our bread.
Tapas for two is easy to order, with most dishes large enough to share, but to really do justice to the menu you'll need a larger group or a very healthy appetite. A quick poll of our twitter followers revealed some must-try dishes for our next visit - Galician style octopus; wilted Catalan spinach with pine nuts and raisins; and the deep-fried Monte Enebro goat's cheese with orange blossom honey and crispy beetroot.
THE DRINK: Tapas Brindisa's wine list covers most Spanish regions with something to suit most palates and glasses starting at just 3.95. We liked their fresh and fruity Mas Macia Cava (5.95 per glass) and a Polpo-style tumbler of smooth Al Laxas albarino. There are a few sweet wines to pair with dessert but only a handful of sherries, so if that's your poison you're best off heading to Pepito, Jose or Capote y Toros.
THE VERDICT: We liked the more formal Tierra Brindisa but the new look and easy-to-share menu are a much better fit for Soho. The restaurant feels warm, comfortably and buzzy as soon as you step inside and the food is fresh, simple and tasty - just like good tapas should be. It might not drag London's hardcore tapas fans away from Barrafina or newcomer Jose but it's a great place to have on your go-to list. The central Soho location makes it a prime post-work and pre-theatre spot, not to mention an ideal escape from Oxford Street.
KP - June 2011
what the critics say
Zoe Williams - 6.5/10
Jay Rayner
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
I love , love , love Tierra Brindisa !
I was introduced to this restaurant by a friend and have since been back many times. Each time the food was wonderful, full of flavour and well cooked. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly while the staff are attentive without being overly so.
It is a perfect place for a romantic date or relaxed evening with friends. I will be going back to Tierra Brindisa again and again.
Comment on this reader review
MP
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
...enjoyed a good late night snack here..nothing too formal and the service was good.
...delightful little bites of Spanish Tapas and a rather good wine list...
...the boquerones were lovely as was the prawns and garlic...
...I'll drop by again when next in the area
Comment on this reader review
- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Im a big fan of the Borough Market site so it was about time I made it to their new Soho restaurant. At first look this one looks cooler and calmer with slightly less tables and chairs packed in. It feels much more of a restaurant than a Tapas bar, a point made clearer by the fact you can book here unlike Borough Market.
Service was fine, friendly and welcoming, but considering there was only 3 or 4 other tables over the course of 2 hours it was a little lazy.
On to the food, most things we tried were very good, pork belly, garlic prawns, chicken croquettes and the goats cheese with orange blossom honey were the highlights.
We had a couple of nice cold bottles of Gavi from the all Spainish winelist.
Overall a nice little place to spend a few hours but it lacks the buzz of it's older sister.
As for value for money, I was not paying so not sure of the final bill, but prices seemed pretty standard.
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Chris
- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Friday, July 09, 2010
I have been here twice and it appears they change their menu according to the season.
Both times I had a very enjoyable experience.
The highlight has to be my second visit when I had Iberico pork wrapped in aubergine.
It had a hint of cardamon that wafted through my senses as I bit into the juicy piece of meat - it was so delicious I thought I would scream!
The interior is cute and cosy, with an open kitchen at the back where you can see the Spanish chefs at work.
The staff are very courteous and attentive.
Highly recommended for groups of friends or couples.
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cowlon
- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I went to a pre-show dinner at Tierra Brindisa and was fairly dissappointed with my meal. Upon arrival the hostess couldn't find my reservation despite the fact that I showed her the email that I received from the restaurant confirming my reservation. We were finally given a table and waiting about 15 minutes for a server to come over and take our drink orders.
The waitress seemed to be having a whispering competition with herself since we couldn't hear a word that came out of her mouth. We asked some seemingly simple questions which she couldn't answer such as "what is your soup of the day" or "can you describe what comes with this meal." Even after asking her those questions we never got an answer. The idea of going back to the kitchen to ask the chef or ask someone else simply didn't cross her mind.
The food, however, was the one bright spot. The flavours were fresh and vibrant and we loved the food.
All in all this restaurant has made some very unfortunate hiring decisions which I feel will ruin their reputation.
View/Add comments (1)
JP
Overall rating 
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, February 15, 2009
what the bloggers say
London Eater
Bellaphon
@icecreamunion Oh HELLO! Sounds right up my street.
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