Opera Tavern

I visited with a friend last night for dinner around 21:15. We arrived early, and they managed to seat us within 5mins.

The food is quite simply amazing, i love the small plate concept and sharing your food rather than the traditional 3 course. Having eaten recently at Heston's Dinner which was very good, the food here was better!

My only complaint is the room and a lack of space. They have crammed the tables in. Service is good, but they are busy and the lack of space does make it difficult at times.

This is not a cheap evening out, for 2 we spent £160 with wine but was worth every penny and left very full. Plan to return very soon.
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Paul - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 23, 2013

Came with three friends Wednesday evening. We sat at the bar. Service was fine and friendly. We ordered quite an expensive Rioja and on commenting that it probably needs to breath, the barman offered to decant which was a nice gesture. Tapas were lovely, high quality. The pea and ricotta croquettes were yummy and apparently the scallop was good too. This place is not cheap but the quality of food, good service and warm atmosphere makes it worth while. I saw a couple of people at the bar who were clearly on their own so would come back and recommend it for anyone.
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Sarah - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 17, 2012

We visited the Opera Tavern for the second time last Friday night on a bit of a whim hoping that we would be able to get a couple of stools at the bar (no reservations downstairs). We turned up just after 7.30pm and the gods were with us as we managed to bag the two last remaining seats right in the corner of the bar. It turned out that this was possibly the most perfect spot; intimate but with a great view of the bustling room. I actually preferred sitting at the bar to the more formal dining room upstairs - more atmosphere and a chance to chat with the very friendly and informative bar staff.

We were thirsty and hungry in equal measure so we ordered a couple of beers, nothing special on offer on the  beer front unfortunately, chargrilled bread with olive oil and some stunningly good nocellara de belice olives to keep us going while we tried to decide on how to put our meal together.

There is plenty of good stuff to choose from on the menu which is divided into "bar snacks, from the charcoal grill, hams, charcuterie, cheese and tapas" sections. 

We decided we were in for the long haul rather than a quick snack so we started with a couple of dishes from fish tapas selection: a very tasty crispy soft shell crab and an amazingly good Cornish bass ceviche with shaved asparagus, basil sorbet, radish and sea purslane. If you are looking for a recommendation on what to eat go for the bass ceviche every time as it is a truly wonderful taste sensation.

It's probably just a personal groove that we have got into but staggering the ordering of dishes seems to work best for us and avoids a whole heap of dishes turning up at the same time which you then struggle to get through. So in this spirit I ordered a solitary mini Ibérico pork and foie gras burger from the charcoal grill selection. I had this burger on my previous visit when I thought it was good but not outstanding - however, on this occasion it was a complete revelation. Perfectly cooked, beautifully presented and packing the most sublime flavour this was a mini burger to die for!!

By this point in the evening we had really hit our stride and after a bit of breather, and a glass or two of the Molino Loco Macabeo, we went at the menu one more time. The chargrilled leeks and spring onion with a crispy duck egg and romesco was pretty damn good, the confit of pork belly with cannellini beans was probably the best I have ever tasted while the roasted duck with borlotti beans, cabbage, fennel salami and pomegranate was fine but possibly suffered from being in the presence of so many other outstanding dishes.

The bar was thinning out by now and after a quick look at the dessert menu we both decided that enough was as good as feast. We had just enough time to grab a quick cortado and a glass of the very fine Jerez brandy before paying the bill and rushing to get the last train home.

Not a cheap evening out but with top notch cooking, beautiful presentation and lovely service this was one bill we that we were more than happy to pay.
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Nunhead Neil
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 25, 2012

We sat at the bar and were wonderfully served and entertained by Frank Rijkaard lookalike, Mr George. Loved the authentic food, and Mr George kept it coming sensibly progressing through a grazing session, in the correct portion sizes for our party of 6. The chosen wines from the eclectic Iber-Italian list were interesting and delicious. Tasters of open bottles were frequently offered, and advice on the wine list was sound. Just a point lost for not having pacharán, but I anticipate this will be rectified soon following our good-natured protestations. Very pleasantly surprised by the bill, which was a quarter of what it was per head at a nearby competitor just two weeks ago.
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Hawko
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 19, 2012

My favourite restaurant in London. Brilliant in every way. I have been several times over the past year. Most recently I went midweek with a very large group (14 of us). A fixed menu had been arranged. Everything was excellent from beginning to end.

We were seated at a single table down the centre of the upstairs room - there were enough of us to bring our own atmosphere if it had been needed - it wasn't. The place is always buzzing, friendly and warm (yes, noisy too. Who wants to eat in silence?).

Service was effortlessly professional.

Wine list is hard to beat at these prices, and with such a great selection of wines by the glass and carafe. We stayed in pretty please-all conservative territory - but all were genuinely pleased (not easy).

Finally the food: it's just fantastic. The standout was a grilled mackerel, apple and fennel salad (truffle oil?) - perfect.

I agree it's not cheap, but it is good value (as I wasn't paying the value was even better on this occasion...)

I love it here.
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Kwevington Puppet
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 14, 2012

On a Monday evening, we sat at the bar downstairs; it was very busy.

Overall, really wonderful food, haphazard, often somewhat grudging, service, in a rather noisy room. Couldn't fault the dishes, though, and that's why I plan to return.
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ADL - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Saturday, December 24, 2011

I had previously been to Opera Tavern's sister restaurant, Dehesa, so I already had high expectations. Opera Tavern did not disappoint! The jamon iberico de bellota was superb, as were the pork and foie gras sliders and the meat skewers.

The wine list was extensive with a good selection of quality wines by the glass. Service was knowledgeable and helpful, although there is no booking available in the ground floor bar area and and you have to wait outside until your table is ready... Better to put your name down then head off for a drink elsewhere for 20 min or so if you arrive at a busy time.

Pricewise, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for here and Opera Tavern's menu is a refreshing change from the standard fare of lacklustre patatas bravas and tasteless chorizo al vino that seem to be churned out from most London tapas bars these days. Great location as well, all in all a definite find!
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EF
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 09, 2011

I had a brilliant time at Opera Tavern!

I had the pleasure to meet a few days ago two members of staff and I was really looking for to having a meal there.

As appetizers, I had a glass of Proseco, the Crispy Iberico Pigs Ears, the Padron Peppers, the Venitian Style Sardines.

To follow, I had the Octopus and Chorizo with Cucumber and Pomegranate, the Mini Iberico Pork and Foie Gras Burger and the Grilled Iberico Pressa with Capers. I even had a second Mini Burger as it was so delicious!

To go with that I had a glass of Selva Capuzza, from the Lake Garda in Italy. Perfect.

I had a warm welcome and I have been very well looked after by the owner and all the members of staff.

It is good to know that there is a wonderful place in the middle of Covent Garden area where you can have really tasty Spanish and Italian food in a pleasant atmosphere!

I will be back soon with friends! Thank you guys!
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Francois F
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I ate here a couple of nights ago and it was the second time that I have been here for a pre-theatre bite and drink. The wine list is nice however it contains predominantly Spanish wines so with Spanish wines not being my forte I asked for assistance from the waiter whose recommendation was very good. The food arrived quickly and was of good quality. I had the foie gras burger which was divine as was the Salchichó and the scotch eggs were extremely moreish. My friend had the octopus which was a little on the small side as a portion and we followed that with some lovely Mahon cheese.

The service can be a little hit and miss here however they are always charm personified. For instance when I was asking questions regarding the differences in the cheese selection the first waiter didn't seem entirely confident about what the various cheese were and had to ask for assistance from one of his colleagues.
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JG - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, October 06, 2011

The Opera Tavern is very close to where I live...and they do have lovely food.I've been about five times now and each time the music gets louder and louder...This isn't the first restaurant to trying to decide to be "more buzzing" (quote of staff)in order to attract a younger crowd. I'm not opposed to this BUT I don't wish to dine at a nightclub...I guess I'm just too old...

anyway...top dishes include the mini Iberico pork and fois gras burger(amazing)and the top quality lamb they serve.

The wine list is divine...so many choices. Excellent.

...if only the music wasn't so loud (this is coming from somebody who owns a music shop!!!) they would get my custom 3x per week.
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- View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, August 23, 2011