Latin Square Restaurant & Havana Bar

My girlfriend booked this restaurant for her birthday. It's close to her office and we'd not been before. She reserved an area for about 40 people. Unfortunately they did not have a record of our reservation - that's OK, people make mistakes. It wasn't particularly busy and there was space for everyone. A few people ate Nachos, which were quite nice, but I had a basket of chicken wings and ribs, which were carelessly poor. They were luke warm and flaccid. I would have felt embarrassed to put out food like that. Having pushed my basket of meat to one side I decided to order something else. So at 8.30pm I approached the bar only to be told the kitchen had closed. Yes, the kitchen in the restaurant had closed. It was downhill from there. Most people left to go and have food at a restaurant next door while others including me stayed for more drinks. 10pm - ding ding - bar closing. Yes, this restaurant and bar stopped serving food at 8.30pm and called time at the bar at 10pm. I'm sure it isn't like this all the time as they wouldn't be able to stay open because moaners like me would be writing reviews like this. So my experience of this place is shocking - and 40 of my girlfriends friends. Bad food (although I accept the tapas may be good based on other reviews), bad customer service and no fun at all. I will never go again...ever.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, January 31, 2008

We went to Latin Square, Farringdon for a birthday party on a Saturday evening in January 2008. We were surprised that the resturant was almost empty with only 2 other groups eating. This was not a big problem except that they decided not to open the downstairs club at short notice and close at 11:30pm rather than 1am, and the main reason we had chosen the restaurant was to dance. The tapas we had was very tasty and the decor was well done, it was just a pity it was so quiet. This may have been because it was a Saturday near the beginning of January, but my advice before booking a party, is confirm the club is definitely open if you want to dance.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 7
Sunday, January 06, 2008

We had our Xmas office party at latin square, I have to say we all had a great time, the latino's certainly know how to get everyone in the party spirit. The staff were great, food tasty nice decor and what an atmospher. My birthday's due in January and I'm booking here.
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Susan
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, December 03, 2007

We went to latin square last week for my boyfriend's birthday. I did not understand why he choose to go there ( as it is almost an hour away to our office) until I got there.

It is a great place for a good night out. Tapas were tasty and cocktails were great. I loved the mango flavored mojito. Everyone must try if you go there.

We decided to go Club downstairs after our meal. That was a good finish for the night for 25 of us. Helpful and friendly staff.
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Tina
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 03, 2007

Sat 27th October 2007

8.25 pm 8 friends arrive at restaurant anticipating a great meal to finish off a great day

8.30 pm seated at table and given menus

8.35 pm having decided on drinks, try to catch waitress to place drinks order to sup whilst perusing the menu

9.00 pm order drinks including wine for meal

9.20 pm still waiting for drinks get chatting to neighbouring tables. Discover they have been waiting over an hour for starters

9.25 pm member of our party goes to bar to see if he can get drinks there.

9.27 pm spot waitress attempting to open what looks suspiciously like one of the bottles of wine that we had ordered. Still no drinks

9.30 pm friend returns from bar and reports that although now not many customers waiting to be served, bar staff to busy making cocktails for the one table that is getting served (table of 15 or so that looked as if they had been there for quite a while.)

9.35 pm waitress still trying to open bottle of wine. Obviously has no idea what she is doing.

9.40 pm 8 friends walk out of restaurant loudly and in disgust.

9.42 pm walk in to weatherspoons on corner.

9.45 pm perusing menu while supping long awaited drinks

9.50 pm food ordered.

This was such a shame as food did look and smell fantastic. Décor looked good but the undercurrent of unhappy customers didn’t help the atmosphere, Apart for the large table that was getting served (but then their drinks were flowing) everyone was complaining. I hope more people followed our lead and walked, especially the girls celebrating a birthday who had missed their show because of the incompetence of the staff.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 10, 2007

Friday night, 4 people, table booked for 8pm

We had to seat ourselves, and flag several passing staff to even order a drink! Drinks took 35min to come and even then they missed two off the order. Ordered our meals, 3 of them arrived at 10pm - my meal came 30min after my freinds had finished!! they had forgotten it and made no apologies - surely when delivering 3 meals to a table and the fourth person is sitting there you would stop to think!? We had to ask for the late meal to be taken off the bill and even then three staff came over to talk to us about it. We refused to pay and they finally agreed. Absolutley appalling service, but lovely food and a great atmosphere.
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Lulu
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 05, 2007

have been to latin square on a friday and saturday...i think is the best place to have a nice meal with your mates...the meal is absolutely fantastic...afterwards we were told there is a club downstairs.....me and my friends gave it a trial ,and it went down well.....the music was not jsut latin music like you would expect in a latin bar....it was all round music...ranging from latino to r&b to funky house and so on.....and we didnt have to pay to get in the club..it was free...the dj was wicked....but the only bad thing is that they close at 1am....i would like to enjoy that place for more than that....
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tommy
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Cuban? Give me a break!

If this was someone's interpretation of Cuban food, then it's safe to say that their only exposure to what constitutes Cuban cuisine was an article or two from a magazine. Lets face it Quesadillas (spelled incorrectly on menu) and Fajitas are Tex-Mex and I can't ever recall running into them in Cuba!

That being said, what we did order was

well prepared and tasty.

So all in all, not a bad experience and I would go back. Just without any

illusions of it being Cuban cuisine.
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Marcos Daniel Rodriguez
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Went here on Saturday evening for a bit of a girlie night out,

I wasn't looking forward to the food after viewing the website but the happy hour and Mojitos were just enough to stop me sulking.

On arrival we were told that to get the half price cocktails you had to order 2 the same, which was a bit of a pain but er.. well ordering 2 each just had to be done!

It was decided we would get a selection of tapas between us, on ordering, we were informed that 3 out of our 5 choices were off (I hate it when this happens why don't they tell you when they give you the menu???) By now I was getting really narky as the Mojitos weren't great enough to keep me in a good mood though they were perfectly drinkable.

In the end the food was pretty enjoyable, and we had a lovely evening. I wouldnt recommend the club down stairs though, its a bit naff
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Caroline Jones
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Hi there! I've been to latin square quite a few times actually and I think they offer a lot more than what other restaurants and bars in the city do. I was there with friends last wekend and We enjoyed it. Would recommend.
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Dean
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 28, 2006