La Tasca (Covent Garden)

Went there today with my taste card. We called in advance to ask them if we could have a table with our taste card. The girl said it was fine but once we got there and the bill came they said that they didnt accept the taste card on bank holiday. Nothing on their site mentioned any information about bank holiday. And we also called in advance expecting, i will never go to la tasca again in my life and i would recommend people to do the same. I hope their chain fails and they go bankrupt for being so misleading.
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, March 29, 2013

Decided to treat my wife to some authentic Tapas before going to the nearby Adelphi theatre. La Tasca restaurant in Covent Garden on entry was obviously popular, seemed to have a good atmosphere, however, was evidently very large on being led to our table. The menu appeared to have all the classic Spanish Tapas but when we asked for bread and Alioli (garlic mayonnaise) the waiter had no clue what we were talking about ! So we were given sliced Ciabatta bread with olive oil (not virgin) and a splash of Balsamic vineger. What a bad start. Most people would be off to a good start if like in spain you were eserved a simple basket of sliced baguette and a bowl of garlic mayonnaise ?

We then ordered some Spanish omelette, Chorizo and Morcilla, Octopus (Pulpo Galicia) and for something different. stuffed Aubergine (with peppers and goats cheese). What we received was an insult to authentic Spanish cuisine. I was most looking forward to the Octopus which if served correctly would have been tender pieces of fresh octopus on top of part boiled potatoes in Virgin olive oil and sea salt which would have traditionally been served on a wooden plate.. We actually received a mixture of deep fried over cooked pieces of potato mixed with TINNED OCTOPUS with no olive oil or sea salt. It was cold and tasted disgusting. The proprieter and chef should be ashamed. They have no pride at all.

So surely you cannot go wrong with Chorizo and Morcilla, basically superb spanish sausages which do not require a Michellin star chef to prepare. Just fry them off and retain the delicious juices in the serving dish which can be enjoyed with a piece of sliced baguette. What actually arrived at the table was a small dish of thinly sliced Chorizo and a few lump of Morcilla garnished with a pile of oily peppers. The presentation was horrible and pieces of non descript meat tried their best to stick their tasteless limp attempts to be appetizing through the swirl of grease in which they lay.

I am not going to continue to talk about the Spanish omelette and the stuffed Aubergines because I will just get toatally depressed. On telling the waiter of our disgust and dissapointment about the food he went into his 'I do not understand mode' which obviously really meant I know the food is rubbish, I hear it from every customer, I am so embarrased to work here, but its a job ! Its not his fault of course. His service was actually acceptable, however, if you are the owner reading this, your food does not in any way represent Spanish Cuisine which under normal circumstances would be some of the best cuisine in the world. What are you doing ???
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Tony Stoner
3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Saturday, February 02, 2013

Absolutely shocking!

From the service and seating to food – all of it was just dreadful! If you cannot cope with large groups (or serving hot decent food generally) you shouldn’t have so many covers - waiting over an hour for tapas is just not acceptable.

When the “food” did finally arrive it was either dry or swimming in grease and cold! On complaining to the manager we were told; sorry there’s nothing I can do…

Avoid like the plague unless you want to catch it!
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Emma
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Friday, January 18, 2013

Please find my experience on last friday night:

1. Advanced booking made ? Yes.

2. what time ? 9 PM.

3. Time arrived? 8:50pm.

4. Time sat on table/ 9:00pm.

5. Was the table the one requested in our 1 week advanced booking ? NO.

6. Time when order placed? 9:10pm.

7. Expected time to prepare the food advised by staff? 30min(max).

8. Time taken to bring main course ? 1hr:10min

9. When did starters arrive? After main course.

10. Was the food warm? NO. The Paella was cold.

11. Did we ask for manager? Yes.

12. Did the manager apologise? Yes and very respectfully.

13 Did the manager offer anything for the excessive delay of the " cold Paella" and the cock up in serving main course before starters? Yes. discount on our bill and promised some discount on our next booking.
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Peshraw
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Sunday, May 20, 2012

Just tried to eat at La Tasca Covent Garden with my family. Waited 15 minutes before anyone thought to come and take an order even for drinks. Then all the fire alarms went off. Eventually after a further 20 minutes no drinks. Then we were told that it might be at least half an hour before we got our order because the gas had gone off in the kitchen. On interrogation it was clear they had no idea whether they could fulfil our order at all, and didn't seem to think that we might want drinks, preferably complimentary ones in the meantime. We had to cut our losses and eat in a rather over priced curry house round the corner. I am never going back again.
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Andy Henley
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 29, 2011

Went to La Tasca near Oxford St last night. Never again...awful food, making me feel queasy just thinking of it a full day later. Tasteless, rubbery, oily and lukewarm. Slow but pleasant service, but generally a dump all round.
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3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Thursday, July 29, 2010