Number 22

What a rare pleasure to find a restaurant that exudes such quality of food and wine with effortless ease - I visited several weeks ago and kicked myself most days for not writing a review.

Upon arrival we were treated like old friends, the english waitress was really helpful and got us a jug of water without even asking (it was a sizzler of a day though!!). Then to the food, a really interesting choice of Tapas - we dived right in with the crispy squid and tortilla, the squid was perfectly tender and sweetened with smoked paprika and offered a good little after kick. I believe the you can easily identify a sound restaurant by the quality of the basics, the Tortilla was moist, sweet and beautifully eggy, the caramelised onions really tied the dish together, yummy yummy yummy.

The ambience was really jolly, a good family and local restaurant a million miles away from the horrid chains who churn out packaged staples, Number 22 had real imagination and sensitivity to the cuisine of Spain. Thank you for such a memorable fun evening, the wine and chat flowed as did reorders of more meaty treats. Keep it up.
Comment on this reader review

Martin
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, August 02, 2008

There is so much that is right about this restaruant and so much that is wrong. I hate to criticise neighbourhood restaurants but I hope that some of this might filter back.

The good stuff first - the selection of tapas on offer looked tempting - a bit different to your run of the mill tapas restaurant with a younger more (dare I say it?) fusion feel. The decor is nice, the artwork good, the seats comft, the general ambience welcoming and friendly. The food was nicely presented.

Now the bad stuff - the waitress was a little timid and not quite up to the job (maybe new?). I had to ask twice for olives, ask for a wine list, was brought the wrong dish and the wrong wine. I speak a little Spanish, maybe she didn't or maybe she didn't think much of my pronunciation or maybe she just needed to ask me to shout up a bit or point out which off the list I meant.

The food, though well presented, tasted entirely of one thing - black pepper! Even the salad was seasoned with black pepper. I suspect the chef either has shares in pepper or smokes. The food also left us feeling curiously unsatisfied - where was the meat? I appreciate the young fusion feel they are trying to get - emulating some of the latest cooking trends to come out of Spain but whilst these dishes might make a nice accompaniment to a Manzanilla at the start of the evening they did not make a meal. I really felt like I needed a big chunk of pork, some albondigas, even some garlic chicken - or maybe this is an anathema to a tapas restaurant that shies away from patatas bravas!

Another odd thing was the timing of the dishes - it was served very 'English' with the 'starter style tapas' served first and then the 'racion style' making a 'main course'. This wasn't explained and I wasn't asked - I'm used ot everything being brought when ready in tapas restaurants in Spain and I perhaps would have chosen different dishes if I'd realised this is how it was going to be done.

Desserts were acceptable, my partner was dissapointed by the quality of the biscuits used to accompany his cheese- they looked like those your mum buys a christmas - and said that if they couldn't provide decent biscuits he'd rather have it 'french style' with some veggies or fruit. I had a cava jelly that was a little over set and lacked the expected 'sparkle' but it was refreshing and a nice end to the meal.

On balance I think they are trying too hard to be something they are not and getting confused - meze style tapas served in an English two course kind of way. Think I'll stick with Mar y Terra - not as stylish, possibly not as well sourced food but at least its honest.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

After hearing so much about number 22 we went to try it last week. I'm not sure if we were eating in a different place to the rest of the reviewers but the food we had was thoroughly disappointing. What were listed on the menu as 'peppers stuffed with king prawns' were actually peppers stuffed with a rather slimy cheese mixture with no hint of prawn whatsoever. We asked our waitress whether it was what we had ordered who confirmed it was, so I can only assume there was some well disguised king prawn reconstituted in the cheese sauce. Both the peppers and the croquetas were covered in the same over-sweet tomato sauce which for a tapas or 'tasting' menu defies the point of having a few smaller different tasting dishes. The other dishes we ordered were a little on the oily side and nothing spectacular but fine. The service was good and the decor and ambience is nice but if its good tapas you're after i certainly wouldn't recommend number 22 as highly as everyone else.
Comment on this reader review

Elena
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, February 17, 2008

Went here for lunch recently and its pretty good value. They had great pimientos de padron but a chorizo stew was a bit greasy. The atmosphere is good and service attentive and I will certainly go again even though the place is a bit claustrophobic and cramped.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 31, 2008

This is one of those "hidden gems" that you stumble across and realise that the locals and regulars have been keeping it quiet, for themselves. The food is clearly prepared with great though and care - it is superb. We came here on a cold Staurday night - the fire was on in the grate, the cocktails were superb and Chris, the owner, is clearly very passionate about what he does - ask him about an item on the menu and you are treated to a story rather than just an explanation. Service is busy but very attentive and the wine list is superbly chosen. The art of a great restaurant is in the details - and we personally have had our fill of so called name restaurants that get it so badly wrong - not here, it is nothing short of excellent. We will be adding ourselves to the list of regulars!
Comment on this reader review

Annette and Martin
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, December 09, 2007

Ate her last week, and was bowled over. Sat out in the small garden at the back for a long and lazy lunch of Tapas and perfect bottle of wine. Such a lovely place, best in the area by far.
Comment on this reader review

Sally McManus
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

this place would be doing a roaring trade if it was a bit bigger and in a better location!

great food but the cocktails are the best feature.
Comment on this reader review

Simon
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, August 05, 2007

This was already one of my fave local restaurants which has just got even better. I ate there this weekend in the new garden - a stylish courtyard area at the back. It was a wonderful dining experience. It has a real Mediterranean feel and the food just gets better and better. The staff were a great but very busy - think they might have been a bit short staffed on the night we visited but they still managed to look after us pretty well considering.
Comment on this reader review

Marie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 30, 2007

Been here three times since moving into Dulwich Village and I think it's the best eaterie of any description in the general area, including anything on the more hyped up Lordship Lane up in SE22. Everything is done in good taste and has had thought and preparation put into it and you can just tell there is a pride in what is presented. The food is simply very good quality (love the monkfish) with some very imaginative items. I like the ambience too as the place is stylish but also relaxed and has a real neighbourhood feel to it. A hidden gem.
Comment on this reader review

James Brown
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, December 08, 2006

We went for the first time on last week and had a lovely time. As we had read it is quite small we called in advance to be sure we could have a table reserved. The decor is fresh, clean and modern (significantly better than other eateries in the area) and complimented by a cross section of art work on the walls for sale. The seating was particularly comfortable - soft suede chairs. We had a selection of tapas whilst waiting for the seafood paella. Highlights were the clams in white wine with pancetta - absolutely delicious. All in all - a relaxing evening with great food and service. A joy to have within walking distance!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 17, 2006