Salt Yard

Went on a whim on a Saturday night, and we got lucky: they had one table free. The food was a riot of well-matched tastes and flavours; unfailingly fresh ingredients, beautifully prepared, the steak cooked to perfection, as was the tuna carpaccio; the portions aren't large, but with a glass of wine each, and no dessert, we ate plenty for under 60 quid total, which for food of this quality in London, isn't half bad. Service was friendly and attentive and not pushy. I'll be going back soon.
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fresser
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, May 13, 2012

Stumbled in with a mate to find two seats at the bar.....this serendipidous moment led to a great meal.

Really good and surprisingly excellent.

The wine they have at £4 a glass is very good for that price point and the food was both inventive/unpredictable and delicious.

Attentive service, nice atmosphere.

Recommend unreservedly.
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coops
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, December 19, 2011

Best tapas in London!! I ate at a few tapas restaurants during my week stay in London, and Salt Yard was by far the best. I ate at Salt Yard with my girlfriend and two friends and we ordered about 12 tapas which was plenty of food. Excellent presentation & very high quality food. It was also served at a nice pace so you were never waiting for food but never overwhelmed with the amount on your table. Make sure you try the scallops with crispy serrano (amazing) and the chorizo. We tried all of the desserts (all good), but if you only have a little room left you MUST have an esspresso martini. Great place to go with your friends, but make sure you leave enough time to enjoy the food in the process - it's not a quick meal.
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Matt
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

A really enjoyable restaurant for the food and service, it can be hard to find a decent restaurant in London on a Saturday night that doesn't leave you feeling a bit irritated or cheated. Our experience here can't be faulted.

Particularly memorable from the menu were the sea bream with blood orange and chicory, courgette flowers with honey, melt in mouth ox cheeks and lamb with artichokes. Absolutely delicious and very appetisingly presented. Service was friendly and prompt. It's an intimate and buzzy setting so although you can hear your neighbour diners it's not intrusive. Thoroughly recommend.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 11, 2011

Had a lovely dinner here with two foodie friends on 18th March.

The place was fairly busy. We had the seats at the back on the ground floor in the 'snug' area which were ideal for conversation as the main part of the restaurant was quite noisy (though it was Friday night so this was to be expected). The decor is a mordern comfortable wood style throughout - which you seem to come across in most new Tapas restaurants these days.

The Tapas menu is laid out very simply into Meat, Fish & Vegetable dishes. We had some nice olives and bread to nibble on whilst deciding what to eat.

Dishes tried included: Pork Belly with Rosemary Scented Cannellini Beans - everyone really, really loved this. Braised Ox Cheek with Soft Bramata Polenta - melt in the mouth delicious. Roasted Scallops with Chickpea Puree and Crispy Serrano - good with a nice contrast with the crispy salty Serrano. Poached Egg with Manchego, Faro, Swiss Chard and a Red Pepper Dressing - unusual, fresh and wonderful. Patatas Fritas - better than most places I've had as this can often be quite bland.

I had the Cantucci, Bitter Chocolate and Pistachio Fudge served with a glass of Vin Santo for desert. People either love or hate Vin Santo served like this - I loved it!

Everything was washed down with two very agreeable and reasonably priced bottles of Tempranillo.

Most of the waiting staff were attentive and helpful - especially as we were essentially tucked away in a corner.

Total price was circa £110 including tip - great value for a great evening. Recommended.
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Hopey
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Salt Yard remains one of my favourite restaurants in London. We grabbed a last minute table here on Friday and were seated downstairs next to the pass - a great chance to watch the incredible kitchen team at work. (Well oiled machine doesn't even come close.) We love the candlelit buzz here and it's obviously as popular with couples on dates as it is with big groups of friends.

The charcuterie and croquetas were as good as ever and we also tried some great new dishes. The ox cheek was wonderful - flavour-rich meltingly tender meat on creamy Parmesan polenta - and the crispy hake was delicious and deftly fried, though the accompanying aioli could have used more punch. For dessert, the warm chocolate ganache with turron ice-cream (and a cheeky glass of PX) was obscenely good.

Service was slick, friendly and knowledgeable as always, with the exception of one rather abrupt and frosty waitress who we didn't recognise. With so many places to eat in London, we rarely visit places twice but we find ourselves returning to Salt Yard again and again. Go, eat, enjoy.
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-K- - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 07, 2011

I went to this restaurant last night and I was amazed, being Spanish as I am is difficult for me to find a good Spanish restaurant and I have to say that Salt Yard is a place I will keep coming back.

Their tapas are not as the classic tapas you will find on a bar in Spain but that is a difference to make, Salt Yard is not a bar but a restaurant and as such their tapas are more elaborate and elegant, full of creativity and still delicious.

The price was good as well, we were two people, ordered five tapas and a bottle of wine and paid £42, 12.5% gratuity included.
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Miguel
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, February 09, 2011

I have been to this restaurant twice and plan to go again very soon! The food is delicious and the waitress recognised us on our second visit and was incredibily helpful in reccomending dishes and bottles of wine. I have never been to a tapas restaurant like this and think it is quite special!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, December 25, 2010

Had a fabulous night there last night, it was heaving with people all getting in the festive spirit so there was a great atmosphere. Loved the courgette flowers which were sublime, and the helpful waitress navigated us through some delicious dishes, recommending some cracking things I'd never have thought to try normally. V glad we did too, some real gems in there. Great way to kick off the christmas break, really got us in the mood and felt well looked after despite how busy it was.
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Edward
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, December 19, 2010

Chef goes missing - it was noticed!!!!

I visited the restaurant last night with a group of friends and we had not too agreable an experience I'm afraid. This is the second time I have visited the Salt Yard but unfortuately it will be the last.

Although the food was of not bad quality the size of the portions and the very poor service did not justify the prices. As an example, it took some difficult negotiations to get a plain basket of bread for four people - something pretty basic to get wrong you might think. We also found there were some long gaps between the arrival of the food even for a tapas restaurant. Please save yourself money and do not try the desserts - very bland, particularly the lemon and cinnamon doughnuts.

Final insult was when all this was pointed out to the manager, when taking our payment, she just said she was sorry but the chef had to leave half way through the night! Pity the place's reputation went with him!
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Bernie O''Connor
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, December 12, 2010