Windmill Tapas Restaurant

I love this place. I have been here twice and have left both times happily stuffed full of tapas. I haven't had any of the entrees but my fav tapas are the scallops, creamed cod, and the lamp chops. In fact all the fish dishes were very good. I thought the service was perfectly fine, better than alot of places; i.e. took order promptly and gave us the food swiftly, and smiled. It's definately a laid back place. The desserts are quite tasty, the wine list might be upgraded a bit, but overall it's hit the mark. It's more like 20 a head but we did order alot. It's great to have this place in our 'hood.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Sunday, January 28, 2007

I have eaten at the Windmill so many times and I can only think that the previous reviewer must have been very unlucky with the quantity that night. As for the bill, it sounds more like £30 per head to me but with the wine and spirits mentioned this doesn’t sound particularly over the top especially given the quality I usually experience. The prices are clearly displayed on the menu and given the fact that honest mistakes can happen in any restaurant the bill should have been challenged there and then. If it really was £20 a head then you were seriously undercharged.

In my view this is a real undiscovered gem of a place. The proprietor is currently ploughing a lonely furrow at the unfashionable end of the High Street - actually there isn't a fashionable end of the High Street but we live in eternal hope. Maybe this place is the beginning of something.

Believe me when I say it is well worth the effort to walk down to the St James Street end of Walthamstow market. There is always a friendly welcome and the food is a wonderful mix of Portuguese mainland and Madeiran island dishes.

Nowhere is perfect and being realistic the downside is that occasionally the music can be just a little loud for conversation but a friendly word is all it takes to get it turned down.

Be aware that currently the place takes cash or cheques only and this end of the market is a cash point desert - apart from the one at the Costcutter that charges an arm and a leg.

I have introduced many people to this place over the last few years and nobody has ever had any complaints whatsoever. Go along and try it - I don't think you'll be disappointed. Oh and as for the marinated olives on the tapas menu, they are some of the best I’ve ever tasted and I really do like olives.
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Ian C
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 25, 2007

Rather disinterested welcome. Stoned olives which didn't taste of much. The tapas are mostly OK at least, althought the salt cod fritters were light on fish. Good wine prices, mediocre coffee and niggardly servings of liquors. I don't know where the £20 per head average comes from- the bill for two for seven tapas, bread and olives, one bottle of Dão, one coffee, a brandy and an aguardente

came to over £60. I had hoped this might be a useful alternative to the also questionable Tapas bar in the Village - 'fraid not. I think Elche in Leytonstone still beats both of them.
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John
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Friday, December 29, 2006

I went to this restaurant with trepidation last week - I was absolutely delighted with the food. The seafood dishes were superb, and the bill was extremely reasonable.

My only gripe would be to turn up the central heating, but overall, a great evening.

It's a welcome change having a good quality restaurant in Walthamstow.
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Janet
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 20, 2006

Great local restaurant. The food is good and tasty - you get fresh sardines and salad for the same price most people would charge you for tinned. The owners are Portuguese - the husband is friendly and lugubrious and the wife who works mainly in the kitchen is more vivacious. The new bar area is a great addition and Friday and Saturday evenings there are candles on the tables.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Monday, May 08, 2006

This is OK! I mean Walthamstow High Street - how untrendy can you get?? But bravely these people have started a little Portuguese resto - and it is fine! Tasty food, warm ambience, friendly staff, increasingly popular, and of course cheap. Let's hope it might be encouragement for other restaurateurs to brave this area. We Walthamstonians need you!
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 31, 2006