KB
Food was outstanding. Service on the other hand was average at best. But still giving 5 stars for the food. Favorite dish was the monkfish, tomato and feta, fried goat cheese, and the croquettes. Try to get a table outside, it’s warm inside. Cute and charming atmosphere
Vivian S.
Food is good. Everything we got we loved. Pretty small portions. After 86GBP for 2 adults and 2 toddlers we weren't hungry but it left us wanting more. They do recommend 3 tapas per person but I feel like we need 6 per person. London prices 🤣
Ls Chan
This Tapas restaurant has great service especially the bubbly lady service personnel who makes you feel cheerful. Food is great too especially the Prawn fritters and Croquets! Definitely a place to go for a meal if you are near the Tower Bridge area.
Liliana Caldera
Very cozy place to drink a beer and have some delicious tapas. I tried a little bit of everything. So far all the tapas were good but I recommend the patatas bravas and beef skewers.
L U
Great food. Small tapas dishes.
Since I don’t do alcohol, I can’t say anything about wine.
Also. I don’t eat meat. But I didn’t have any trouble finding things I could eat. Plenty of veggie and seafood dishes available here.
There are not many other options on Bermondsey st. So, you might struggle a bit if you decide the queue at José is too much.
Hayden Y
Delicious food and great atmosphere - a winning combination. The croquettes and pork were the highlights for us. Goats cheese with honey was very good but very rich!
Inger Margrete Hansen
As I continued my quest to try the various places Bermondsey street has to offer, I am yet to discover any flaws — José further proved this sentiment right.
I shared various of their tapas with my friend and heavily enjoyed the heavenly made food they provided, alongside the incredible service and delicious wine.
The atmosphere was phenomenal and not a single person wasn’t greeting us with a smile, and I can simply not wait to return and taste more!
Sophie G
Very cosy Spanish Restaurant. The waitress recommended 3 dishes per person but we only ordered 2 per person which is plenty for us. I would highly recommend the prawns and the Iberian Ham. They are very delicious. They would also provide bread for the prawns sauce. Very very nice. I do want to flag that there's quite a small space at the counters. But they brought the dishes one by one. So it wasn't a big issue.
Tangerine
Always an absolute pleasure. Fresh and simple tapas. Seasonal additions but always some firm favourites - croquettes and pain con tomate being our favourites.
Service exceptional, just no reservations so get there early if you want to secure yourself a table.
Ankush B
Quick pit stop for lunch and as always Jose didn’t disappoint. The black rice with squid was absolutely phenomenal and the tortilla + presa iberica was great too but slightly let down by the patatas bravas and tomato salad with tuna. The tomatoes were nowhere close to the red fresh huge tomatoes I have had in San Sebastián. Still amazing scene and worth a go!
Alla Tsyganova
We were very happy to have dinner in Jose tapas bar today. We ordered lots of different dishes to share, everything was fantastic. Especially croquettes, octopus and rosemary cheesecake. Definitely we will come back to try other dishes. Highly recommend to visit this place.
Mustaq Tappewale
Great tapas dishes. Space is very limited, no place to hang bags or jackets.
The chilli garlic prawn is absolutely delicious.
Be careful they don’t take bookings and queuing is likely.
Y Kim
It was lovely to have tapas and so yummy.
Lively, cozy with great cocktails.
Alex Ward
Came here for tapas with some friends, the waiter didn’t look too happy we didn’t have a reservation on a Tuesday night and we were advised there was a wait of about 15 mins for the table - totally fine - we ordered drinks for whilst we waited but they never came, even once we were seated they still never came. Once we had changed waitresses it was only then she realised. If I weren’t with friends, I prob would have taken the service off from the first unwelcoming waiter. However, big big shoutout to the pisto egg. Good vege options and the pisto egg stood out by far!
Yesh Kempanna
Had the various tapas, espresso liqueur and gluten free beer. Great food, great service and a vibrant atmosphere. Highly recommended.
Samantha Law
Authentic spanish tapas, it is one of my friend's favourite restaurant in the area and I tag along on this trip (lucky me! Because I really won't know what to order as I don't know the language.) Their menu changes everyday apparently and their Iberico meats are one of the best I ever had too. I highly recommend this place! My favourite is the charred green peppers, I finished the whole plate by myself alone.
Debs van der Walt
The food was really tasty and just what we expected from tapas & a sharing plate restaurant - the tomato bread was magnificent and light, and the presa was delicious! The atmosphere is casual and comfortable, the decor gorgeous. We were very satisfied customers
Dion
All time favorite place for tapas and wine ! The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. The ambience is cozy and I recommend everyone visiting London to try this place out !
C. K.
This tapas place never disappoints me. All the dishes ordered were very yummy. They seem to have sourced a list of nice wines. The complimentary water is a plus point which is hardly found unless we go to those top notch world best restaurants.
Miso Hungry
Finally made it back here for a quick bite of tapas late on a bank holiday Monday. Had been out all day in the sun so all we needed was something very relaxed with minimal fuss so this was ideal. Luckily it wasn't so busy so only had to wait a short while for a couple of stools with a glass of house red in hand. Once seated we still weren't ready as we basically wanted everything on the menu... guess we were more hungry than we initially anticipated. <br/><br/>I ordered some padron peppers and pan con tomate to keep hunger at bay. They arrived instantly and it was a battle to eat the peppers before they cooled down and the bread before the refreshing cool tomato topping got warm. We followed this up with some croquettes and Iberican pork which were amazing. Miso satisfied.
BlancheMange
Great food, great service and great atmosphere. Jose' is a bustling little tapas place in Bermondsey that makes you forget you're actually in the UK. <br/>I loved the cecina de Leon. Here it's served with a little pomegranate on top, a combination I hadn't seen before and now wish would be used more often! <br/>There are a few interesting dishes on the menu like cod tongues with red cabbage, which was a great mix of textures and flavours, along with all the classic Spanish tapas you know and love, from jamon Serrano to croquetas etc..<br/>Highly recommended!<br/>
The Hungry Porker
José is a tiny little tapas joint/sherry bar on the excellent Bermondsey Street. If you can resist the temptations of both Maltby and Borough Market and manage to get one of the few spaces to eat here, then you'll taste Spanish food that is as good as anything in London.
Bert Conibear
Really good tapas place on a cool street down in Bermondsey - don't go expecting intimacy as is quite a small bar vibe but the food is delicious with good variety; exact menu is dependent on what's at the market. Expect to spend about £25 if eating what you want with a glass of wine.
Quiet Eating
Browse: Home / Jose<br/>Jose<br/>JOSE<br/>14th May 2015 · by Chris · in eating, England, London<br/>I know that some people seem to (mistakenly) have the view of me as being only interested in pretentious food. While I do enjoy fine dining, that doesn’t stop me from venturing into other environments in search of quiet eating. After all, in Japan, some of the best ramen I had was in run down little shacks. So in search of good food I allowed myself to be persuaded by my friends to venture into deep dark Bermondsey in search of food. Jose. Down Bermondsey Street we braved the dark tunnel under the railway tracks in search of food. I did think at the start that this seemed like the entry to a pig’s sty, a dark and long tunnel. Which was apt, as we were to spend quite a while in piggy heaven. Well actually, I imagine that is inaccurate because in the pork chop afterlife, I imagine that pork would be a banned substance.
Clara Patricia
Nice tapas with good selection of Spanish wines! The place gets pretty crowded and as it hasn't got that much space, it can be quite noisy.. But hey it's a bar so don't expect to stay there for too long as there's normally a queue. My favourite dish is the croquet which was very creamy...
FRJ
Great tapas accompanied with excellent wines. Always busy and vibrant. <br/>I really like it but I sometimes wished there was more place to sit. It would definitely make me stay longer.
V.berquez
ANSWER TELEPHONE!. Been once before with a mate, was very good! Thought my wife and I would go TONIGHT. Have tried to phone half a dozen times now and no-one answers the damn appliance. If we go there tonight the first thing I am going to do is SHOUT at someone!
Donna_nguyen_2000
Fav! Great tapas place in London. Great price!. Wonderful tapas joint in Bermondsey area (south London - London Bridge tube, get out and turn right and walk a few blocks to Burmondsey street, turn right to Jose. If u want a fancier place, walk further to Pizarro).<br/>Go for the Iberico ham (a steal @9 quid). If they have it, get a Iberico Pluma (Iberico pork loin) - simply pan- fried - with sea salt. Fav!
NunheadNeil
Exceptionally good tapas in a lovely bar. After many months of waiting we finally got round to making a long overdue visit to Jose on Saturday. Having walked past the tiny corner bar many times, and seen the crowds hopefully waiting for a bit of space to free up inside, we were well aware that we would need to arrive early if we wanted to avoid queuing in the snow.<br/><br/> We turned up just before 6pm and were lucky to get a couple of stools by the window facing Morocco Street. If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting Jose it's probably worth pointing out that this is a bar not a restaurant and it's more than likely that you will be spending your evening propping up the bar or a strategically placed barrel.<br/><br/>The sherry list looked very inviting and after a bit of chat with the friendly and informative staff we started our evening off with a glass of the Manzanilla Pastrana for me and the Puerto Fino for B. When combined with a plate of hot, salty padron peppers this is possibly the perfect way to get the appetite up and running. <br/><br/>The menu covers all the tapas classics and is supplemented by an ever changing selection of daily specials chalked up on a blackboard behind the bar. The prices are pretty reasonable and there is plenty to stimulate even the most jaded of palates.<br/><br/>We had a good run at both the daily specials and the normal menu; ordering a couple of plates at a time and then adding a few more later. If there are only two of you eating it's quite easy to get carried away and seriously over order!!! Stand out dishes were the sweet chilli prawns which were just divine, the hake with allioli and some very tasty meatballs.<br/><br/>The wine list was well put together with plenty of good things to drink without breaking the bank. We had a bottle of the Casa Maria Verdejo (£18) which went down very well and was a good accompaniment to the fish dishes.<br/><br/>By the time we were thinking about dessert it was after 8pm and London's first snow of the year was coming down thick and fast. Bermondsey Street was looking very picturesque, but sensing looming trouble with the rail network we decided to make a hasty exit well pleased with a lovely evening at Jose and vowing to come back for a long lunch next month. Highly recommended for both the food and quality of service.
Marchmont
Excellent food. Attentive staff. Would recommend.
Lockwoodhorne
Bad Experience. Been eating and drinking in here since it first opened, and have no fault with the food, drink and general service. Today, however was an eye-opener - had an irate, reactionary customer run after me - after I brushed passed him (impossible not to in a space so small) thinking I'd taken his wallet from his back pocket (when he'd put it elsewhere) No defence from the staff, whatsoever. Stuff like this leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. <br/><br/>So, to end - great food, great drink, but be careful not to brush past anyone, lest you be treated like a criminal.
No Expert
Pear Poached in Red Wine. Rice pudding.. For dessert we had a juicy soft pear poached in red wine and a dish of cold rice pudding - divine
Miguel Leal
Liked the food, my favourite dish was the catalan squid. Very friendly service and good to see a generous wine list and sherry on offer. It was a bit smokey at times from burnt bread in the kitchen.
Caleb
José is the most authentic Spanish tapas/sherry bar in London. The atmosphere is great and the food Michelin star quality. I was told the wine and sherry list was chosen by Tim Atkin and there is a range to suit all budgets. For the quality of food and wines, this place is amazing. On top Of all this, the service is unintrusive and helpful. 5 stars from me.
JSL
Very close to be the real tapas. The food was very good.<br/>We had a great evening till the bill came!<br/>We are one of the bigest conpanies in the<br/>City entertaning wise and quality, service and<br/>Price are paramount. Tonight we were over charged on wine.<br/>Sadly our Spanish clients and colleages wont be<br/>back.
Gastro Gossip
José rocks!. Other than a trip to Borough market, I tend not to venture South East all that much, but I will be from now on… simply to sip jerez fino and gorge on José's fabulous tapas.<br/><br/>As a renowned pioneer of new spanish cooking, José Pizarro has gone solo in Bermondsey and it's totally paying off. The launch last week was utterly fantastic, we were served a natty little array of tapas plates, adorned with simple, seasonal food accompanied by some delicious wine and my personal favourite, Tio Pepe sherry.<br/><br/>José has managed to create an atmospheric space that brings together the informal bustle of the tapas bars at La Boquería in Barcelona with the traditional tapas bars found in the hot, dusty towns and villages of Andalucía. He has designed José for informal eating and drinking, aiming to challenge us Brits to eat while standing - the bar has no seating but plenty of high wooden tables on which to rest plates of the colourful snacks - well we stand in a pub, so why not in a restaurant?<br/><br/>José changes its menu daily according to what looks good at the market each day, featuring delights such as razor clams a la plancha, spring lamb chuletillas with alioli, crab and basil croquetas and of course - Jamón Ibérico de bellota. My personal favourites were the grilled aspapagus and manchego, lamb meatballs, Iberico jamon, and gazpacho, but everything I tasted was fantastic.<br/><br/>José was co-founder and Executive Chef at Brindisa Tapas Kitchen for five years before taking the plunge last year to go out on his own, partnering with Hervé Durochat, formerly of Hakkasan and Soho House Group.<br/><br/>"We want to offer people something very different" they said - and they have, and it so works!<br/><br/>The head chef, Javier Capella, has come from El Faro, which has sadly now closed, and wine legends, Tim Atkin MW and Jo Ahearne MW, put together José's diverse wine and sherry list drawing on established and small producers of Spain.<br/><br/>Pizarro says, "With this little place I want to explore new ingredients, use more fresh produce as well as bring diners some old favourites. I'm so excited".<br/><br/>All in all, this place totally hits the mark. The food was to die for, the atmosphere was spot on, the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming and of course, José just rocks! Highly recommended, my only wish is that it was closer to home!<br/><br/>José: 104 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UB T: 020 7403 4902 (no reservations) www.josepizarro.com
Mike Cornfield
Just Great Tapas. Jose Pizarro's Tapas bar on the corner of Bermonsey Street and Morroco Street delivers all that's great about a Spanish bar eatery. The food is superbly cooked and the menu offers a selection of contemporary and traditional dishes. A good wine list and some superb sherries add to the experience. With very friendly and knowledgable staff it's great for a quick snack and a drink, but you might find yourself just forgetting to go somewhere else.
Velvetypie
Jose remains to hold a high level of consistency and will continue to be our frequent dining place. It’s a whole package: food, service, ambience, speed, quality. If you still haven’t been, go, now.
Nomface
A recent lunchtime visit to Bermondsey Street led us to José Pizarros tapas bar aptly named José, within a couple hundred yards of his more formal restaurant named Pizarro. We wanted a chilled casual lunch affair and this was the perfect place to do so. The interior is simple and cozy with high tapas bar tables. With a nice bottle of red wine we ordered a range of dishes to graze on. The food at José hits the mark without complications, much like the venue. Pan con tomate. Boquerones, cava vinegar Tortilla Patatas Bravas Clams, jamon fino. Hake, alioli, pimento. Croquestas, the dish of the meal for me. Pork cheek with red wine sauce. Sea bream, roasted peppers.
The Very Hungry Londoner
I left wondering why I have not eaten there every single week since I moved to London. Seriously. I cannot wait to go back. Neither can Seán, but that might be more to do with the handsomeness of one of the chefs than anything else. Afterwards we walked further along the river to Tower Bridge (luckily this stretch is much less touristy), and ended up at the most perfect cocktail bar. But more on that later…
Emma Louise Layla
Two weeks ago I went to my New Favourite Place; the newly-opened tapas and sherry bar José on Bermondsey Street. The reservations-free, teeny tiny restaurant is run by José Pizarro of Tapas Brindisa fame in Borough Market. I'm a very regular regular of Brindisa - definitely high in my top five London restaurants - I love tapas and having spent a gorgeous weekend in Barthelooona in March, a big fan of the bustling Boqueria market, from which José took inspiration. One of the best finds in Barcelona was Bar Pinotxo inside the market which is run by a charmful character called Juanito for - I assume - decades, looking at all his photos pinned up. The menu changes every day and includes extremely simple and extremely effective dishes (I still crave the baby squid and beans plate, dammit). the daily specials board José's menu goes down the same tried and tested route with a daily menu of market specials and simple seasonal ingredients thrown together into delicious sharing dishes.
Kerry
The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, the wines were very good and the food was simply very well done. I’d love to go again – if we can get in!
Thesavorylining
Dinner for two with service and two beers was £39.00. Truthfully though, we could probably have been fine without the Chorizo and extra bread, but it was worth it in the end. We will return soon!
AllThingsMeaty
Jose's crunchy, gooey, salty croquettas studded with pearls of jamon or beef are some of the best I've ever had both in Spain and the UK...
Food And Drinks Noob
To sum it up, the food at Jose was absolutely wonderful and some of the most authentic Spanish food I've encountered in London.
Gourmet Belly
The Patatas Bravas (£2.50) were quite possibly the best I’ve had – certainly in London anyway. Crispy on the outside and gorgeously fluffy on the inside, served with a fresh, heavenly dollop of aioli on top. The Jamon Ibérico croquettes were good, but at £6 for some pequeñas bolas, I could have easily gone without, but the Tomato bread (£3.50)…Delish!
SamTheFoodFan
The restaurant is located on a corner of Bermondsey Street and as soon as you step in, you forget that you're in South London. It is tiny, but perfectly formed. Authentic Spanish tiles line the walls, wine barrels used as tables and huge legs of Jamon hanging from the ceiling. I've heard that the restaurant gets really busy and there is often a queue to get in, so we arrived early and managed to bag a very cosy spot in a corner by the window.<br/>
Murray Blake
Following a tenure as head chef at Tapas Brindisa, José Pizzaro opened José in 2011 – it was the first of London’s new wave of stripped-back, authentic tapas restaurants (also see Bar Tozino ). Pizzaro is from Extremadura, a distinctive region of Spain which borders Portugal – the area is famous for its agriculture and in particular, the black Iberico pigs which munch mounds of acorns in oak groves. José does not accept bookings and has very few seats, so expect to stand for a chunk (or possibly all) of your visit. The staff will take drinks orders when you are in the queue and are great at keeping track of your place in the pecking order, meaning you can wait, relax and enjoy your drink. The chalkboard menu is short and simple, featuring some old classics like tortilla but also including some more unusual Spanish regional dishes, like Catalan butifarra (described below). We started with a safe bet, patatas br
LondonFoodFreak
Prawns with chili and garlic were utterly huge, undeniably fresh and ideally cooked.
FoodiesontheProwl
We were planning to visit he Tapas Fantasticas festival over at Towerbridge, but the terrible British weather put a dampener on those plans. Yet, still we felt like tapas and Jose (5 mins away) was the perfect spot to attend to that fix. We’d been several times before and never has it disappointed. Luckily we were seated straight away and could dig into some lovely Spanish dishes within mins of arrival.
Edgeandspoon
The open kitchen can get very hot and noisy, so those of a civilised disposition will be glad to hear that Pizarro, a more formal, reservable spin-off, can be found just down the road. And yes, they have seating. José’s food isn’t breathtakingly spectacular – but it is tummy-rumblingly comforting. Especially when half-sozzled on a balmy Saturday afternoon.<br/>
Samphire And Salsify
Service was charming and knowledgeable – it’s worth noting that service isn’t included in the bill and can’t be added using card so take cash for a tip.<br/><br/>The disappointing lamb chop aside, Jose provided us with a delicious lunch. I can see why it’s so popular with the locals. We can’t wait to go back!
Rebecca Williams
The space is a delight, serving food, wine and sherry. You cant just pop in for a glass of wine, it’s not big enough for starters I’d say just enough room to swing that black hoofed Bellota, and their license does not allow it. So it’s strictly tapas and drink. The space though has been used to full effect and I marvel that four chefs manage to work in such a confined area.
Veggie In London
Jose is a vibrant tapas bar which serves excellently prepared food in a relaxed bar-like environment. They don’t take reservations and fill up fast, so be prepared to stand. Or go early and beat the rush – it is well worth it.
J
The tapas dishes ranges from £3-£9 on the regular menu and the daily specials were up to £13.50 for the fillet steak which we stupidly, didn't order. The pair of ladies next to us did however, and it looked well cooked with a touch of pink in the middle. All I can hear was 'ooh this is perfect' as she cut into it and ate it. Massive regret of the day. With all the half-baked Spanish tapas restaurants that are cropping up everywhere that serves mediocre spanish food, it is clear that José stands out, a true gem amongst the cloned dross. I will definitely revisit again and the fillet will be on the top of my list if it's on the daily special.
Doughnuts Swine
I can’t even pretend to be subjective with this review. I have been heading to Jose’s tapas bar on Bermondsey Street since it opened its door officially to the public in June. I love it, and each time I visit, I love it a little bit more. I love the food, I love the chefs, I love the waiters and I love the décor. I just love it. But maybe I'm being too subtle, I reallly do love it.
Tang
The chefs at Jose know their seafood, order any seafood item from the menu and you will not be disappointed. Both the squid and clams were incredibly fresh, they must have the best supplier in town. The pork fillet spoke for itself - rich, tender with a subtle sweetness.
The Picky Glutton
Jose is really more a bar that also serves good food rather than a full-blown restaurant. Service was still friendly, informative and efficient though. Unfortunately I can't tell you much about the extensive wine list - I'm not a drinker and the Euro Hedgie was still nursing a hangover so he was off the booze. Named after chef-proprietor Jose Pizarro, who formerly worked at Brindisia, Jose was fairly quiet on the Sunday lunchtime of our visit, but that did make it a bit easier to appreciate the décor which just manages to avoid being clichéd. The exposed brick walls as
Hungry Tiger Thirsty Dragon
All in all, fantastic ingredients, good solid kitchen and buzzing atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back under non-tooth-related circumstances. Tip: get there early to bag a seat.
NC
Of all the Tapas places I've been to in London this feels the most like the bars in Madrid, it's cramped, noisy and you're constantly being bumped and elbowed (in a friendly way of course). If ever you feel the need to be touched by strangers give José a visit. José is small and does not take reservations, we were told the wait would be 45 mins however we had a glass of wine in our hand and some smoked beef within 10 mins. The smoked beef was nice, having recently spent a couple of weeks in Spain I couldn't take anymore Jamón, the smoked beef was a great alternative covered in a great olive oil. Previously I've had bad experiences with Spanish tomato bread, soggy bread with cold tomatoes that taste mealy. José had great warm bread and the tomatoes were also warm and seasoned well with a little onion. We had the special of prawns with garlic which were tasty and peeled for you which is always preferable.
Louis Fernando
Post contains photos only.
London-Unattached
The outside of Jose is very inconspicuous (especially if you are not looking up!) and at 2.00pm it looks just like any other city sandwich bar, unless you stare.
Dinnerathon.
Predominantly standing, rammed to the rafters with a few high chairs dotted about, this is a true tapas bar with a kitchen open to the elements
Claire Vernon
Jose is a teeny-tiny, traditional tapas bar. If you're lucky you might grab a stool to perch at the counter, otherwise you'll have to stand. This certainly doesn't deter anyone. On a dull Tuesday lunchtime, the place was packed and buzzy. The staff are very pleasant and know their stuff. They're happy to give advice on food and provide recommendations on sherry to go with your order - particularly helpful if you know nothing at all about sherry (me). We enjoyed everything we ordered but three of the
Fork And Corset
I am a big fan of tapas. Ten minutes stumble away from Las Ramblas there is a fabulous spot crammed with more people than there are wine glasses, they stand and some of the lucky ones perch at the bar and all gobble up freshly hacked octopus flash fried with garlic and chilli whilst others lose themselves in the slithers of acorn fed cured pig legs of which decorate the corners of the bar. On side streets of Valencia I fondly remember a refuge we found from too many sun kissed days at a beachside music festival, we nursed ourselves back to better versions of ourselves with every delicious thing you could imagine on a tail of bread. Every mouthful revived our senses, pickled fish speared through a red pepper pillow, fat laced ham and irregular triangles of bold cheese. In my opinion remarkable yet seemingly simple food paves the way for a great tapas joint, with service and ambience that should be efficient but relaxed. José Pizarro does just that. With his latest venture he channels h
Wingz
This tiny tapas bar is the closest to the ones in Madrid I have seen in London. About 12 people were rubbing shoulders around the marble bar, where fresh fish and Iberica pork fillet were displayed in a glass cabinet, and whole cured pork legs were dangling from the ceiling.
Swedish Meatball
croquetas; they are the best I've ever had. CREAMY. AMAZING... pork pluma is ridiculous...served with piquillo pepper...I spend a glorious couple minutes burying my face in it because it SMELLS SO GOOD.
A Roscoe
Jose isn’t especially cheap - the price of small plate eating can sky rocket swiftly, especially if you’re making use of their Spanish wine and sherry list - but as I sat there on a leaden January afternoon, holding court with my lovely and long suffering wife with a plate of pig and glass of beer at my side, I couldn’t have felt more satisfied.
The Perfect Trough
Quick snack at Jose, the low-key yet brilliant tapas bar on Bermondsey Street. This place is everything I love about Spain, and everything I think London needs more of.
No Expert
For me it was a case of third time lucky, as we finally managed to get a seat in Jose ( Jose Pizarro's tiny Tapas bar in Bermondsey Street). We did this by choosing a non standard time though - 2 o'clock on a Monday! It was worth it.
The Food Connoisseur
I ended up at Jose, after finding Zucca was fully booked for the night. I first met Jose Pizarro very briefly at Scala’s supper club a few years ago. I’ve tried some of his food at his stall in Maltby Street and knew the food would not disappoint. Bermondsey street is quickly becoming my never fail places to go to for exceptional food. Jose has two restaurants conquering the popular street, both serving Spanish tapas. Jose restaurant was very busy the night I visit we waited a good 10 mins or so for seats, the place is packed out and tight to even walk around the tables. The place is cosy and buzzing with atmosphere of diners and open kitchen frantically preparing the food. What I love about Spanish tapas, it is wise to order plenty of small plates to share. The menu periodically changes, depending on what Jose can source from the market nearby. Most dishes are from £6 and portions are small, delectable delicious and mouth watering, you would want to lick every plate clean. Every singl
Paul Hart
I cannot recommend Jose enough; simple food served plainly but with ingredients this good you really don’t want to f*ck around with them!
Kintarasan
With all the buzz this tiny tapas bar gets packed out which I found out on a previous visit. So this time, we went for lunch shortly after it opened and even then we were lucky to get the last four seats.
Theskinnybib
Clean plate, clean flavours. Some more stunning than others. All eaten. I took delight in the pan con tomate. Nice balance of mushed tomatoes and crusty bread. The best in London so far.
Eat-tori
Together with the jamon, this is one of my favourite things to eat. In the world.
Thecriticalcouple
Bermondsey's food offerings continue to thrive. While Magdalen offers a wonderful British/French neighbourhood restaurant, and Zucca a fabulous Italian one, now Jose Pizarro brings to SE1 a most fabulous Spanish tapas restaurant, Jose. The buzz around Jose is already extensive and given Jose Pizarro's background as Chef Partner at Brandisa, our expectations are that this should be good, for we loved Tierra Brindisa in Soho. Not least, we expect that sourcing of ingredients, especially the Iberico ham, should be first class, and it was, more of which later. Jose the venue, as is also well known, has no reservation policy and having got there at an early enough hour on a Monday night (their quietest time), we were lucky enough to bag the only real table/counter that can seat a party of four in a normal fashion. Elsewhere, it's seating along the bars, walls and windows better suited to parties of two. Many will see the small scale of the venue as part of its intrinsic charm. At Jose, we a
EatCookExplore
The casual vibe of the tapas bar is the perfect place to pop into for a glass of sherry and share a few plates of really well delicious tapas.
Editor
A review of London's 3 sherry bars - Pepito, Capote y Toros and José
Odo
I try to avoid Spanish places in London, as I usually go a couple times a year to Spain, and I honestly believe the food over there is much better than the remakes I have found here so far. But chef Jose Pizarro came to prove me wrong. I've been wanting to go to Jose for long time now, a Sherry and Tapas bar, nice ambience, good light from the huge windows, Gipsy Kings on the background playing Hotel California, and the smell of Iberico all over, for me it was love at first sight. I started with a cana, Alhambra Especial, really nice flavour of the beer. Then my first round of tapas I went for classics, Padron peppers, a tortilla, and one of the daily special the squid. The peppers were great, classic execution, nice flavour of the sea salt and the bitter taste of the few burnt areas. Tortilla great as well, again classic nice flavour and nice seasoning. The squid was superb, the slightly fried squid with onions and capers, and on top aioli
Grumbling Gourmet
"Start here for tapas and sherry, mains at Zucca and then on to Village East for a cocktail or dessert." Tapas crawl, Bermondsey style
Mark Edwards
Jose Pizzaro has transformed a humble little corner of Bermondsey Street into a tapas bar that transports you to Barcelona. If you enjoy good food and good wine you will love Jose.
Hugh Wright
Jose is, simply, as good a tapas bar as you will find anywhere in London and indeed as good as any restaurant could want to be: it serves excellent food and wine at fair prices, the room is attractive, the staff is efficient and enthusiastic and that elusive, money-can't-buy quality - the atmosphere - is lively and beguiling.
Greedy Diva
It's busy and crowded - and if you can handle that, its heaps of fun. Big love. You can't reserve - just turn up.
Gourmet Traveller
2011 was a good year, and one which saw me eating out more than ever before - a fact that the dwindling recipes on the blog and extra inches around my waist will attest to. However this may not be apparent to (what's left of) my regular readers, as despite the fervent restaurant-hopping I have developed a sort of ennuie with writing about it all, at times even leaving my camera at home *gasp* to concentrate on the conversations at the table and well, eating. As a result I've accumulated a fair few undocumented meals, some of which are probably worth a mention. I've lumped them together to present you with my lost posts of 2011. In part one I'll be tackling the London establishments. To start, a few newcomers. Burger and Lobster (from the folks who brought us Goodman ) in Mayfair aspires to bring affordable lobsters to the masses, and at £20 a pop (served steamed, grilled or in a roll) they may well have achieved it. The cost may have been offset on the burgers, which at the same price
Tehbus
All this and add a rather extensive sherry list, you have all the hallmarks of an excellent restaurant. And that is what it would be if it wasn’t for the hordes of people in your elbow space, all trying to secure some precious real estate to place your multitude of little plates. The thing is, when the food is this good, I can get over my annoyances and just hunker down. Over the past few months, I have seen myself returning over and over again to eat Jose Pizarros food, and that doesn't happen often in Londons growing restaurant scene. And you know what, I don't think I even mind queuing or standing any more. Especially when I know I will be rewarded.<br/>
Agirlhastoeat
If you are claustrophobic, this is not the place for you. But the food was so good I would go again, but perhaps not during peak time.
Helen
It’s a ham and sherry bar, which is so much more up my alley I can’t begin to tell you. It’s a small space on Bermondsey Street with a bar, a few stools dotted about and a couple of chefs beavering away in an open kitchen. The chatter is loud and the laughter unrestrained. We settled in for Manzanilla and snacks.
Hollowlegs
...the dishes that I will now day-dream about.
Laura Fitzpatrick
Gotta say I was very disappointed about dinner José. I just don't think Barrafina and Fino can be beaten for Spanish in London, but I went with high hopes because everyone else seems to love José and Pizarro. These croquetas (£6.50) had some kind of pimento filling. The menu doesn't tell you what's inside, and I saw other people with cheesey ones, which upset me. The beet, walnut and blue cheese salad (£6) was the best thing we tried. We also had Ibérico pork meatballs which were good, in a tomato sauce (£7), pan fried squid with confit onions (£8.50), which had a really unpleasant texture and pan con tomate (£3), nice but the bread wasn't toasted enough.
Kang L.
Pizzaro. One of a select group of individuals who masterminded the transformation of the Spanish perishable importer into a synonym for the British definition of a Tapas restaurant. He is a huge reason why we are so comfortable with the idea of sharing small plates of food, and thanks to the sheer dependability of the Brindisa restaurants he helped create over the last few years, his efforts has shaped this category of London restaurants. Yes, it is about the right time for José Pizzaro to his name on the signage and he has decided to do so by splitting it into two discreet projects. The latter is slated for a late October debut, a more civil sit-down affair that will formally bear his last name, Pizzaro. Until the real party arrives however, we have to make do with a sneak preview of his cooking with this teeny tapas bar situated in the heart of Bermondsey street, casually known as 'José'. The space is seriously tiny, it's like a food truck, except you eat with the chef inside the c
Kristainlondon
I will happily eat here every day. Love everything. The jamon! You can taste the acorns! The boquerones! The croquetas! ALL of it. Go go go go go.
Cheese And Biscuits
Someone pointed out on Twitter the other day that with the launch of Bar Pepito , Capote y Toros (review coming soon on London Confidential if they ever get round to launching the site) and now José in Bermondsey London now has more dedicated ham and sherry bars than Barcelona. Whether or not this is completely accurate - and I think it's probably a bit unfair to Barcelona where ham and sherry isn't really a Catalan thing - it's nevertheless a trend I can thoroughly get behind. In fact, it's surprising it's taken this country so long to wake up to the combination of Iberico ham and cold sherry, as you'd have to be lacking a significant part of your brain (or be a vegetarian, and let's face it that's more or less the same thing) not to enjoy these most wonderful ingredients. Iberico ham, in particular, is a genuine gastronomic wonder; produced correctly and carved properly it has an almost impossibly rich, complex flavour that builds the longer you hold it in your mouth, with notes of
Cameron Douglas
Jose's is one of my favourite places in London. I've only been twice but on both occasions the food was top notch and the service was friendly and efficient. The menu changes daily based on what fresh ingredients there are available that morning in the markets, but there are a couple dishes that stay the same. My faves include the croquettes, the padron peppers, and the iberico pork fillet. The wine list is also awesome. You have to go.
Rom
Didn t get to try the food properly but the combination of bad service and rudeness by front of house and manager during the 45 minutes wait was bad enough to make sure i will never do.<br/>Do yourself a favour: book a flight to Madrid or San Sebastian if you want top tapas, wines with friendly people serving you. It will probably be quicker,cheaper and a much better experience. Then again, what do I know (as the manager told me)?I m only HALF Spanish! and lived there for 10 years...And so<br/> I left without trying the most of food...damn!<br/> A big NO NO NO NO from me. Sorry Jose, but you need to make some changes with your staff EVEN if it s only a tapas bar ....
Secret Scoffer
Located on the now trendy Bermondsey Street is Jose Pizarro’s Spanish Bar, Jose. Serving up a whole range of Tapas dishes, Jose has kept his plates very traditional here rather than put a modern twist on them like many of these eateries that are popping up. However, they may be traditional, but they are still very good.<br/><br/>As usual we picked around 8 small plates followed by dessert. The small plates consisted of Jamon Iberico, Pan Con Tomate (Tomato Bread), Beetroot with Gorgonzola, Pisto with Manchego, Calamares, Chicken Wings, Croquetas and Iberico Pork Fillet. Each little dish was welcome and sending a Spanish sensation through my body, and I could have been sitting anywhere in Spain, rather than London. The Tomato Bread was perfect with the right amount of Garlic bringing enough flavour, but not overpowering the dish. The Beetroot was nice and fresh, the Gorgonzola giving a nice subtle punch to the taste buds. The Croquetas were crispy on the outside, creamy and flavoursome inside. I enjoyed these very much. The star of the show was the Iberico Pork Fillet. Even writing this I’m starting to salivate over my keyboard. This was so good. So good! I’ve never had pork like this before, and never as pink as it was. It was the best pork I have ever had. My fellow scoffer agreed. Just wow! I may have danced in my seat and if Jose was there I would have kissed him. Dessert was a Chocolate pot and a Rice Pudding. Both were very simple and traditional dishes, but both very pleasing.<br/><br/>The venue itself is quite small and does get very busy. However, the staff are very efficient at getting you seated as soon as they can. They are also very friendly, accommodating and very helpful on recommendations. There is a good wine list available by both glass and the bottle and very well priced. So if you like the sound of a traditional, rustic tapas bar with a local feel, then a visit here is a must. I’m looking forward to returning again soon.
Gin Fizz Girl
The ham croquettes were divine and my friend and I ordered them twice because we couldn’t get enough of them. They were perfect. The perfect combination of creamy and crispy with divine little bits of Iberica ham.<br/><br/>We also had the razor clams that came little pieces of chorizo and subtle mint sauce. Some almonds and olives to nibble on and pan con tomato to start with. The tomato bread was awesome. And I have to say I much prefer the croquettes and pan con tomato at Jose than those at Barrafina (sacrilege, I know)<br/><br/>I tried a glass of Manzanilla sherry. This was my first brush with drinking sherry and I quite liked it. The staff were pleasant and helpful and I’m definitely going to go back. With 2 more glasses of wine – we paid around 25£ each.<br/><br/>So YES – you must try out Jose if you’re on Bermondsey Street and you love Spanish food.<br/><br/>Ideal for 2 people or even if you’re just going by yourself. Definitely not for more than groups of 3 (very small space). It's the perfect place to catch up with a friend, spending ages talking and eating - which is exactly what I did :)
Oytun Calapover
This joint really is a tapa BAR, not a tapas restaurant. Jose is doing an awesome job there running the small kitchen and the equally small seating (read: standing) area. About 30% of the menu is custom-shizzle for the day on a rotating basis.<br/><br/>They serve sparkling water off the tap for free, which is a nice touch. All the tapas are very simple yet super-tasty. But the real deal, the real value proposition, selling point is the jamon iberico. They have the jamon coming in from Maldonado , which is not that easy to come by even in Spain (http://www.ibericosmaldonado.com/) . Jose slices the thing himself with great precision and the required art. It looks at least as good as it tastes.<br/><br/>Pairing it with one of their sherries based on recommendation is the thing to do. Now, this place does get crowded, but it is a tapa bar after all, and that is to be expected. Another one of those joints that make Bermondsey cooler by the day.
Fiona Barrows
I met Jose Pizarro last year at my first We Feast. I got mildly over excited and asked him for a photo. He looked slightly bemused at the request but nevertheless obliged. At the time I had not eaten in either of his restaurants, so quickly made plans to visit Pizarro for my birthday later that month. It wasn’t until the day that I saw a tweet from him saying the restaurant was shut that night for renovations. I silently sobbed onto my keyboard, and then booked a table at one of my favourite restaurants, Moro. It was a lovely evening but I was gutted I didn’t get to try his fabled sweetbreads.<br/><br/>Anyway, almost a year later, I still hadn’t been to either, so when Seán suggested we went to Jose, I quickly said yes, and arranged to meet him there for a late lunch last Sunday (not the Murray final day, the one before. I’ve got behind in blogging).<br/><br/>As it was a glorious day I thought I would work up an appetite by walking along the river from Westminster. This was a lovely idea in theory, in practice, as soon as I stepped out of Westminster tube and into the swarm of people, I developed a violent case of tourist rage. WHY ARE YOU WALKING SO SLOWLY? IT’S ONLY A BLOODY CLOCK! LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING! I’m normally pretty nice to tourists. I get asked for directions quite often (I have an unintimidating face), and am more than happy to give them, or tell them their plan is rubbish and suggest a better one, but whether it was the heat, or just the sheer volume of them, I completely lost my cool and turned into the huffing elbowing type of Londoner I hate.<br/><br/>After a sweaty, slightly stressful, hour of walking I arrived at Jose on Bermondsey Street and was very thankful to be shown to a seat at the bar almost straight away. I ordered a bottle of chilled water (both still and sparkling is complimentary), and once re-hydrated took in my surroundings. The restaurant is small, with a tiny open kitchen in the corner, and on that day hot and packed full of people. It feels very authentically Spanish with a jamon hanging from the bare brick wall, dark wood wine racks, a cool marble bar and an upturned barrel serving as a table base. Add the sweat dripping down my back, the handsome chefs and waiters, and the elderly male customer with a red nose, straw fedora and classic sock / sandal combination, and I genuinely felt like I was on holiday.<br/><br/>While I waited for Seán (he was actually only 3 minutes late this time, possibly a record) I chatted to the barman about which sherry is a good one to try if you are somewhat of a sherry virgin. He suggested either the Fino Clásico or Manzanilla Clásica (both £4 a glass). When Seán arrived we ordered one of each to share. Both were light and dry, but I personally preferred the Manzanilla which was fresher and sharper, and had a slight saltiness to it from the vines having been grown near the coast. We then entered into a 10 minute, mildly fraught, discussion about what to order. After a long debate, and a few recommendations from the waiter, we ordered 6 dishes to share.<br/>First to arrive were the golden croquetas (£6), the thin crunchy coating giving way to a creamy inside made simply from spinach and a bechamel sauce so rich I could have sworn it has cheese in it. The generous wedge of tortilla (£4), which I had previously had at his pop-up at Hay Festival, was delicious, with the paprika sprinkled yellowy eggs holding together thin slivers of potato. How does he get two such basic ingredients to taste this good? The pan con tomate (£3.50) was slightly disappointing, but then anything that relies heavily on the flavour of the tomatoes used is bound to be, anywhere away from the Mediterranean. The bread was very soft and chewy though. The fresh tiger prawns (£7.50) were served tossed in chunks of sweet garlic and thick strips of fiery chilli. The seabream (£8) was lightly pan-fried with red peppers and tiny pieces of salty, chewy jamon. The quality and cooking of the fish was excellent. My favourite dish however, was one of the waiter’s recommendations, secreto Iberico (£8). The meat, which is cut from the shoulder of the pig, was very very lightly cooked (almost raw), and then sprinkled with sea salt, and a liberal amount of fruity olive oil. It was so simple, but so incredibly delicious, that Sean and I spent the 5 minutes it took to eat it batting away each other’s forks. We finished off with a slice of heavenly peach and cherry tart (£4), and two coffees (con leche for me, no leche for him).<br/><br/>I left wondering why I have not eaten there every single week since I moved to London. Seriously. I cannot wait to go back. Neither can Seán, but that might be more to do with the handsomeness of one of the chefs than anything else. Afterwards we walked further along the river to Tower Bridge (luckily this stretch is much less touristy), and ended up at the most perfect cocktail bar. But more on that later…
The Food Connoisseur
I ended up at Jose, after finding Zucca was fully booked for the night. I first met Jose Pizarro very briefly at Scala’s supper club a few years ago. I’ve tried some of his food at his stall in Maltby Street and knew the food would not disappoint. Bermondsey street is quickly becoming my never fail places to go to for exceptional food. Jose has two restaurants conquering the popular street, both serving Spanish tapas.<br/><br/>Jose restaurant was very busy the night I visit we waited a good 10 mins or so for seats, the place is packed out and tight to even walk around the tables. The place is cosy and buzzing with atmosphere of diners and open kitchen frantically preparing the food.<br/><br/>What I love about Spanish tapas, it is wise to order plenty of small plates to share. The menu periodically changes, depending on what Jose can source from the market nearby. Most dishes are from £6+ and portions are small, delectable delicious and mouth watering, you would want to lick every plate clean.<br/><br/>Every single dish wowed us over; it tantalised and satisfied all our taste buds.<br/>They were executed very well, appetizing on the eye flavoursome and all whipped up to perfection. It’s very rare for me to give a restaurant 5/5 for food, but it was insane. The seating is quite cramped but if you can get passed that the food is exceptionally fantastic.<br/><br/>It was around £35 per a person all the dishes can mount up, but it is worth every single penny. I will be back!<br/><br/>
Edgeandspoon
Roll up, roll up. This is a positive review. Which has nothing to do with arriving at the restaurant three sheets to the wind after a morning spent wine tasting. I love José for all the wrong reasons. It’s one of few London places I laud for its no booking policy. I say restaurant – it’s a tiny bar with strategically placed barrels and the odd stool for the lucky few. But thank goodness it’s always full; everything seems to taste better with aching feet. The chef behind the name, José Pizarro, plied his trade in some of the UK’s top Spanish kitchens, by way of Madrid’s renowned Meson de Doña Filo. And the best thing? He’s actually in the kitchen.<br/><br/>If you’ve walked there (or stumbled from Vinopolis) you’ll first appreciate the complimentary still and sparkling water. Then the fact there’s no menu, only a short list of chalked-up daily specials. And finally the swift service, as morsels of tapas zoom around the room. We tried much of what zoomed: Tempura chicken livers (£6), Garlic prawns (£6), Clams (£5), as well as some familiar favourites; Chorizo (£5), Patatas Bravas (£4), Croquetas (£6), and Jamon Iberico (£9). Everything is markedly simple, but evidently uses the freshest ingredients (from nearby Borough Market?) and is prepared with care. Even our vegetarian got stuck into all things meaty. If you’re in a group, portion sizes can be inconsistent, so be prepared to fight for that last mouthful. A light, floral and inoffensive Cata Rosa, Viura, Navarra, 2011 (£19.50) slipped down rather too easily, but I’d recommend utilising the charming staff’s knowledge of sherry, and try an (underpriced!) fino or manzanilla by the glass.<br/><br/>The open kitchen can get very hot and noisy, so those of a civilised disposition will be glad to hear that Pizarro, a more formal, reservable spin-off, can be found just down the road. And yes, they have seating. José’s food isn’t breathtakingly spectacular – but it is tummy-rumblingly comforting. Especially when half-sozzled on a balmy Saturday afternoon.<br/><br/>£70 for 4 (with service)
Anuradha Bhatnagar
For Jose I wish I was unemployed, for then I could waltz in for the mid-day, mid-week, and fill that hole in my stomach that is magically created, every time I think of Jose. Thankfully I am not unemployed though, and I can continue to eat here on a semi-regular basis, despite the weekend and weeknight crush. There's always a welcoming smile here, and if you have the good sense to wait it out, and the flexibility to move from barrel table to the not-so-coveted spot by the bathroom, to next to the pillar, all the while sipping and eating, and laughing and gawking at the open kitchen, and eavesdropping on all the conversations around you in a VERY tightly packed room, you WILL, I promise you, Herve, the magician maitre'd will ensure, that you WILL end up at the marble topped bar, or at the side windows, wondering how you got so lucky. Even if you don't have that time, you're still lucky, because you're eating some of the best tapas in London - melt in your mouth jamon croquetas, the freshest pan con tomate, prawns in hot garlic oil, meatballs, squid, hake, jamon and chorizo, and the wine - cava, and perhaps a bottle of white, and for the first time in my life a sparkling red. I always overeat when I come here, simply as I must try everything, it's fresh, it's cooked simply and beautifully, and when you have Jose himself behind the counter (he visits, a LOT), it's magnifico. You're in sunny Spain here, though it's cold outside, this place is a beacon of warmth on Bermondsey street, and a chance to look at that lovely tree - just outside - through the seasons. Very different from Pizarro, and Brindisa, the quality of food is just as good if not better (smaller kitchen). Pricey, if you overeat, like I do, a meal for two with wine about £90, but it can be much much cheaper. I've even heard that vegetarians love the place. Top tip - no reservations, don't bother coming here with more than two people, no fun - go to Pizarro down the street instead. Confession - this is my most favouritest restaurant in London.
No Expert
For me it was a case of third time lucky, as we finally managed to get a seat in Jose (Jose Pizarro's tiny Tapas bar in Bermondsey Street). We did this by choosing a non standard time though - 2 o'clock on a Monday! It was worth it. Excellent service and some pretty superior Tapas dishes.<br/><br/>We ordered some delicious Tomato bread, Patatas Bravas, Lamb Albondigas, Hake, Lentils and Chorizo with a couple glasses of wine. Then for dessert we had a juicy soft pear poached in red wine and a dish of cold rice pudding - divine. We thought the bill might be excessive as it is very easy to keep ordering Tapas dishes without realising just how much the costs are mounting up. However we were pleasantly surprised at how reasonable our lovely lunch was. £25 a head for two glasses of wine, two coffees and seven Tapas dishes isn't bad for London.<br/><br/>We'll be back.
TheBhatt
We went for dinner here after reading all the great reviews and having walked passed it a few times. And I have to say it didn't disappoint. Cosy and very buzzy the atmosphere is great and we were met my friendly wait staff as soon as we walked in. It was about half hour wait for a table (well stool at the bar, this isn't a formal 'sit down' kind of place) but were brought a drink while we waited and were happy to chat and soak up the vibe. When we sat down a very friendly waitress helped us with the menu and made some great recommendations, all of which was delicious. And to top it off a nice surprise when the bill arrived as it wasn't nearly as much as I thought it might be, plus no service added ( when does that ever happen in London?). Needless to say we left a generous tip and will be heading back soon.
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