Can't book, the line was an hour.
However the staff were excellent at ensuring we had sufficient wine while waiting ... The food/experience is about as good as you could hope anywhere in the world.
Staff attentive and helpful, relaxed and enjoyable...
Would not recommend coming here with much more than a couple. No groups.
However, the have a private dining room (for groups) which I intend to enquire about booking!
G
Wonderful tapas restaurant near convent garden. No bookings available for this restaurant and although the queue can look long, people tend to finish food around the same time so we were seated quite quickly. The food was fresh and delicious. The ox tongue was beautiful and the octopus met our expectations. The big surprise was the aubergine on the toast which we had at the end and I would highly recommend it - such a wonderful and refreshing explosion of flavours.
A place for fresh sea food and it's amazing
Ambience mind blowing words are less for it
And food explain more then ambience
Enjoy a overall service
Impossible to go wrong with anything you order at Barrafina, everything is so absolutely tasty and the staff is happy and fun. The tortilla is a must order as well as their croquettes.
First thing is that this place is not for more than 2 person. The reason is two fold: one tapa is small in size, two they literally only have bar chairs and small tables outside. (There seems to be larger seating place in the basement but not open to use at lunch time) We were a group of four and we eventually made it work by pulling two tables outside together in a rainy autumn day.
Foodwise it's above average. A bit on the heavy side because of the heavy cream and butter in the rice and mashed potato, but you know who will say no to comfort food on Sunday? The grilled fish was deliciously! Crispy outside and tender inside, perfect! The Arroz negro is also delicious. Creamy and flavorful. Other dishes are also good. Overall we had a good time with the food, relatively long serving hour, nice service. Seating is the only flaw.
Isn't it funny, how life can suddenly take a wrong turn? All the plans became a blow of a dust and you are left unknowing what to do or what is ahead. Then there are some people that wants to ruin your life for some unknown selfish reasons. Along the way, you lose some friends as well, that used to be your so called "best friends". When life hits your hard, it may not be easy to keep your head above the water. The storm is rough, but it does not last forever. After a storm comes a rainbow, one would say one would become stronger afterward. But what I would say is fake being strong till you make it. It's the only way not to drown.
I’m ashamed to say that Barrafina has passed me by till now. Not deliberately, I’ve intended to go for a while, but I don’t like queues and if I’m honest I generally prefer sitting at a table to sitting at a bar. So, on occasions when the queues at the two better established outlets have been reasonable, I’ve passed on the opportunity and hoped that perhaps my waistline will benefit a bit. Being asked to review Barrafina on Dury Lane, the latest of the group was enough of an incentive to accept I might need to queue (which I didn’t) and I asked The-Hedonist, a long time fan both of Barrafina and Quo Vadis, along for the ride.
Last week my friend Charlotte and I had the most fantastic meal at the new Barrafina on Drury Lane, Covent Garden. We initially tried to get into the Adelaide Street branch but with the wait being over an hour, they directed us to the Drury Lane branch which had a smaller queue, so we hot-footed it down the road to Covent Garden. As we walked in, we were immediately greeted with smiles from the staff behind the counter who said we’d have a short wait. Sure enough, 10 minutes later we were ushered to our spot at the bar.
I’ve passed the Barrafina in Adelaide Street many times. It’s on my frequent route from Waterloo, via Hungerford Bridge and Villiers Street, as I cut up Adelaide Street from The Strand and into Covent Garden. It always looks inviting and I’ve always been on my way somewhere else. The second of three Barrafinas in the capital, it won Best Restaurant at the National Restaurant Awards earlier this year so I knew I’d have to go sometime and last night provided the perfect opportunity. I was on my way to meet some friends from the London Italian Meetup Group at the Royal Opera House to see La Nozze di Figaro. We were meeting at 6.20pm and the opera was to finish at 10.35pm. There was no way the Single Gourmet Traveller would manage a whole evening without food! A couple of plates of tapas early evening seemed ideal. I wouldn’t want to eat a lot … but I would want to eat something!
With its Frith Street branch gaining a Michelin star last year, it's become the tapas joint of choice for most Londoners (and tourists). I actually prefer the Adelaide Street branch, with its menu exclusives (suckling pig, arroz de marisco, etc) and downstairs private dining area but when I stepped into their newest addition on Drury Lane, I was rather smitten.
I've been dying to try the crab bun (£8) for yonks (I'm blaming KS_Ate_Here and Angela Sam) and it is insanely delicious. The crab meat is rich in a super comforting flavour that reminds me of buttery bisque, with a full load of it embraced in a soft but firm brioche bun. This is the holy mother of sliders and you MUST order it when you go. Seriously. YOU MUST GET THIS.
This restaurant serves Spanish tapas, and they do it very well! Came here for lunch, and it got busy very quickly. From what I’ve observed, it’s mostly counter seating which makes the whole experience extra special.
Every tapas was better than the last, evidently using fresh ingredients and excellent chef skills. The service was friendly and attentive, with severs just over the counter.
Fantastic, fresh food served in a cosy setting. Book in advance as there are relatively few seats available in the restaurant.
You may observe the chefs preparing the dish while at the bar. The menu offers many excellent choices. It is too difficult to pick just one :)
Service will blown you away,too!
Very tasty, highly recommended ham croquettas and prawn&piquillo tortillas 👌🏻
All food is fresh and delicious! The atmosphere here is very cool. I truly want to go back sometime. Totally recommend it!
Came here before the opera. Very good selection of food, but it does come at a price. Too expensive? Moot question for London. Great selection of wine. Notice they, like many restaurants, just plop the rubber cork in and do not draw out the air so don’t be shy to return your glass if oxidation is an issue. Nice service and great to see chefs at work. Price might put me off retuning as think Caminos does similar fare at a more reasonable price. I would only sit at the counter as downstairs looks pretty grim so check before you book.
Delicious food with an intimate atmosphere. The restaurant only sits 24 diners so be sure to make a reservation. At the bar you can watch the chefs prepare the food with care. There some great options on the menu and I would recommend the pork ribs. The tortilla is also pretty good. Overall a very nice dinner!
All the food we tried was really delicious. The atmosphere here is very cool. I truly want to go back sometime. Totally recommend it!
AMAZING! amazing vibe, amazing food and service, everyone is so nice there (Adele was THE Best! Just the right amount of service to make you feel taken care without being too much, beautiful!)
Go eat there
Great place for tapas, food was very good and the waiters did explain many items on the menu to us. However, the whole thing felt quite rushed because of another booking. Price is $$$
Food was amazing, and so was the service! Went there for a business lunch and will make it back next time I'm in London. Highly recommend the fried peppers and Gambas Rojas!
This is a very good place to enjoy Spanish food, plus the service is outstanding. Totally recommend this restaurant to enjoy a great meal and wines. I almost forgot taking the picture of the food because was so tasty and, we were enjoying the experience.
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