Barcelona tapas bar, 481 Lordship Lane

[Ant]

Just had a takeaway menu for Barcelona tapas bar through my door. Looks delicious and I'm very keen to try it out. Will make a nice addition to the usual curry/chinese/thai. Has anyone tried the food there? Is it any good? Any idea what it's like for eating in?

[trinity]

I have eaten there a number of times and always found the food to be fantastic and the staff very welcoming.

I have to declare an interest though as I know the owner.

[spadetownboy]

been going there on and off for ages,always hits the spot,just a pity its so far up the lane.

[Jah Lush]

Food and service is always very good, although I must say I haven't been there in a while despite living just 300 yards up the road.

[dulwichmum]

Dear Ant,

The staff are always very friendly, go and buy Mrs Ant a nice bottle of their Cava - it is very good, and the food very nice indeed. They have a superb selection of puddings.

Do you need a babysitter? Our au pair is free... (I mean has nothing to do - clearly I cannot say she is free of charge! She is very experienced, and has the patience of a saint) I however, actually, am free of charge and free of all commitments! Hell, we could do the gig together if you like?

[rob]

Mrs Rob and I went there once or twice about four years ago and never really liked it. Service wasn't up to much, food was pretty bland, all that sort of thing. If you want tapas you've got to go the extra mile and make it up to Rebato's. Everywhere else is a bit lame in comparison...

[Keith]

We used to go after work all the time and just loved having a beer at the bar and a few olives and tapas. The guys in there are always so friendly and recommend it to people all the time. Nearly as good as the Finca in Kennington.

[rob]

I'm obviously way off beam on the tapas front as I thought Finca was below par too! It's shut now, hasn't it? I'll stick with Rebato's and the salt yard...

[Jah Lush]

Hardly local though are they Rob?

[timtim]

IMHO, the best Tapas in London is to be had at Meson don Felipe (Waterloo), but Barcelona is an excellent local choice. The Iberico ham is amazing.

[*Bob*]

I've been for many a Tapas in London (it always seems like such a good idea at the time) and have generally ended-up disappointed.. I think the only one I've been too which I genuinely thought was a of a 'good restaurant standard' (as opposed to munchable cafe-standard stuff) was the one by Borough Market (Brindisi..? Is that the name?).

MOAN MOAN MOAN (sorry)

[Keef]

I don't understand the term Tapas, Doesn't it basically just mean bar food? I'm not taking the p!ss here, what makes something Tapas?

[katietatie]

I'm going to continue the defence of Barcelona. I've visited there many times, both with big groups and more intimate dinner a deux with Mr Katietatie and have always found it to be brilliant. The staff have an excellent knowledge of the dishes, and the food has always been wonderful when i've visited, even a few days before christmas when the place was heaving. Only complaint is that the tables aren't big enough for all of the plates!:))

[mockney piers]

I do like the atmosphere in don Felipe, but I've had better Tapas. Unsurprisingly as a Madrile?o it's mostly been in Madrid, but I'd be hard pressed to beat El Rincon Latino off Clapham High St for the genuineness of their product (even if they are Asuturian), the service, the real family concern the whole ideal has and for atmosphere.

Terrific place, but be sure to book at weekends as everyone else clearly loves it too.

Keet, you've put your finger on it. Real tapas originated as being little tiny plates of food plonked on top of your ca?a or glass of beer, with last night's restaurant food served up rewarmed.

This then stretched to being slices of cold meat, sauted kidney etc and has since become a bit more specialized as dedicated small plates of hot and cold bar food.

If you go to Madrid the original concept is still very much on offer (and free) if you avoid the tourist strip (it helps if you speaka da lingo).

Therefore it should be simple and somewhat peasanty. The idea of 'good restaurant standard' (whatever that means) is essentially redundant as it shouldn't be trying to emulate a main meal from these outlets, it should fill a gap between drinks in an earthy and flavoursome manner.

[timtim]

Cheers Mockers.. I'll defintely give El Rincon a try.

T

[*Bob*]

Mockney.. Yes, if you go to Spain (or Italy, for that matter), tasty, simple, good-quality food is given out (for free, or at little cost) as an accompaniment (and and encouragement) to drink. GREAT.

However, here in London, we are mostly talking about restaurants - not bars doing honest nibbles on the side `- such as all the ones mentioned above. And in the majority of these places, by the time you've paid for enough small plates to eat your fill, you're often spending ?25 each on food alone. And for ?25 each, you can eat at some fantastic restaurants London, thus making yer basic meatballs in tomato sauce and garlic prawns seem somewhat less good value.

[mockney piers]

No no, I agree *Bob* it has become somewhat overwrought, and certainly overpriced. The one on Half Moon Lane is good food but once it's tallied up with a couple of bottles of wine you're talking a serious dent in the wallet.

I was just clarifying a point that Keet quite rightly made.

[Jah Lush]

Well done, Keef and Mockney. I'm glad somebody's got the concept of Tapas right. It's nibbles with your drinks. Something on the side to soak up the alcohol. By the way I can also endorse El Rincon Latino, haven't been there for a while though as Barcelona is down the end of my street and that's very good too and I can just stagger back home afterwards and save myself a cab fare. Cheers. :)-D

[Keef]

On a sort of related point, a friend of mine was running a pub in West Norwood a while ago, and to make it nicer for the customers she'd put bowls of potatoes, onion rings, chicken nuggets and the like out on the bar, which everyone loved. Then health and safety came in and threatened to close her down as she'd cooked it upstairs, not in a proper food kitchen! Bloody shame if you ask me, you can't beat a nice roast potato with your pint! ;-)

[Jah Lush]

Yeah, the Herne used to do that on Sundays before it got all ponsified.

[*Bob*]

My old local in Tooting used to put out home-cooked nuggets, potatoes and onion rings out for free on a Sunday as well. They were revolting.

Fortunately, it serves decent food now (like The Herne).

[Jah Lush]

Actually it was just the potatoes. I have to agree with you there Bob, onion rings and nuggets are vile.

[Keef]

So are donner kebabs, but enough beer down your neck, and suddenly it becomes the modern day equivalent of ambrosia! Mmm Donner...

[Jah Lush]

Sad but true Keef, sad but so very true.:)-D

[*Bob*]

Now that's what we need in ED.. a decent Kebaberie. One that serves something other than that 'can of dog food on a revolving stick' business.