World Foodie Guide

[UPDATE: I revisited Barrafina on 20/04/2009, so please read new review here]

I ate at this tapas bar in Soho exactly one week ago and I’ve been dreaming about returning ever since. That’s how sublime the experience was. As Barrafina doesn’t take reservations, and there are only 23 stools around the counter, I would strongly advise avoiding peak times (especially 8-10pm), as you might have to wait for up to an hour. It’s open from noon to 11pm, so if you eat off-peak, you won’t feel so rushed, as the people waiting will be standing impatiently behind you. There are several tables outside, but you would feel really cut off from the food and buzzy ambience if you chose to sit there.

My friend and I turned up at 5.15, when it was still quiet and the extremely friendly waiter had plenty of time to explain the menu and the specials (seafood delivered daily from Colchester) to us. Throughout the evening, the service was totally relaxed and friendly, and we had a thoroughly great time.

I have to confess, we ordered far too much food, but it was impossible to resist some of the specials, of which we had the razor clams a la Plancha (garlic heaven), cuttlefish wrapped in pancetta with ink sauce (utterly heavenly) and two large prawns each (very fresh but not that special when compared to all the other dishes).

From the regular menu, we had Pimientos de Padron (not that spicy, therefore perfect for me), thick bread with olive oil, octopus with capers, grilled lamb cutlets (very tender pink meat – I could have eaten both of them!), mussels a la Plancha (the best my friend said she’s had in the UK) and tantalising thick chips with Brava sauce.

The portions were more than substantial and we would have been perfectly full with two dishes less. But when confronted with so many tempting choices… With service charge, the final bill (including two glasses of wine) came to approximately £70. Not cheap at all, but certainly worth every penny. Can’t wait for the next visit.

10 – Perfection, 9.5 – Sensational, 9 – Outstanding, 8.5 – Superb,
8 – Excellent, 7.5 – Very Good, 7 - Good, 6.5 - Above Average, 6 – Average

All the London restaurant reviews on World Foodie Guide

Contact Details:
Barrafina
54 Frith Street
London W1D 4SL
Tel: 0207 813 8016
www.barrafina.co.uk

Helen Yuet Ling Pang @ World Foodie Guide

Tags: Barrafina, dining out, food, London, restaurant review, restaurants, tapas, traveleating