Tapas recommendations in central London?

[coconutfeet]

I'm taking dp to the theatre for his birthday next month and want to go for a meal afterwards. He's not one for fine dining but would love good, authentic tapas and a nice bottle of wine. Can anyone recommend anywhere nice?

The theatre is on the Strand, so nice and central. It's a matinee performance so we'll have plenty of time to make our way somewhere as long as it's not too far away.

Barrafina is absolutely delicious, very authentic and has a wonderful atmosphere, but you can't book and it's quite small!

Their sister restaurant, Fino is meant to be good, but can't speak from experience.

FWIW, we arrived at 8.30 on a Saturday evening and waited for 45 mins - although with a beer and a snack, so not too bad.

Enjoy

www.barrafina.co.uk/
www.finorestaurant.com/

I am not sure it matters where you get your tapas, as they all seem to serve exactly the same food, in the same serving dishes too.

I am convinced there is a big frozen tapas wholesaler, who deliver ready made food in brown ceramic to all tapas restaurants in London.

Based on having eaten in 5/7 different ones, eating the exact same food.

Ooh, have just seen you're going for a matinee, you should be fine for Barrafina. I implore you to go, it really is wonderful.

Try Wahaca. In covent garden. Tapas - although Mexican, but yummy. Gets busy later (you can't reserve), but I have never had a problem about 6ish.

Fino delicious. Not cheap, but completely delicious.

The Brindisa group of restaurants/cafes also delicious.

Don't know about Barrafina (though it has good reputation). Fino definitely more of a restaurant than a tapas bar, though they do do tapas. Depends what kind of mood you want (have a look at the websites here and here

Brindisa is excellent. They have opened one in Soho recently and you can book (unlike the London Bridge branch).

Also, Dehesa on Kingly Street (just behind Regent Street) is a bit pricey but delicious.

Thanks for all these replies! I like the idea of going somewhere we can book, although if we're going very early I suppose it won't be a problem. I've been to Brindisa in Borough Market for breakfast and it was very good. I will definitely check it out.

Wahaca is great, I agree. The only problem I had when I went was that because we couldn't book we had to wait for an hour at the crowded bar with no seats and I was a bit pissed by the time we sat down to eat. DP's not been though, and I reckon he'd like it.

The others look great too.

I'm off to do some research. Thanks again!