Meson Don Felipe

We often go to the old and young vic, so this is a very convenient post theatre location. We hadn't been for a long time – having been regulars many years ago – due to a not great experience, but thought we should give it another shot a few months ago.

The tapas was just very poor quality. And the atmosphere was no longer great. Compares very badly with the quality of tapas now available around London. We won't be back unless something major changes.

This tapas bar is pretty low on the scale of tapas bars in London. It is very popular because of its location near theatres but the service is poor and the food is also not great. When I asked the barman for a glass of wine he told me to relax. The judias verdes dish is good as are the calamares, but beware the pimientos padron. I nearly choked on the hottest chilli I have ever had – and the peppers in this dish are not supposed to be hot at all. Also it was outrageously expensive and you cannot hear yourself think!!

The reason why I've added such an awful rating is because it was. The food was the most appalling attempt at Spanish cooking I have ever seen. Even the waiter was embarrassed. We ordered Pan Catalan – it came served as 3 sliced pieces of Sunblest bread (or Pan Bimbo if you are Spanish) and a pot of tinned tomato. I complained and was told that barra bread was only available if you bought Jamon Serrano! I then ordered Higaditos de pollo – chicken livers in sherry. Have you seen the size of a chicken ?- well the livers aren't very big. We got calves liver, cut up into cubes in gravy. It was quite revolting. The manager said she didn't know what chicken livers were like as she didn't eat meat. I actually gave the waiter who served us a tip because i felt so sorry for him. He was Spanish and horrified by what he was serving but said the majority of English people didn't notice. The owners should try wandering around London and see places like Moro, Barra Fina, and Brindisa and look at the competition. I wouldn't touch this place with a foot long chorizo.