Tapas Brindisa

A very busy little tapas bar / restaurant at the edge of Borough market. Décor is as you would expect for a tapas bar ! We’ve eaten here 4-5 times in the last 12 months, most recently end Jan 2010. Our main reason for not eating here more frequently is that unless you turn up at an odd time of day, it can be a long wait.

The staff are generally pleasant and professional, and seem to cope reasonably well with the high customer turnover, although it can sometimes be difficult to get attention.

Brindisa carries quite a limited menu which doesn’t change much, so its fine for the occasional visit. As a result, we normally end up choosing the same dishes – Olives, chartuterie, cheese, salad, Spanish omelette, etc. They don’t serve white bait, meat balls, kidneys and some other Tapas standards. I think the food is good, but not great, with their particular strength being the charcuterie. The highlight of our last visit was the superb large Gordal olives, but at effectively 40p each they should be quite good ! One of their better mixed meat platters was very good, but was £24. The mixed cheese platter of 4 cheeses to share was quite good, but at £15.50 it did not represent great value compared to a good restaurant.

They carry a reasonably good wine choice. We normally end up paying £30- £35 inc service.

Brindisa is very atmospheric, but as another reviewer intimated, it is not cheap and not… More

I've long been a fan of Tapas Brindisa, always been very happy with the exemplary cooking. It was a disappointment last night though :( I've loved this palce for a long time but the food last night was half hearted, lots of little things were missing ofr example the lick of olive oil on the pan tomate, the much overcooked chicken livers needing a splash of sherry vinegar and the very average octopus with potatoes. I wondered if perhaps the expansion into Soho and Kensington has diluted their standards.

I'll be heading off to Barrafina next time, similar prices but far more inspired.

BTW squaremeal, your prices for Brindisa a very low, i'd suggest £30-35 a head without wine is more realistic.

Without a doubt the best place for tapas in London. Tapas Brindisa has had rave reviews from all restaurant critics over the years, and its reputation is certainly derserved.

High quality sourced ingredients, a buzzy cosmopolitan atmosphere that provides as close a feeling of being in Barcelona without being there, and friendly chatty and prompt staff make for a perfect place to enjoy a bit of tapas and a bottle of rioja.

The restaurant does not take bookings, and tables are done on a first come first served basis. The host writes your name up on a board and gets you when it's your turn. Turn around is quick, but during busy times you may have to wait an hour to get seated, however the wait is well worth it.