Dehesa

bellaphon

Smitten 11th January 2009

3 found this helpful

I’m somewhat reluctant to discuss Dehesa, let alone review it. It’s now my regular Sunday haunt; this is where I can turn up in my hole-y jeans together with the Sunday Times and let the pleasure dictate the rest of the afternoon. This place is quite often deserted on Sundays, a blessed gratification for all those solo diners (like myself) who abhor being gazed at; which is why I want to keep (rather selfishly I may add) this restaurant to myself. Then again it needs more patronage to justify its Sunday opening, so I’ve reluctantly done my bit to encourage you folks to turn up and enjoy your newfound Sunday sojourn.

Sundays here mean brunch and tapas are served till the late and lazy afternoon, so the ideal location within Carnaby Street is perfect for walking off the acquired excesses. The ambience is relaxed and warm. The efficient service reflects the said ambience.

Although the offerings at Dehesa are inspired by the cuisine of Spain and Italy, I can’t help but compare my findings to both Barrafina and Tierra Brindisa. I can confirm that Dehesa is certainly the cheapest of the three and the quality of its food sits between the two. This is one of those restaurants where you’ll want to come back again and progressively eat the entire menu. The food here is simply stunning.

At the time of writing one can easily have a decent meal for less than fifteen a head to include well served tap water and no intoxicating grape juice. I’m indebted to Dehesa for I’m genuinely smitten.

PS Least you can do when making an appearance is to order the cinnamon dusted churros with thick chocolate from the weekend brunch menu; I’m beginning to think they are the nonesuch and the best in London.

Izabel_blue

Warm atmos, amazing food 3rd December 2008

3 found this helpful

I've been to Dehasa twice now - once in the wonderful wonderful private dining room downstairs, and once in the lively tapas bar on the ground level. I've been impressed both times, for different reasons.

When I had dinner in the downstairs room (a corporate evening out) we had plate after plate of wonderful tapas the real standouts were some basics (tortilla, patatas fritas) and also the aforementioned courgette flowers which were awesome. I was seriously impressed by how many great vegetarian tapas there were, and the meaty stuff looked good too. The service was excellent, and we swilled Manzanilla and had a grand old time.

I returned with my own money last weekend to see if it could match the corporate evening out. Me and two friends rushed to Dehasa after a film, hoping to take advantage of their 'no bookings' policy on a busy Saturday night - only to find that the had changed the policy and now take bookings! Oh dear. Out we went onto the pavement, trying to figure out where to go instead - when one of the staff members ushered us back in. "We would be heartbroken if we couldn't find a seat for you"- and hence we found ourselves in the middle of a lively shared table, sitting on (comfortable) stools and occasionally joining in the conversations around us - a very unique experience for London!

The food continued to be stellar - standouts included the scallops on cauliflower puree and some amazing puddings- a Clementine tart for me, poached pears with sorbet for my friends. We left £40 each lighter, but that included lots of tapas, a glass of sherry each, a bottle of wine, and puddings and coffee- so pretty good value - the smallish sizes of the tapas left room for dessert, but I can understand how you could leave a bit peckish if you didn't indulge in a pud at the end.

I'm really looking forward to going back - love the atmosphere and ambiance... and the food!

But forewarned: call and book first if you can!

Niamheen

Cosy Soho Tapas 21st October 2008

6 found this helpful

I've walked past Dehesa countless times and have always wanted to go in, but never did. It's one of the new wave of tapas establishments sweeping London, remniscent for me of Fernandez & Wells, all wood, high counters and stools, legs of ham and always busy. Why have I never gone in? I couldn't really say, I'm often just wandering or on my way somewhere when I pass it and there was just never the opportunity, it seemed.

What changed? A friend of mine started working nearby and told me about the courgette flowers. It was only a matter of weeks once that information became available that I found myself seated, waiting patiently for them, whilst sipping a lovely glass of red wine.

I was there on one of those lovely Autumn evenings that are dark with a nice bite in the air, and whilst wandering the streets peering in windows, everywhere looks so inviting. Dehesa was busy, but I managed, with luck, to nab two stools by the counter. With their no booking policy I think I was quite lucky to get these, as shortly after a queue had formed.

Service was quick, as Litro_K says, although I didn't find it too invasive, I was waiting for my friend for about 15 minutes and they were happy to let me sit there with my glass of wine. Wine experts look away for you will tut at me: the wine list is divided into light, medium and fuller bodied sections for both red & white, which I found really useful and educational.

Once my friend arrived, I was well versed with the menu and we ordered. We went with the sublime courgette flowers, stuffed with monte enebro cheese and drizzled with honey, the chargrilled onglet of beef with roasted beetroot and horseradish, some charcuterie (chorizo and wild boar sausage), three manchego's with membrillo and some chips. To drink I had some Fariña, Joven 2007 by the glass.

So, what of the food? I couldn't criticise the quality or the composition, it was gorgeous, expertly put together and very pretty, everything tasted fabulous. The courgettes were lovely and tender with a little ball of cheese tucked away in the flower, a crisp coating and a drizzle of honey. The beef was rare and sublime, I could have done with more horseradish but otherwise it was perfect. The three manchegos were lovely, they varied by age and intensity and the membrillo had some nuts in which provided a nice textural contrast and taste. The charcuterie was very good, thin slices of chorizo with thicker and rounder chunks of the wild boar sausage. The chips, well, they were good chips! Nice and crispy, floury in the middle, what more do you need?

If I were to criticise, I would say there really wasn't enough courgette flowers for the price. However. they were gorgeous, and I will go back and have them again. We paid £30 a head, and we didn't leave hungry nor full, but feeling like we'd had some wonderful food and some nice wine. We'd both had hectic days but left feeling relaxed, it has a lovely ambience.

Next time, or sometime soon, I would love to check out their private room downstairs. It looks tiny and intimate, and they allow you to play music from your own ipod which is a lovely touch. So, Dehesa, I salute you, but can I have more courgettes next time, please?

curlynewf at 21/10/08

Sounds delightful, would love to check this out. On my list :-)

k_thrn at 21/10/08

Sorry I was late.

Lacrimosa at 21/10/08

We DEMAND more courgette flowers!

Niamheen at 21/10/08

I'll go with you curlynewf.

k_thrn - lol - that was not a passive aggressive message in my review! It's usually me that's late and it's never a problem when I have a glass of wine in my hand. Besides, now that I recall, you were late because I was late and changed the time? :-) Anyhoo, we should all go again. Courgette flowers.... mmmmm.

Niamheen at 21/10/08

Lacrimosa - absolutely! More courgette flowers!

bellaphon at 21/10/08

Bring your own iPod, well in this case I think Steely Dan's Gaucho would go down well with the three manchegos.

Niamheen at 21/10/08

Haha! Great suggestion. You could have a different genre for every course/dish. Something dark and moody for the beef and light and frivolous for the courgettes :)

bellaphon at 21/10/08

Cool. In this case Leonard Cohen's The Traitor for the onglet and Kate Nash's rendition of the Artic Monkeys' Fluorescent Adolescent more than compliments the courgettes.

gastro1 at 21/10/08

Onglet and Courgette flowers are two of my favourite things - it's on my hit list !

Niamheen at 22/10/08

bellaphon - genius - you should start a consultancy offering your music and food matching services :-)

gastro1 - great! looking forward to hearing how you get on.

FoodStories at 22/10/08

I'm with you on the wine list, being no expert myself either I could do with a little help like that! Those courgette flowers do sound mighty fine, more more more!

Niamheen at 22/10/08

FoodStories - absolutely! Then we can learn. The courgette flowers were mmmm.mmmm.mmmmm. :-)

hollowlegs at 22/10/08

Another to add to the (ever growing) list. I've never had courgette flowers... sob... sob!

Niamheen at 22/10/08

Someday soon you shall! :-) They're yummy!

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Litro_K

Please, sir, may I have some more? 18th April 2008

5 found this helpful

Ever since I went to The Salt Yard, I have wanted to try its smaller sister restaurant, Dehesa. At the former, I spent an entire Saturday afternoon gobbling delicious tapas, quaffing glasses of exquisite wines, and rounding off the whole gorgeous experience by stuffing my face with deliciously sinful chocolate cake. I whiled away hours with a friend, eating at the bar, the staff politely leaving us to our gluttony and overindulgence, only stopping by occasionally to make measured suggestions.

Dehesa is a different experience somewhat. I know I should try not to compare the two, but I couldn’t help it, given the similarities of their menus and wine lists. Firstly, Dehesa is small. The whole place seats maybe 60 or 70 people, and everyone is perched on high stools and small tables. The place fills up very quickly, and they don’t take bookings, so there’s a definite feel of rushing you in and out.

We ordered the stellar courgette flowers stuffed with Monte Enebro cheese and drizzled with honey (I’d had these at Salt Yard and they floored me), plus mozzarella wrapped in proscuitto, sumptuous olives and grilled, oil-drizzled bread, chicken saltimbocca and grilled tiger prawns. The food is flawless. But there isn’t enough of it. The prawns were more than £6 a plate, and that included a total of 4 of them. Four measly prawns. The wines are spectacular, and the rosé prosecco seemed popular too. I can’t fault the desserts either. We left satisfied, but not overly full, and our bill with two wines by the glass and tap water was just shy of £50, so not incredible value for money. Had I been given more time to savour the goods, and been left to steep in my own juices in a dark corner for a while, I would have happily ordered more and not balked at the price of the prawns.

Quite simply, this place would benefit from more a roomier, more comfortable locale, and a slightly less efficient kitchen and staff. I can’t believe I’m writing that, but it’s true- they need to relax a little. Just a little.