Cigala

Popped in here for lunch on a Sunday. The place was so quiet which was sad as it was such a great find (but good if the sun is out and then you are guaranteed a seat outside!). The waitress told us that during the week the place is heaving so the weekend is the best bet for some relaxation there.

The food was very good. I tried the albondigas (which were lamb with a small bit of mint) in a rich tomato sauce. Also had chicken croquettas which were lovely with a rich creamy texture. The pimentos del Padron were excellent, with the obligatory 1 in 10 being a scorcher. I also had grilled chorizo which was tasty with the right amount of saltiness. The tortilla espanola was excellent, cold, as it should be, with chunky pieces of potato - it was prepared in the morning, as it should be, leaving time for the flavours to strenghten although it did need a bit of salt. The wine list was excellent. I had a summery glass of tempranillo rose.

The only reason why I haven't given a five star rating to this was because the albondigas were not as warm as they could have been and the bread was a tad stale. But these were minor things and overall the meal was outstanding. The service was excellent and we sent our compliments to the chef who apparently was one of the founders of Moro down the road. The bill came to around 25 per head for lunch which included one glass of wine. A bit of the expensive side but there was so much to try and we went for it. Left the restaurant feeling stuffed and highly satisfied. I will be back!