http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana <b>Cafe Espana</b><br />London, 63 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HT, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1a6po7
Review by foodbymark

Rating: 2.00
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Having just come back from Barcelona I felt the urge to eat Spanish food and a quick net search pointed us at Cafe Espana. Cafe Espana certainly has a lot to live up to - The reviews on lots of sites were glowing, apart from some tell tale reviews from various sites. With expectations set high, it is easy to be let down. The restaurant itself is extremely cramped and we were levered into our tiny area by the stairs upstairs. I had to be careful not to knock the table behind my chair as I skillfully squatted and slid into my seat.

We chose the seafood paella. Paella is the quintessential Spanish dish perhaps one of the best ways of judging a restaurant. Whilst we were able to order very quickly, the dish took 55 minutes to arrive and all we had to quench our hunger was some freshly cut stale bread and a little butter.

When the food did finally arrive, the dish was certainly impressive looking and enough to feed a family of four. But we were quickly disappointed. Whilst seafood ingredients were seemingly plentiful, there were only two king prawns and the rest were tiny shrimps in their shells so small that after you had gone through the effort or deshelling them, there was only smallest crayfish sized shrimp - the effort was hardly worth it. The mussels had been so cooked that they had shrunken and become chewy, the fish was full of bones, the calamari was tough and chewy and we had an assortment of peas ranging of brilliant fresh green to dull brown and mushy. And worst of all the rice had become mushy. Paella rice should be dry and separate when done, not creamy like risotto.

Risotto di mare, with two glasses of house white came to £27. Perhaps in hindsight we should've ordered tapas and perhaps it was a bad day for the restaurant's kitchen. The cooking is standard Spanish fare and there are certainly no culinary flares. Their home style food at knock down prices has certainly won fans but I dare to disagree and unfortunately the Paella here gets two thumbs down.]]> Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:55:18 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1a6po71274052085 foodbymark 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/166m67
Review by greeneyedemu

Rating: 5.00
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Cafe Espana is a little restaurant on Old Compton Street in Soho. It is relatively quiet early on in the evening, or early in the week, but as it gets later a queue starts to form outside the doors and it is a long wait to get a table- this is one very popular restaurant.
I have been to this place loads and only really ever had the tapas, but it is always more than filling, and is one of my favourite places in London- great food with a reasonable price tag! We always have the tortilla Espanola- most tapas places would only give you a slice- here you get the whole thing, and it is delicious! The chorizo con vino is lovely, really tasty and flavoursome. The mussels come with a white wine/garlic sauce. The patatas bravas are also always ordered- they are just the right amount of spicy- not too hot but have nice kick! We also always have the alioli and bread- very very garlicky! Every time I come I am tempted with the amazing looking paella, but the tapas is just so nice! Maybe next time!
The food and drink here is incredibly reasonably priced and is real Spanish food. It rarely comes to more than £15 per person, and we usually eat and drink a lot! The service is really good= very friendly and attentive by genuine Spanish wait staff.
This place is a great place for fantastic cheap food. Iâ¬"d recommend it, definitely.

]]> Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:37:58 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/166m6765788108 greeneyedemu 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/169a37
Review by jovike

Rating: 4.00
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I've been here three or four times and always have the paella because it is the best in the world - yes, I do know because I have spent a couple of weeks trying arroz and paella around Valencia - and never managed to finish one yet because it's too big.

The paella is topped with giant prawns (already removed in my picture), mussels, and contains plenty of chicken, prawns, fish and calamari.

Taking a star off because the music was too loud last time.]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:08:31 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/169a372060440704 jovike 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1k58n9
Review by MattDonegan

Rating: 5.00
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I have to echo Rocio's comments. This is real Spanish food served by Spanish people.My girlfriend is from Granada, Spain, and knows what she likes. Since we found this place we've been 3 times and enjoued most of the menu. Stick to the typical Spanish tapas rather than the mains and you can't go wrong. Tortilla con chorizo, calamares, gambas a la plancha, are all superb. The staff deserve a special mention because they are so nice-which is so rare in London! Can't wait to go back and have another sopa de pescadito. A meal for two will cost around £20-£25 quid, less if you just want to nibble. Que aproveche! ]]> Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:54:49 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1k58n9537763285 MattDonegan 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1z03k8
Review by BenPhillips

Rating: 4.00
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Great value. Food was good, tortilla was the highlight. Friendly and quick service which was good as we didn't have much time before we had to get to the theatre.

Good beer as well. Our bill came to £22 and we had shedloads of food. Would love to go back when we have a bit more time! Recommended.]]> Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:02:38 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1z03k81041184439 BenPhillips 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1v5168
Review by Rocio

Rating: 4.00
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This is a very popular place for Spanish people. Here we can feel like at home eating our beloved tortilla, calamari or paella and drinking sangria. It is not expensive at all and the atmosphere is quite spanish like. ]]> Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:40:17 +0000 /review/uk/london/restaurant/1401x8k/cafe-espana/1v5168902959049 Rocio 51.512428331778 -0.13312339782715