It had been a while since a visit to Brindisa. There was a particular fondness for the old Shoreditch outpost, which sadly closed in March 2022. It was closer, easier to get to and, most importantly, usually a little easier to grab a table.
Still, the memories remain: authentic Spanish tapas, relaxed plates made for sharing and that feeling of stumbling across a brilliant little bar while wandering the narrow cobbled streets of Barcelona.
So, a return to Brindisa was long overdue.
The current menu keeps things reassuringly Spanish, with plenty of familiar favourites alongside seasonal dishes. This is food designed for the table rather than the individual, so ordering a selection and passing everything around is very much encouraged.
Start with the essentials: pan con tomate, Gordal olives, Padrón peppers, tortilla española and, naturally, jamón and croquetas. For seafood, gambas al ajillo bring sizzling prawns with garlic and chilli, while Galician octopus comes with potatoes, paprika and olive oil.
There are also some tempting seasonal plates, including heirloom tomatoes with Gredos goat’s curd, grilled cauliflower with Verdina bean purée and chimichurri, and Ibérico pork dishes that bring plenty of rich, Spanish flavour.
Then there is the cheese. The Tabla de Oro, featuring four award-winning Spanish cheeses with rustic picos, is practically a requirement for anyone who believes a meal isn’t finished until the cheese arrives.
The atmosphere is just as important as the food. Brindisa has that relaxed, sociable energy that makes tapas so enjoyable. Plates appear, glasses are topped up and conversations stretch on. Nobody seems particularly interested in rushing.
And if the restaurant leaves a craving for more, Brindisa’s retail arm makes it easy to recreate the experience at home, with Spanish cheeses, meats, deli favourites, gifts and hampers.
It might not be a cobbled Barcelona street, but Brindisa still manages to bring a little bit of that Spanish spirit to London. And that’s something worth coming back for.
www.brindisa.com
