casa brindisa

Squeezed us in last minute on way to Albert Hall for some nice tapas and a bottle of plonk. Certainly not a budget meal. The tortilla was very good but the deep fried goat's cheese with honey dressing was orgasmic. Great ambience apart from the couple two tables away breaking up and the young lady in floods of tears and being left with the bill.

Curse you recession and the perils of exchange rates. The relative strength of the Euro means that certain things are, currently, hugely expensive. And those “certain things” include lovely Spanish exports like proper Jamon Iberico and all the other delicious goodies at Jose Pizarro’s West London outpost.

However, as card-flecxing blowouts go, the simple joys of sliced acorn-fed pigs, so-cold-it-hurts sherry, cheeses, anchovies - the smoked ones, oh god the smoked ones - etc., is as good as it gets - particularly in this still oddly barren area. A lovely vibe, charming service and, if you sit in the little bit downstairs, you can watch the amazing sight of just four or five chefs preparing exemplary tapas dishes for 80+ covers. Worth every penny.

Close to the touristic hustle and bustle of Exhibition Road, this refuge from the people deluge opened its kitchens under the guidance of chef José Pizarro. The atmospheric venue brings the familiar and popular tapas menu of their Borough market tapas to Kensington: padrón peppers, battered cod, Catalan spinach, prawns in garlic and many more.

There is a Jamonería on the ground floor, making a full range of cured hams and charcuterie available both on the menu and to the shopper. Perfect respite for a post museum cultural chillax.