La Perla — Restaurant in Bath

I absolutely love tapas and having lived in Spain for 10 years, I was hugely excited for this meal. You need to pay a £5.00 deposit per person when booking, but I understand why - there is limited seating and as they book up so quickly, "no shows" would just be hugely frustrating.

The atmosphere is really special - underground cellars have been converted into a quirky, modern and romantic space. As you head down some steep concrete stairs, it really is a nice surprise to enter into such a cool space - it's worth visiting for this alone! Tables are really close together and if you have a big group next to you then it's very noisy (not ideal for a romantic and quiet meal). They clearly want to squeeze as many people in as possible. We were lucky enough to have a booth that gave us a bit of space from the large group which was nice as we could easily sit next to each other rather than opposite.

The food was really delicious! The menu is not very extensive but I think that's a good thing - I already struggled deciding what I wanted from the menu they had! We shared 8 tapas between us which was more than enough - they all tasted amazing: patatas bravas, pato confitado, estofado de bavette, croquettas de jamon, plato de jamon iberico, manchego and puntillitas. All DELICIOUS and good portion size for tapas. I would definitely come back for the food.

The service however was dissapointing at the start. We were served by a waiter who seemed to have some sort of issue with us or was just having an awful day. Initially I thought it was perhaps part of an "act" i.e. he thought he was being funny...but he didn't get any better. Frustratingly, he was being very friendly with other tables but as soon as he came to us, the smile and interest totally disappeared. I'm naturally a polite and sociable person and I was so happy just to be there that I always had a smile on my face - we didn't complain about anything and were nice from the very start so I don't quite understand what the issue was. It really tainted our experience. I had ordered the manchego and jamon to have with our aperetif and I forgot to order bread with it - when I tried to catch his attention we were clearly ignored. When I then ordered bread his reaction was "fine". I then realised the bread came without anything (no butter, oil, etc). and I wanted to ask for these things but felt way to afraid he may react annoyed again! I therefore refrained from ordering this until we wanted some more tapas. Our £10 jamon iberico dish was wasted on my feeling nervous and unsettled. I checked with my partner if perhaps it was all in my head but he agreed the waiter was really off with us.

Later in the night however, there was a lovely waitress who took over and she was amazing - so friendly and engaged in coversation with us. I finally felt part of the experience and journey but unfortunately too little too late. She did win back the extra "star" of this review so thank you very much to her for making us feel like...

An Unforgettable Culinary Journey at LA PERLA

Stepping into LA PERLA is like being transported straight to the heart of Spain. From the moment you walk through the doors, you are enveloped in an atmosphere that is both vibrant and intimate, with warm lighting and elegant decor that sets the perfect mood for an unforgettable dining experience.

But the true star of the show is the food—particularly the paella. I’ve had paella in Spain, and I can confidently say that the paella at LA PERLA rivals, if not surpasses, anything I've tasted before. Every bite is a symphony of perfectly cooked saffron-infused rice, tender seafood, and rich, savory flavors that dance on your palate. It's clear that the chef has mastered the art of paella, and it’s no wonder why this dish is celebrated as the best in the world, for me .

The service is equally impressive. The staff at LA PERLA are not just waiters—they’re passionate ambassadors of Spanish cuisine, eager to share their knowledge and love for the food they serve. Attentive without being intrusive, they make you feel like a treasured guest in their home.

The ambiance is the cherry on top of this exceptional dining experience. Whether you're seated inside or on the charming patio, the restaurant’s atmosphere is the perfect blend of lively and relaxed, making it ideal for both special occasions and casual nights out.

In short,LA PERLA is more than just a restaurant—it’s a destination. If you’re looking for the best paella in the world, exceptional service, and an atmosphere that makes every moment special, look no further. LA PERLA is a true gem that deserves every bit of praise...

We visited this restaurant on a hot night in July. We spent 53 minutes here in total showing we weren't happy to hang around for too long.

The food was average I would say. Not bad value for the money but nothing really to shout about. Patatas Bravas and Aubergine dishes were overly greasy with more of a chip shop deep fryer mouth feel and aftertaste than anything else. Fairly bland with no real punch or flavour to them.

The tortilla was too dry and again needed a better balance of seasoning as neither it nor the caramelised onion topping tasted of much at all.

The pork cheek was pleasant though, tender with a semi tart apple sauce and a richer, deeper type reduction accompanying it. The Iberian ham croquetas were average and the cheese overpowered them a little.

Bread selection was basic and microwave hot.

Service was quick but a little odd. We were asked twice during during our meal if we had made a reservation! This is despite being located and ticked off of the reservation list when first arriving. (We had full sight of the bookings for that evening when they checked) We even had to write our name down on a ticket for some unknown purpose.

Also for some reason 3 members of staff felt they needed to be present when we were paying the bill.

Our drinks came out after the food had been set on our table. Service felt rushed and not coherent.

So an average experience but one that we do not think we will...