El Curioso — Restaurant in Broxbourne

I’d like to clarify that the staff were lovely and very polite and professional. The chef however needs to be sacked. The bruschetta is not bruschetta at all, but shop bought garlic bread heated in the oven. On the menu it said “roasted vegetable” which apparently to the chef means the world’s amount of lettuce absolutely drowned in some vinigary dressing with one slice of roasted courgette. This is not bruschetta. Our tapas were clearly frozen as they had no fried calamari but did have the “grilled” calamari which came out of the microwave bubbling hot and therefore very very over cooked and rubbery. The Chorizo had a very strange piece of white bread floating in the pool of meat juices, and by the end of the meal it looked absolutely disgusting. I don’t know how the chef thought that that looked good or even that someone could want to actually eat it. The final item, Spanish omelette cane or as two slices of potatoe cake tasting of nothing. Really disappointing. The only thing actually resembling the description on the menu was the potatas bravas, which was nice. At least the chef can cook potatoes. Again the staff were very gracious and professional but I think the business should invest in decent ingredients and ditch the easy...

I'd struggle to suggest that this is an authentic Paella. The rice is more a risotto type than the Bomba rice typically used. There was no trace of Saffron which is essential in Paella. The chicken and chorizo chunks were just that, chunks of questionable quality thrown in after the rice had been cooked. The quantity was disappointing too. Prawns were also included but there was only 2, although they were of the king variety.

Having been fortunate enough to eat real Spanish Paella on the beaches of Ibiza all my life, I can honestly say that this isn't even close. A real paella is cooked with passion, in a heavy pan over a wood fire with a cornucopia of ingredients thrown in whilst the rice is cooking. The flavours should inspire and confuse, with fresh fish and meat taking over from the succulent rice.Scraping the burnt bits at the bottom of the pan is a joy that few will experience.

This feels like a commercial attempt to cash in on the popularity of Paella and sadly it has failed. What a shame.

Almost £14 for a box of stodgy rice is an insult to the Spanish. There is a market for this, but only if it...

I don’t normally write reviews but felt compelled to after my recent experience - After reading the reviews and some recommendations from friends (albeit a few years ago) I Booked for my wife’s birthday and to be honest I wished I hadn’t, although the staff were friendly, the food was awful, where to start.

Chuletas De Cordero - for £19 was 6 cube of lamb that had the texture and taste of rubber.

£13 for a chicken breast that dryer than the Sahara.

£38 for 2 seafood paella’s that were all but inedible, the seafood was that I can only describe as “chewy” at best, majority of the mussels where closed and the dish had no flavour!

A chicken burger that I had to send back as I asked for no mayo, which seem like they just wipe off and put back on the grill for a few extra minutes = dry AF

Arroz Latino - which was just stingy beef swimming in oil with chilli and a side of rice.

Hopefully this review does what I intend it to do and gives this place the kick up the backside so they can get back to the place the prior made...