Tapas Plus — Restaurant in England

Two stars given for old times’ sake. Visited this place about 4-5 times over the years when travelling to Bournemouth. We look forward to coming back because it is one of very few truly authentic feeling Spanish tavernas that we know. I have memories of generous plates of hand carved jamon iberico. However this time was a disappointment to say the least. Same staff but it’s gone very downhill. No longer is quality jamon on the menu - only a plate of mixed meats, diluting the quality. Asked about this and was told they could do a plate of ‘normal jamon’ only - felt pressurised so ordered. Watched the guy go about business handling many things in the bar, including coins, then opened a lunch box and started handling meat onto a plate. So unimpressed with hand hygiene, but the man is over friendly to the point where you don’t feel comfortable complaining. I couldn’t eat it as additionally I had earlier asked for soap as there was none in the three soap canisters in the toilet, and when I asked he had none except some cleaning liquid. Very poor. I didn’t want to face an awkward conversation about why it was uneaten, so wrapped the meat to give to my dog. I could see the meat was like the plastic wrapped cheap meat from a supermarket as well which is a shame. No beer available on any of the taps and my parents were given the spiel about extra brandy in the sangria - clearly not true. Lots of floating bits in water jug. Sad to see this place go downhill, hope it goes back to...

Came for a date. Asked about their menu showing the photos in Google Maps. Lady in the bar was trying to answer, but one guy behind the bar, who seems to be one of the owners, rudely asked straight about booking and was quite rude about no serving us without a booking.

The place had several tables empty while the most annoying part is that they do not have a listed a booking system anywhere, even here in Google Maps!! So, it seems as if the guy was simply not willing to serve us for whatever unclear motivation of his own.

Either way, I am glad we did not stay because the place was loud and it was complicated to have a normal conversation there. Also, they got rid of the menu with more options. Now they offer around 5 dishes only as small tapas. The portions looked small as well. The place looked like needing some renovations because of its seemingly decrepit state.

Avoid this place altogether....

I really wanted to like this place but was very disappointed. The food was ok and the service was average. I ordered a glass of sangria but the taste was overwhelmingly sweet like orange squash with no flavour of wine at all. I let the owner know that I didn’t like it and that it didn’t taste authentic and he confirmed it was made with orange squash and lemonade. He said that’s how people round here like it. I’ve never heard of sangria being made with orange squash before and hope to never experience it again - it was truly awful. I’d hoped to have an authentic Spanish experience as it’sa nice looking restaurant, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Despite being unhappy with the poor quality of the sangria and leaving most of it, I was still charged for it. Wouldn’t...