La Fonda Spanish Tapas Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Leeds

I had my first dining experience here a couple of weeks ago as a few of my friends wanted to have one last meal together before they went back home to the US. We called in advance and made a booking for 6 people and were told to come at 8:30. We arrived at 8:30 and the place was absolutely packed. It was very cold and raining outside at the time so you can imagine we were very eager to be seated. The gentleman who I assume was the manager/owner came out and said there'd been a double booking and he didn't realise there was 6 of us and asked us to wait patiently. Meanwhile, another couple barged past us and entered and got themselves a table straight away. Thankfully, shortly after, our table was ready and we were seated. I understand these things happen and it was a busy night for them so I don't imagine this happens often and the staff were apologetic about this. Once seated, we were given menus and drinks and after about 10 mins we placed our orders.

I've never had Tapas before so this was a nice first experience for me. For £20.99 we could choose from any of the many options on the menu to eat and could order more as and when we pleased. The waitress kindly advised that most tables order 3 dishes at a time to reduce food waste and to have a steady flowing dining experience. We ordered quite a few dishes as there was 6 of us and we were rather hungry and then the wait began. The food did take an awfully long time to come out however I don't believe this is a regular occurrence. This was one of their busiest nights and the staff were constantly rushed off their feet serving customers and ensuring everyone was having a good time and given the size of the business and that they had 3 people working the tables, I can't blame them for taking a while with bringing food out.

The food came to the table and I would say it was worth the wait. The majority of it was delicious and the portion sizes were just enough to keep you wanting to try more items. I was a big fan of the chicken Skewers, the chicken fajitas and the sirloin steak with potatoes. For me I enjoyed the steak the most. It came to the table on a cast iron dish still sizzling and piping hot from being cooked with butter and it was very juicy and tender. Unfortunately some of the menu items we ordered never came to the table but again I can only put this down to them being overwhelmingly busy and I don't imagine this is a normal practice for them.

Overall, the food, service and atmosphere was great. This was a very very small restaurant offering a lot for its diners and I can tell the people who work here are passionate about delivering a good dining experience for their customers. If they reduced the menu a bit and had more staff they would be much better equipped to handle really busy nights. Overall, still had a great time, enjoyed the food and it was a nice local place to go for a meal...

At £25.99 for an all-you-can-eat experience, my expectations weren't particularly high. However, having perused some reviews beforehand, I found the bar set surprisingly high. In the spirit of fairness, I approached the dining experience with an open mind.

Starting with the first 6 plates:

Patatas bravas: 7/10 – It's hard to go wrong here, though the aioli was a tad overpowering in garlic. Chorizo: 7/10 – A decent cut, but like the previous dish, simplicity prevailed. Mussels: 4/10 – Unfortunately, some were overcooked, and the sauce lacked flavor, resembling a watery puddle. Calamari: 9/10 – These were cooked to perfection, with a delightful coating, easily the highlight of the meal. Ribs: 6/10 – While flavorful, they were not as tender as expected, and the sauce was overly sweet, akin to a jarred variety. Halloumi: 7/10 – Nicely cooked, though the pineapple accompaniment left me unconvinced.

Moving on to the next 6 dishes:

Beef taco: 7/10 – A tasty bite indeed. Chicken fajita: 4/10 – Disappointingly watery and bland. Chicken skewer: 6/10 – Average fare. Lamb stew: 5/10 – Sadly bland and under-seasoned, resembling a tin of vegetable soup. Chicken bites: 6/10 – Standard fare. Sirloin and fried potatoes: 4/10 – Poor cuts of meat with excessive fat, and the chimichurri was unbalanced, dominated by garlic with insufficient acidity. Calamari (round 2): 9/10 – These were so good, I had to order another round.

Dessert comprised chocolate cake and a cheesecake variant served with ice cream and squirty cream, earning a 6/10.

As for the drinks:

Jug of sangria: Too sweet for my palate, though my partner enjoyed it. Mojito: Similarly, overly sweet, lacking balance.

Overall, I left disappointed by the food quality, especially considering the positive reviews. Would I return? Only for a dozen plates of calamari, as the great price was unfortunately reflected in the overall...

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's British tapas. Tapas turned fine dining in the UK is something I simply refuse to review. Over priced dishes served around dimly lit tables by students who spent a "gap yaar" in Madrid. Often employing cuts like flat iron steak or New York strip for that "authentica taste".

HOWEVER, this is not what you'll find at La Fonda. This, is Tapas. It's rustic, home cooking where dishes are prepared by experienced hands, with the kind of care that's passed down through generations.

You open the door on a busy Horseforth high street and walk into a chiringuito in Jimena. The croquetas and the calamari are the best I've had in the U.K. Do yourself a favour and make sure to order those.

Honestly everything I had was fantastic bar the boquerones that were a little over fried. But hey, it might feel like a beach bar in Al Maria, but we're still in Leeds.

The value for money is absolute. With an extensive and very tempting drinks menu. Ordering as many snacks as you like for £20 can't be beaten.

The owner and the hostesses are all super friendly and read a table extremely well. They can tell who wants to chat and who doesn't.

Try this place. Go for lunch, go for dinner, but support it.

Thank you for a wonderful meal and a taste of home. I will certainly...