El Norte — Restaurant in London

I celebrated a friend's birthday at El Norte at the beginning of December and it was an incredible disappointment, both in food quality and service. Where to begin....

We let the staff know it was our friends' birthday, and asked if they could bring out a dessert for her at the end of the meal. Her birthday was not at all acknowledged, let alone a dessert brought to the table.

I have two allergens that I informed our waiter of. Trying to find dishes that fit these allergens was incredibly difficult, and a dish I couldn't eat was brought out (even though we were told it would be possible to remove the allergens). Our waiter rushed over to inform me I couldn't eat the dish, and suggested we chose another dish, which we did. The dish didn't arrive for at least 30 minutes later.

We were told we had two hours at the table. Service was very slow at the beginning, and then incredibly rushed towards the end. We were repeatedly reminded we had to leave in X amount of minutes, without being offered a place at the bar. We were still eating our meals at this time, as the dishes were brought out so late.

The wait staff kept switching between our waiter and the manager. We hadn't complained about our server and we were perfectly friendly, it seemed a little disorganised.

The quality and amount of food for the price was ridiculous. For premium prices, we were expecting much, much better. The quality and taste wasn't at all there, probably the most disappointing part of the evening.

Small detail - We had a party of three and each arrived separately. Myself and my friend had our coats taken to the cloakroom, however, the birthday girl was not offered by the wait staff to have her coat taken.

The ambiance was lovely, but I would not recommend this restaurant. We each paid £95 and the service and food did not justify the...

El Norte? More like El Nought.

I’ve attempted to dine at El Norte twice. Both times the service has stopped me in my tracks.

The first time, myself and a friend sat down, ordered cocktails and a snack. The drinks were fine. The padron peppers, also fine. The service however was painfully slow, inattentive and generally underwhelming. You’re on a road competing with Bagatelle, Chucs, Charlie’s. Level up. After downing our drinks, we left and went down the road somewhere else.

This evening, my partner and I decided to give them a second chance. We asked for a table for two and were sat down next to another table of two. This table, almost immediately, warned us that they had already been rushed through their food and repetitively told they only had 15 minutes left to eat…at constant two minute intervals! They advised us to turn around and leave before we had even ordered a drink. They also pointed to the TWO bills that had been placed on their table to emphasise their need to leave…alongside half eaten plates of food that they were still actively eating. This was at 9:15.

Despite asking if we could eat on arrival and being shown to a table by the head waiter, we were immediately made to feel very unwelcome by another waiter informing us that the kitchen was closing in 15mins and that we would need to eat immediately.

No second chances granted. We went on our merry way to a much more welcoming establishment.

Out of curiosity, we thought we would check the Google reviews to see what other customers has said. We were shocked to see an average review of 4.4 (at the time of writing)! However, after a bit of scrolling and analysis of the photos it quickly became clear that a number of positive reviews are fake….lots of duplicate photos across them!

Very strange service, experience and...

A fantastic place to spend a night with your loved ones

We had a dinner at Friday night and I must say we really enjoyed

The service was very warm and welcoming trying to offer the best experience for us

My recent visit to El Norte was an extraordinary journey into the heart of Spanish cuisine. The moment I crossed the threshold, I was greeted by an atmosphere that was truly remarkable, a perfect setting for an evening of culinary exploration.

The food at El Norte is a celebration of Spanish flavours, each dish more tantalising than the last. The chefs have mastered the art of blending traditional Spanish recipes with innovative culinary techniques, resulting in a menu that is both familiar and excitingly novel. Each bite was a delightful revelation, showcasing the freshest ingredients and an impeccable balance of flavours.

But what truly distinguishes El Norte is its atmosphere. There’s a certain enchantment in the air, a blend of rustic charm and contemporary elegance that captivates your senses. The subtle lighting, tasteful décor, and soft music all contribute to a dining experience that’s both relaxing and invigorating.

I cannot commend the staff enough for their part in making the evening memorable. Their service was the epitome of professionalism - attentive, courteous, and genuinely passionate about ensuring every guest’s experience is nothing short of exceptional.

In conclusion, El Norte isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a destination for those who cherish the essence of Spanish gastronomy, set in an ambience that transports you straight to the heart of Spain. My anticipation for a return visit is already growing, eager to relive the remarkable experience that El...