Little Taperia — Restaurant in London

We visited this restaurant for a celebratory dinner and were welcomed warmly on arrival. Although our table wasn’t quite ready, the short wait was no issue since we’d arrived a little early. Once seated towards the back, I appreciated the rustic décor and the chance to watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, a nice touch that added to the atmosphere. Service throughout the evening was attentive and efficient, which set the evening off on a good note.

The food, however, didn’t quite live up to expectations. The garlic prawns, which I had been most excited for, looked great but lacked flavour, even with the garlic and chilli. The croquettes had a pleasant taste but were lukewarm inside, while the cod fritters were overly salty. The patatas bravas, usually a highlight of any tapas meal, felt the most disappointing. Instead of the classic potatoes with a rich tomato-based sauce, they arrived with yoghurt, paprika, and an orange sauce that didn’t really work together and didn’t feel authentic. The chorizo dish was also underwhelming, a little too dry and missing the punch of flavour that makes this a tapas favourite.

Having lived in Spain, I’ve enjoyed tapas at their best, so I was surprised by how average the dishes felt here. In fact, I’ve had better experiences at smaller, local spots like Tooting Market, which says a lot.

The atmosphere was also a challenge. The back room became very noisy, with nearby tables talking and laughing so loudly that it was difficult to hold a conversation. It did take away from the experience, and I think the restaurant could do more to manage the noise levels to create a more enjoyable setting for all diners.

Overall, while the service and setting were pleasant, the food didn’t quite match the standard I was hoping for very expensive for the quality they gave and the atmosphere made it hard to fully enjoy the evening. For me, it was an underwhelming experience and not one I’d rush to repeat, though I appreciate the effort...

Many places have this claim to fame of being "Authentic Spanish" and it is normally not true. I may have found an exception in this odd little place in Tooting. It was reccomended by my date yesterday for dinner "As last time he walked by he heard quite a buzz inside of people talking in Spanish... so it must be good" (We have been dating for a while and he is beginning to understand how seriously we Spaniards take food).

We walked in, big step up was the first thing I noticed. My eyes were immediately drawn to the bar in delight to see Estrella Galicia on tap. The floor tiling, 1950s posters on the wall and bull horns over the bar give it a very authentic feel. It starts getting filled with groups of spaniards from 19:30 - 20:00 and the atmosphere really picks up. I was looking out the window and if it wasn't for the red buses, I could have perfectly been in Madrid or Valencia. The front dining room has both tall and low tables and there is also the possibility to dine at the bar. The rear dining room overlooks an open kitchen, where you can see all dishes being prepared. The menu is small, but everything we had was fresh, perfectly cooked and tasted authentic. It has a more overall mediterranean feel, but there are a few surprises, like the Pimientos de Padrón (Very northern) and the Iberian Pork Tenderloin with Sherry Reduction (Very mesa region). There is an extense cocktail and wine selection... but I cannot comment on it because I was drinking Estrella Galicia.

Overall, very pleasantly impressed with the quality of products and service... I had never been to a tapas bar in London (and it was his date this time), so I cannot comment on the prices due to lack of references from similar businesses, but bearing in mind the portion size and quality, I would say it is more than reasonably priced. A spaniard who doesn't live in London will say it's expensive, but come on... for us everything is in the UK, and in...

First of all, the place is bigger than it seems from the outside and has three dinning areas and we were given a place at the front. It has some estate issues as many buildings have in Tooting, but nothing major. I usually don't like tapas because I find the portions really small but The Little Taperia sits comfortably on the golden middle and as a result each dish can be easily shared between two people. You will need 5-6 dishes for two people. The food has a rustic, honest feel to it which I really appreciated. In terms of specific dishes, I tried the following: tortilla with potatoes 5/5 (perfect!) chicken skewers with chimichuri 5/5 (succulent and tender with a hint of spice) aubergine with tomato and manchego 4/5 (the tomato sauce was overpowering the other ingredients in terms of quantity) octopus 3/5 (pepper sauce was too spicy for the delicate taste of the octopus which was very nicely cooked though) -flat iron steak 4/5 ( a bit dry, but maybe this was our fault as we left it to eat at the very end) croquettes with jamon 5/5 (appropriately creamy and cheesy) crema catalana 5/5 (mouth watering with very aromatic orange flavor) Service: probably the best aspect of visiting The Little Taperia, all of them are brilliant; attentive without being overwhelming, very polite, all smiles. Important note: they have allergen information on the menu which makes ordering very easy. Prices: medium range with a couple more pricey items like the octopus at 14 £ and the flat iron steak at 15£. Depending on what dishes you choose, you can easily have a meal for 20£/person or a meal for 40£/person. They have also a bottomless brunch on Sundays which has both drinks and food on the menu. Will I go back? Definitely! I have already been twice in the...