Name: El bar de tapas
Telephone: +44 1438 721010
Rating: 4.7

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Rafa LoboRafa Lobo

This was the second time that I visited this place. At first I did not think of writing a review, but this second visit prompted one. This is a very difficult review to write, being Spanish and comparing what I have at home with this surrogate is definitely unfair. To begin from the beginning there is a clear misunderstanding from British nationals and all other nationalities who are adopting the term "tapa". When it comes to defining what a tapa is, we have to look back into Spanish history. Tapa comes from the verb "tapar", to cover, when there was a need to protect e.g. wine in the flies infested inns from them falling into it, drinks were covered with a small plate to protect them, "la tapa". Food was prepared in big quantities and the legend says that small portions of pot cooked food started to be added to the small plate/ cover, hence the word tapa FYI. From then, as you can read on the menu, it has degenerated into any strange assortment of skewers on a plate, salmon teriyaki, to name a few, and any other strange concoction of plates that they want to sell as Spanish but that unfortunately do not represent the Spanish cuisine tradition, or tapas culture, as tapas are not eaten at the table, always standing up. Tables are for full rations. To be honest it would be a hard sell for most of the British population's taste to be confronted with what we really eat as tapas in Spain, for example; oven baked pig ears, fried blood, offal, squid eggs on the grill, sea anemone, you get the point. But going back to the review, if I ever started it, this is a nice restaurant aesthetically, the service is good and attentive and food gets prepared quickly, and some of the dishes are nice, actually quite decent. Up to here the nice part of the review, from here onwards the not so nice. To begin with, the music, loud, very loud, like you need to shout to hear yourself, and who as ever in a proper Spanish restaurant gets music being blared out like this, and the Gipsy kings on repeat, who happen to be French, come on, enough with the made up stereotypes. Then is the food, overpriced for the types of tapas, to say the least. Almost £7 for the mushrooms, you've got to be joking. Nothing that you can find in the menu gets imported other than the cheese, if I do reckon right. All of the ingredients are vastly available in any UK supermarket. Why do we have to pay through the nose? You could argue that the asked price reflects the quality of the dish. Actually the quality is not too bad, as I said before, most of them are tasty but that was not the case of the Spanish omelette, or the Carrilleras (cheeks), that in my first visit I found tasteless. The sauce was just coloured water. Carrilleras is one of my favourite dishes, and this failed attempt was very poor. So, let's have a look now at the Spanish omelette, it really needs special attention, A&E attention. It really needs an infusion of life, as it was stale, dry and probably made the day before. Tesco has a better one from the shelf, so you can imagine my reaction. It was criminal, no sugar coating here. So if you say after trying it that you do not like the Spanish omelette, there is nothing wrong with you, you are right. Basically and this is what I really do not like about these so-called Spanish restaurants is the cultural appropriation or should I say misrepresentation of the Spanish cooking tradition or culture in general. I would not mind if they stop using the Spanish language in the menus so they stop conveying a false relationship between the food they offer and anything far related to Spanish food. Just using english and describing the dish is far less misleading and far more honest, you will sell less, that's the catch. So I'm sorry but this is not for me, please go and try yourself, you may enjoy it, do not take me wrong, mine is just an opinion, like anyone's else, an informed one nonetheless. You might be wondering why I went twice, am I a masochist? 😅, no, both were work related occasions. So there might be even more visits in the future.

Paul HawxbyPaul Hawxby

I'm going to preface this review with the statement they've only opened recently so there's bound to be teething trouble. The styling of the place is lovely however it's a bit small so they've had to cram in the tables a bit so it's a bit tight. The live music made this a little worse but it was worth it because he was very good. The kitchen was extremely fast and the food was for the most part excellent, however there were a few dishes that just didn't live up to the rest. The tortilla for example was a little bland. The croquetas, chorizo, honey chicken strips and meat balls were amazing. It was also nice that you can see into the kitchen and see all the food being cooked fresh. My only real grumble on the food front is the portions were a bit small for the price. The service sadly was a bit haphazard. The staff were lovely and friendly but appeared to need a little organising. Empty dishes took quite a while to be cleared, waitresses needed to be flagged down to order food rather than them asking for example. I saw one table repeatedly try and make eye contact with the passing staff to order their food but it took actual flagging down to get served. All this while someone is polishing glasses, someone else was organising cutlery and someone else was cutting up bread. Overall, lovely food, lovely atmosphere but haphazard service. That being said they're a new restaurant and I'm sure it'll improve. I'll be back.

Chris RobinsonChris Robinson

Stopped here whilst visiting Stevenage Old Town and what a great surprise. Haven't had Tapas much tbh and really enjoyed the restaurant's interpretation of this multiple dish classic meal. The waiting staff were attentive but not intrusive and really polite. As soon as we were seated fresh bread and aioli was served. All of the dishes we ordered were flavoursome, perfectly prepared and really quick to arrive. No the portion size isn't huge but for the price was very reasonable. Really enjoyed our meal and have already recommended the restaurant to friends.

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Featured dishes

View full menu

Pimientos Del Piquillo

Chilled roasted piquillo peppers with a vibrant red colour and sweet taste. (gluten free, vegan, vegetarian)

Aceitunas Marinadas

Mixed large and small manzanilla olives with caper berries in our house marinade of chilli, garlic and rosemary. (gluten free, vegan, vegetarian)

Pan Y Alioli

A basket of freshly baked artisan breads with our housemade alioli. (vegetarian)

Cortezas De Cerdo

Warm spanish style pork scratchings, served with a mustard and baked apple sauce. Accompanied with a shot of pedro ximenez sweet sherry.

Pimientos De Padron

Galician green peppers, fried and seasoned with maldon sea salt. (vegan, vegetarian)

Reviews of El bar de tapas

4.7

(591)

3.0

10w

This was the second time that I visited this place. At first I did not think of writing a review, but this second visit prompted one. This is a very difficult review to write, being Spanish and comparing what I have at home with this surrogate is definitely unfair. To begin from the beginning there is a clear misunderstanding from British nationals and all other nationalities who are adopting the term "tapa". When it comes to defining what a tapa is, we have to look back into Spanish history. Tapa comes from the verb "tapar", to cover, when there was a need to protect e.g. wine in the flies infested inns from them falling into it, drinks were covered with a small plate to protect them, "la tapa". Food was prepared in big quantities and the legend says that small portions of pot cooked food started to be added to the small plate/ cover, hence the word tapa FYI. From then, as you can read on the menu, it has degenerated into any strange assortment of skewers on a plate, salmon teriyaki, to name a few, and any other strange concoction of plates that they want to sell as Spanish but that unfortunately do not represent the Spanish cuisine tradition, or tapas culture, as tapas are not eaten at the table, always standing up. Tables are for full rations. To be honest it would be a hard sell for most of the British population's taste to be confronted with what we really eat as tapas in Spain, for example; oven baked pig ears, fried blood, offal, squid eggs on the grill, sea anemone, you get the point. But going back to the review, if I ever started it, this is a nice restaurant aesthetically, the service is good and attentive and food gets prepared quickly, and some of the dishes are nice, actually quite decent. Up to here the nice part of the review, from here onwards the not so nice. To begin with, the music, loud, very loud, like you need to shout to hear yourself, and who as ever in a proper Spanish restaurant gets music being blared out like this, and the Gipsy kings on repeat, who happen to be French, come on, enough with the made up stereotypes. Then is the food, overpriced for the types of tapas, to say the least. Almost £7 for the mushrooms, you've got to be joking. Nothing that you can find in the menu gets imported other than the cheese, if I do reckon right. All of the ingredients are vastly available in any UK supermarket. Why do we have to pay through the nose? You could argue that the asked price reflects the quality of the dish. Actually the quality is not too bad, as I said before, most of them are tasty but that was not the case of the Spanish omelette, or the Carrilleras (cheeks), that in my first visit I found tasteless. The sauce was just coloured water. Carrilleras is one of my favourite dishes, and this failed attempt was very poor. So, let's have a look now at the Spanish omelette, it really needs special attention, A&E attention. It really needs an infusion of life, as it was stale, dry and probably made the day before. Tesco has a better one from the shelf, so you can imagine my reaction. It was criminal, no sugar coating here. So if you say after trying it that you do not like the Spanish omelette, there is nothing wrong with you, you are right. Basically and this is what I really do not like about these so-called Spanish restaurants is the cultural appropriation or should I say misrepresentation of the Spanish cooking tradition or culture in general. I would not mind if they stop using the Spanish language in the menus so they stop conveying a false relationship between the food they offer and anything far related to Spanish food. Just using english and describing the dish is far less misleading and far more honest, you will sell less, that's the catch. So I'm sorry but this is not for me, please go and try yourself, you may enjoy it, do not take me wrong, mine is just an opinion, like anyone's else, an informed one nonetheless. You might be wondering why I went twice, am I a masochist? 😅, no, both were work related occasions. So there might be even more visits...