ENGLAND - LONDON - SOHO - RAMBLA
RAMBLA - Permanently closed 2020
This new addition to the London tapas scene in Soho started off as a case of musical chairs. We began on a table for two, which would have been ok if we were not four! At the third attempt we found a suitable table for four people.
Things thankfully improved after that in a busy and buzy atmosphere. The restaurant is named after the famous Las Ramblas street in Barcelona and serves up an excellent take on Catalan tapas.
There is an open kitchen with a bar and bar stalls surrounding it, which makes it suitable for walks ins.
The other tables are spread around the bar area, with some looking out onto Dean Street.
You can also book which is not always the case in this type of restaurant.
We went through quite a lot of the relatively short menu, which consisted of the following:
Excellent sourdough bread and butter, which I believe comes from Hedone, a good start.
Pan con tomate with toasted sourdough bread and Bull’s heart tomato relish.
Blistered Padrón peppers with yellow pepper & garlic dip.
La Escala anchovies with shaved shallot salad, L’Obrador butter, toasted sourdough.
Mussels & clams steamed in white wine, Serrano ham, spider crab butter and toasted bread.
Grilled octopus with crispy garlic & tarragon aioli.
Sea Bass a la plancha with Jerusalem artichoke soubise and port poached salsify.
Spinach croquetas with pine nut aioli.
Brolled sobrassada, honey, mint & toasted bread.
Braised oxtail canelones with nevat cheese cream.
Quail drumsticks with pancetta & pansals wine sauce.
Lamb chops with rosemary aioli. (this was the only disappointment, under-cooked and fatty. When we mentioned it, it was removed from the bill)
Butifarra negre sliders with green apple slaw, nevat cheese and toased brioche.
Warm apricot & almond coulant with homemade frozen yoghurt.
Torrija, a Catalan style pain perdu with pistachio and raspberry ice cream.
Wines were 1 x Borsao Seleccion Blanco (£28) 1 x Macia Batle Tinto Anada (£28 reduced by £10 because the 3 cheapest had gone)
Both were good.
Al the food was excellent, bar the aforementioned lamb chops. We especially liked the sea bass, quail drumsticks, and a few of the excellent dips/sauces.
With the aioli being theatrically made table side with a pestle and mortar making a nice touch.
Service was pretty chaotic, but friendly and helpful. The place has only been open three weeks, so this is probably to be expected.
We finished with 2 cortado and 2 carrajillo.
The bill for 4 people with wine and coffees and a few double tapas came to a very reasonable £225
Opening hours: Sunday and Monday: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday: 6pm to 11:30pm Thursday to Saturday: 12pm to 11:30pm
RAMBLA 64 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 4QQ @RamblaSoho www.ramblalondon.com
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