LONDON - MAYFAIR - JOSÉ PIZARRO @ THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

JOSÉ PIZARRO @ The Royal Academy of Arts

This is José Pizarro's first foray into central London, amazingly ten years after he opened the fabulous José Tapas Bar on Bermondsey Street in South London.

He has taken over the Dorfman Senate Room on the first floor of Burlington Gardens. This beautiful, light, and airy space is a sit-down Restaurant with plenty of bar-top dining options.

He has opened the Poster Bar downstairs, which is more of a café/tapas bar. It is best for popping in for a coffee and pastry or a small bite and a glass of wine.

The usual favourites include the much-loved Jamón Ibérico de Bellota and Presa Ibérica.

The menu has both cold and hot tapas, around 12 of each.

To start, we had Pan con tomate.

Buñuelos de gambas (prawn fritters) a particular favourite for me.

Gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns).

Pulpo y romesco (octopus with dry romesco vinaigrette).

Merluza la salsa verde (hake in green sauce).

Chorizo al vino y quince (spicy sausage in red wine and quince) is our favourite, so much so that we ordered another one. Ensure you have enough bread to soak up the rich, spicy sauce.

With the food we had Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego 2020 - D.O. Aragón.

Which was served by our very friendly and efficient waitress.

There is a short but excellent, all-Spanish wine list.

For dessert, we had,

Tarta de queso vasca con melocotones (Basque cheesecake with peaches).

Tarta de Santiago con higos y PX helado (Peter's Santiago tart with figs and PX ice cream).

This was all rounded off with a café solo y, Carlos PX Brandy, and an empty Jamón plate.

This is a perfect spot for an early or late lunch catch-up with friends, taking parents out for brunch, or an artistic date. It is not open in the evening.