Harden's survey result
Summary
Rioja-bred Abel Lusa “has been serving top-quality Spanish food since 1995 – long before Hispanic restaurants became fashionable in London” at his South Kensington flagship. He “deserves a medal for consistency at least” as it’s “hard to have a bad meal” here, and yet it’s “surprising how rarely it is mentioned in foodie circles”. The same cannot be said of its renown down at the All England Club: both Nadal and Alcaraz are regulars during Wimbledon fortnight (although often it’s for delivery-only) and Lusa now serves food at major tournaments around the globe.
Summary
“Unchanged over the years but still a Spanish star in west London with plenty of charm and a style all of its own” – Abel Lusa opened this high-quality Hispanic venture in South Kensington in 1995 and has maintained it as “a consistent performer” ever since. “If you love well-prepared Spanish food and wines, you’ll find both here” alongside “excellent and friendly” service. “In June and July each year it’s filled with tennis players” and both Nadal and Alcarez are well known to be major fans (eating here regularly with their families and ordering take-out during Wimbledon). As a result, Abel has developed pop-ups serving his food at major tennis championships around the globe.
Summary
“You leave feeling everything is good in the world” according to fans of Abel Lusa’s accomplished stalwart (est. 1995) on the borders of South Ken and Earl’s Court: one of London’s original Spanish restaurants of quality and still at the cutting edge, with its “luxurious tapas”, “excellent Iberian wines” and “wonderfully fun and atmospheric” style. A slip in ratings, though, accompanies one or two concerns that “it should offer better value”; or that “it risks slipping from a smart and exciting place to being lower-energy”. But that didn’t stop Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz from eating here with his family five times during the Championships this year – and on the days he didn’t go, he ordered deliveries to be sent to his accommodation. Apparently, his favourite dish is the crispy salmon nigiri (a Spanish version of sushi with sweet soy sauce, Spanish vinegar and chipotle mayonnaise).
Summary
“Spanish food is all the rage now but this place has been thriving for years”, say fans of Abel Lusa’s “fun” but relatively unsung Hispanic in the Old Brompton Road, founded in 1995. “If you’re into great Spanish food, this is possibly the best in London” – and it has a “terrific Spanish-only wine list”. “Food, wine and service are simply first class”, and “they never let you down”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Cambio de Tercio?
163 Old Brompton Rd, London, SW5 0LJ
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £37.25 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
163 Old Brompton Rd, London, SW5 0LJ
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:15 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:15 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
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