Fitzrovia, Spanish Restaurant Guide

This pioneer of Spanish and Italian small-plates dining near Goodge Street station is “still going strong after so many years for a very good reason” – “interesting and yummy dishes plus good wine”. Ratings have remained solid since the whole group (including siblings Dehesa, Opera Tavern and Ember Yard) was taken over late last year by Urban Pubs & Bars from Simon Mullins and Sanja Moy, who opened Salt Yard in 2005. There’s even been a “big improvement in the ambience of the basement”. Top Menu Tip – “deep fried courgette flowers with honey: the cheesy goodness within marries perfectly with the honey sweetness drizzled over… just wow!”

“Popular for a good reason”, this Goodge Street spot is valued for “authentic tapas, served fast and fresh, with knowledgeable and friendly Spanish staff to guide you through the choices”. It’s “great value” for central London, but can get “hot and cramped”, with the “buzzy and loud” atmosphere rising to “raucous” on busy evenings.

From its first branch, on Great Portland Street, which opened in 2007, these “buzzy”, “authentic” and relatively stylish Spanish tapas-haunts have grown into a national chain, boosted by their “consistent standards, fair quality and sensible prices” (although “service is a bit uneven”).