Tapas & Grill - London

When I heard that a new tapas restaurant, Bravas Tapas, would be opening in St Katherine Docks I was excited as it 's not too far from both home and work for me... read more When I heard that a new tapas restaurant, Bravas Tapas, would be opening in St Katherine Docks I was excited as it 's not too far from both home and work for me. If you aren 't familiar with St Katherine Docks, it 's a really pretty area and although it 's so close to Tower Bridge because it 's a bit set back behind buildings, it tends to be frequented by locals rather than being snided out by tourists (or at least that 's how it feels). However, it 's downside is that apart from the smaller cafes which are open in the day, the restaurants tend to be chains; Slug and Lettuce, Strada, Zizzi, Ping Pong, Cafe Rouge. The prospect of something a bit different was enough to catch my attention. The restaurant has a rustic feel to it with deep leather chairs, wooden plank tables and velvet cushioned banquettes along one wall and in front of the windows. The whole place looks like it 's been there for ages, even though I know it 's brand new. When we went, there were three or four dishes in each section of the menu; Artisanal Snacks, Meat and Poultry Tapas, Vegetarian Tapas, Fish and Seafood Tapas and Dessert. The other thing is that, instead of a knife and fork as standard, you get pincers (for the unadventurous or uncoordinated, you can request a knife and fork too). Halfway into the meal my boyfriend declared we should use pincers all the time, I was less convinced about replacing my trusty knife and fork in day to day life. We started by ordering Spanish Pickles, which contained a home marinated selection of onion, garlic, olives and gherkins. At a restaurant called Bravas Tapas, of course we had to order the Patatas Bravas, they were well spiced and fluffy little potatoes with salsa brava and alioli. A nice simple dish but well done. We also ordered the Pa 'amb Tomaquet (toasted baguette with tomato and olive oil) and the Cod 'Esqueixada ' which is raw thinly sliced cod with black olives, onions and served with a sauce (I 'm not sure what). This was fresh and summery and would be the perfect dish for a sunny day sat outside with a glass of wine. The only dish we ordered from the Meat and Poultry section was the Moorish Spiced Lamb Chops. I 'm not normally a massive lamb fan but this was beautifully cooked, I 'm not sure I could taste Moorish spices but these were definitely moreish. There were two other meat dishes; Morcilla sliders (which looked great but I don 't eat black pudding or anything similar because the idea just puts me off) and a Foie Gras Crema Catalana (I don 't profess to be an animal lover but I won 't eat foie gras). So, personally, maybe a few more slightly more conventional meat choices would have been better for me. We also ordered the Assortment of Cheeses, although this might have been more the sort of dish that would normally be ordered if going for a drink, rather than with a meal, we saved it until last like our own little cheeseboard. Our second fish dish was Fresh Salmon 'Rulada ' which were rolls of fresh salmon wrapped around shoestring sweet potato. This dish was the one that intrigued me the most, the sweet potato was crispy and I have no idea how they did it, but combined with the salmon was the perfect combination. My only problem was that I wasn 't quite sure how to attack them, they were bigger than sushi rolls so too big to pop into my mouth in one but manhandling them with pincers and taking smaller bites seemed inelegant. They did go down a treat though. Our final fish dish was Wild Mediterranean Seabass with Salsa Donostiarra. Again, lovely. The skin was crispy and delicious and again, it was lovely and fresh and tasty. There were two desserts on the menu and with two of us, we decided to try one of each and share. The first was Torta de Santiago, a soft torte with cherries and served with almonds and sorbet. Delicious. We had regretted not ordering the Gazpacho after we saw others eating it from a unique lying down wine glass. So we were pleased that our other dessert, Fresh Macerated Strawberries, came in the same glass. Service was perfect, friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The food was all gorgeous and beautifully presented, in fact we couldn 't decide which dish was our favourite because they were all so good. I only wish we 'd been for dinner instead of lunch as I imagine the place is beautifully cosy when lit by candles and looking out onto the twinkly lights of the docks. It 's so nice to find somewhere new that 's local and which ticks all of my boxes in a restaurant; great food, good service, lovely setting and real ambiance. Overall, a great addition to the area.

Great decoration, good selection in the menu that was not over camp. Lambs were juicy, oktopus were well seasoned and dessert was the perfect end. Quaint Square... read more Great decoration, good selection in the menu that was not over camp. Lambs were juicy, oktopus were well seasoned and dessert was the perfect end. Quaint Square hidden on the side of the main dock, should definitely be promoted more.

This week I have sat on the waterfront terrace at Bravas Tapas twice. Yes, it really is that good. This new restaurant hidden within St.Katherine's Dock feature... read more This week I have sat on the waterfront terrace at Bravas Tapas twice. Yes, it really is that good. This new restaurant hidden within St.Katherine's Dock features incredible flavors in bite sized portions. From the very moment you enter its rustic, shabby chic decor you are instantly put at ease. The staff are attentive and the food is utterly delicious but don't expect the whole order in one go. In typical tapas style it arrives as and when it is cooked, ensuring every plate is fresh and hot. Using a knife and fork at Bravas Tapas isn't encouraged. Tapas is a meal that is meant to be shared. Instead you’re armed with tongs, giving a relaxed and informal environment. The classic pan con tomate (right) was extremely good value for money at £3; drizzled with olive oil and bursting with garlic, this mini morsel was a flavour explosion and good start to our meal. I still dream of the gazpacho. Served over fresh onion and herbs, the liquid in poured at the table to add a touch of theatre. Rich and full of flavour, this is one dish that shouldn't be shared. The braised beef short rib was a little tricky to eat with tongs. With a bit of teamwork, however, the meat gently fell apart and melted in the mouth. The Cod esqueixada (thinly sliced fresh cod with black olives, salsa and radish salad), was so good we ordered it twice. Fresh, salty and light the perfect dish on a summer's day. The Moorish spiced lamb chops with aioli were served medium rare. Again, these were a little tricky to handle with the tongs, so fingers had to be used. To finish the meal we ordered the Torta de Santiago (almond cake originating from Galicia) which was served with sharo morello cherry sorbet and salted almonds. I cannot fault the service, food or atmosphere at Bravas Tapas. My only critique would be that some plates are on the expensive side, meaning the bill can add up quickly. Would I return again? Absolutely!

Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 read more Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Food was decent, lamb chop was awesome. View was good too. Most of the staff seemed demotivated though. Wrong order and billing issues didn’t leave a good taste... read more Food was decent, lamb chop was awesome. View was good too. Most of the staff seemed demotivated though. Wrong order and billing issues didn’t leave a good taste. Meal type: Lunch Price per person: £10–20 Food: 4 Service: 2 Atmosphere: 3