Food and Drink

Lola Rojo

Above: Lola Rojo

It’s been a busy few months at Lola Rojo. After being nominated for a Time Out Eating and Drinking award in the Best Local Restaurant category, tables have been full most nights of the week. It’s not very big, so with a few large groups I can imagine things get quite lively, although tables for two near the door do offer a certain amount of intimacy. The traditional Spanish décor often found in tapas restaurants has been by-passed in favour of sleek white walls, bright red chairs and modern artwork – altogether a pretty stylish affair, with food to match; the usual tapas staples of calamari, patatas bravas and garlic chicken have been replaced with such treats as manchego cheese lollipops, chistorra sausage and cherry gazpacho. With ingredients direct from Spain you really get chance enjoy those simpler dishes that highlight the quality of the produce – Catalan bread rubbed with fresh tomato, excellent cured meats (particularly ‘Cecina’, a dried beef served with olive oil), and smoked dried tuna (‘Mojama’) were all good enough to be eaten alone. More unusual choices included ‘coulant’ of octopus – the fleshy fish piled atop a mound of garlicky mash, egg and ‘butifarra’ sausage – and confit of suckling pig , served with a cleansing apple sorbet and some delectable vegetable crisps. Deserts continued the trend for unusual preparation and flavour with such delights as white chocolate soup and a spoon of quince with cheese caneloni – I am not sure how traditionally Spanish they were, but I must admit that it mattered not. A visit to Lola Rojo is a must, but plan in advance and make sure you book.

Two course meal for two with bottle of house wine: £60