El Cortador Tapas Bar in Shepway

Fantastic early birthday lunch for my daughter with plenty of gf and vegetarian options. Service was superb with special attention paid to our 2 year old granddaughter. We liked it so much we went back for dinner the following night! Will definitely return next time we’re in Folkestone.

Came here on my own while away with work. Was made to feel very welcome, was even advised by the lovely staff not to order too much but to see how I got on. They are obviously aware of their very generous portions. Food was amazing would definitely recommend. Great service great atmosphere top food defo recommend a visit.

Excellent tapas and good service.

Delicious menu and impeccable service, staff are always on their A game there, with efficient and friendly service, nothing was too much trouble and we had everything we wanted in no time at all! the food is just divine, cannot wait to visit again!

Had been meaning to find an occasion to visit El Cortador and a family birthday was just the thing. I had heard good things about the restaurant. We are very familiar with typical dishes and the language so we were very pleased with the whole experience just in that regard: the portions were just right, the pricing very acceptable and the delivery to the table very good indeed. Beyond that, a mistaken delivery of a dish was not taken away but gifted, as was the dessert (a Portuguese tart - um pastel de nata) for the birthday person (candle included!). Altogether a great experience in a warm and welcoming setting. Full points back and front of house!

Amazing find - really cheered up a grey day! Incredible service and authentic cuisine. Just lovely. Thank you. 🤩

Lovely tapas restaurant in Folkestone old town. Second visit and not disappointed. Tasty food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Great for a lunchtime visit.

We were seated out the back and asked to wait whilst our table was cleaned which was no real issue.. Then seated and ordered 4 dishes to start off the cold food menu however when they were brought over we noticed one plate was missing that we had ordered . We waited and waited over 30mins assuming someone would come over so we could tell them or it would come out and we could order some mains off the hot menu to which it didn't. Nobody returned so I then approached the staff at the bar to ask where it was, as no one had come back to our table.. at this point I was asked to name and shame the waitress which I thought was very odd and inappropriate ..the restaurant only has 7 tables and I said I'm pretty sure you can work it out yourselves! . At this point we had now waited over 45 mins, no one had been over or asked for any new drinks or any further dishes off the menu, tables around us were being waited on constantly and had numerous dishes served. When we complained we got an apology but that was it, no actual resolution, just that we are busy.. As locals we won't go back, We have been lots of times before over the years but unfortunately it seems to have gone down hill. There was no offer to make things better just a case of sorry we are busy, which they really weren't compared to how many staff they had on and the fact there's only about 7 tables in the whole restaurant ..it was more of a case we had been forgotten completely.... There's so many places in Folkestone now I have to be honest and say, go elsewhere, you will receive better service and attention for your money, I won't be back with my friends and family or recommend this restaurant again.

On arrival we were seated out the back and asked to wait whilst out table was cleaned which was no real issue.. Then seated and ordered to which the cold food menu was fine however one plate was missing that we had ordered . We waited and waited over 30 mins assuming some would come over or it would come to which it didn't so I then approached the staff at the bar to ask where it was as no one had come back to our table.. at this point I was asked to name and shame the waitress which was very odd ..the restaurant only has 7 tables and I said ok sure you can work it out yourselves! . At this point we had now waited over 45 mins, no one had been over asked for any new drinks or any further dishes off the menu, tables around us were being waited on constantly and had numerous dishes served. When we complained we got an apology but that was it, no actual resolution, just that we are busy.. As locals we won't go back, We have been lots of times before over the years but unfortunately it seems to have gone down hill. There was no offer to make things better just a case of sorry we are busy, which they really weren't compared to how many staff they had on, it was more of a case we had been forgotten completely which is comical I'm such a small restaurant. There's so many places in Folkestone now I have to be honest and say, go elsewhere, you will receive better service and attention for your money, I won't be back with my friends and family or recommend this restaurant again.

We came with such great expectations. Being a resident of Folkestone for many years, we have heard so many great reviews about this place and noticed it was regularly high up in the rankings. However, apart from the service, there is nothing great to say. The food was overpriced for what it was. There seemed no effort in the dishes - the bread and salad looked like someone has just been to Sainsbury’s and whacked them in a bowl. And correct me if I’m wrong, but are you supposed to have chorizo in a paella? Underwhelming and poor value. And apparently, the toilet was disgusting.

Food excellent, but perhaps needed more bread. Sangria not the greatest. Be sure to book ahead in Saturdays.

We were due to meet up with friends but they had to pull out due to illness. We decided to go anyway. What a lovely restaurant. We had a lovely meal. The Manager gave us some really good advice about not ordering too much and she was absolutely right! The food was delicious the staff attentive and friendly. The restaurant was really busy for a Tuesday evening so glad we booked! We will definitely return when we are next in Folkestone.

We were utterly blown away by this place, amazing food and atmosphere, all complimented by staff who are an absolute credit to the business and the industry. Can’t recommend highly enough!

My wife and I celebrated our Wedding Anniversary yesterday with an excellent lunch at the El Cortador. The service was first class as usual and the staff always friendly. To start with we had Plato de Carne. A selection of Spanish cured meats served with cheese, cornichons & quince jam. Then we had bread and alioli, with patatas bravas, chorizo in red wine, garlic mushrooms and gambas (king prawns in garlic). All very tasty!! We had a complimentary bottle of wine to celebrate our Anniversary. It is a Malbec called ELCORTADOR. It went very well with the dishes. To finish the meal my wife had a creme brulee (not sure what that is in Spanish), and I had a glass of '43' (Spanish liqueur). I would thoroughly recommend El Cortador. Thank you Ian and all the staff for a truly memorable meal.

Lovely little place with very friendly staff and awesome food.

Really great food, best tortilla I've had. But what really stands out is the service. My husband and I went last night for our anniversary meal and the waitress immediately saw that we would prefer another table, which she sorted out. All the staff were attentive without being too much. The atmosphere was lively and fun. We had a great night. Thank you.

Fabulous. Will definitely make this a regular trip.

Really nice tapas place, great food, lovely staff on the old high street. Such a pleasant time! Highly recommend for families.

Visited before and food and service are both very good and cannot be faulted. Great to sit out in the courtyard and enjoy an authentic experience. But, whilst the menu advertises Sangia with red wine, lemonade and fruit this is disingenuous as this is really Tinto de Verano and not Sangria which usually comes with different spirits depending upon the individual recipe. This was disappointing and is cheating your customers!

Good food, friendly service, nice outdoor area

Delicious tapas, excellent service. Top restaurant.

Lovely friendly hosts. Wonderful food. Nice cool balcony. Dog friendly. We were delighted to receive a complimentary drink for our anniversary celebration 🎊

You cannot beat this place. I have been going here since the family opened it. Food is fantastic, staff are wonderful, if you don't eat here, you are missing out.

Absolutely amazing food, very authentic. Staff were friendly and made you feel very welcome

Excellent value for money. Amazing staff. Had our 4 year old grandson with us and it was no trouble for them to bring him some nibbles immediately. Wonderful warm welcome, wonderful authentic Spanish tapas.

Booked late evening on Friday ( in person) for a Saturday evening treat for my wife's early Birtdsy treat. We had a table on the raised deck for 2 overlooking the garden. V nice. The staff were amazing, nothing to much trouble and so knowledgeable. They interacted well and you could have a laugh with them whilst they remained professional. Our wine was excellent. My only critisism is that the menu is quite short for a tapas venue. I guess this ensures the quality but does maybe leave you wanting. A candle in the desert and a rendition of Happy Birthday was a lovely touch. Yet again the staff surpassed themselves.

Been coming here for over a decade - food , service and ambience always 10/10 Thank you

Pleasant restaurant decor. Excellent tapas, good sangria. Open until 10:30 p.m....very practical!

Been coming here for years, consistently great food and drinks, never had any complaints in any regard to the service or the quality, cannot recommend enough, especially so with the croquettes, they are to die for! Wonderful for groups where you can order a load for the table and just pick at everything and have a lively conversation over a beer and great food

Such a great little place. The staff were so friendly and attentive. Food was wonderful too!

Lovely staff, lovely food. great evening!

Great food and friendly service

So important: staff all very welcoming, friendly and attentive. The food was delicious - we had 5 options which were very generous, so probably only needed 4 between 2! We had the asparagus special, the vegetable stew with egg special, the spicy meatballs, Padron peppers and chicken skewers. Would definately return.

This place is AMAZING! The food is great, the restaurant is beautiful and cosy and the staff cannot do enough for you. My 2nd visit in a week, and will not be my last 👏🏼🤩

Disappointed experience. Dined here a year ago, but would not recommend any more. Hostile manager ruined a recent dinner celebration for my partners birthday. Our party of 11 was too much for the restaurant to handle. Booking simply should not have been accepted. We were the other half of the restaurant. Left within 10 minutes of sitting as apparently our increase in volume was too much for neighbouring dinners to accept. Naturally when a group arrives, volumes increase. Accusation of rudeness and bad behaviour was simply untrue as it was not mentioned on the evening, it was the volume which our party brought to the restaurant that simply caused the issue and perhaps because we were group of aged 30+ trendy locals and from a far. The hostile ‘warning’ received at the table for all of the restaurant to hear was humiliating with the words of “lower your volume because this isn’t working for us” was poor service. The entire restaurant lowered its volume before all raising again. The lack of experience to not approach the lead booker to make such request is something to be learnt. The RM failed to see the bigger picture that our party of 11 were to spend a hefty amount of monies compared to the supposed complaining tables of two. On request for more glasses, these would have only been honoured if we were even quieter. We were a party of 11. Why have us in the restaurant! Place us somewhere better or not at all!. When I asked the RM would he prefer if we left, he said yes and so we did. Uplifting the group was a shock to not only us but the other diners too, although apparently they clapped when we left, yet when stood outside in shock this was not true. Our neighbouring table apologised we were leaving with no other place booked. We did not pay for the consumed wine at the start of arrival as we took this as a form of compensation. Thanks to the team at Bella Vita who did manage to move empty tables and accommodate our group. The waiting staff were however pleasant, and whilst it may be good for couples or tables of 4, it is not for groups.

We shared a family lunch for my youngest son's birthday. Service was great and helpful staff.

This place had a nice atmosphere, and some of the hot plates were OK. However, they made a very underwhelming Mojito, probably the worst one I've had. Not happy paying £8 for a glass of that. Most of the hot plates were under-salted and under-flavoured. I'm leaving this review because I think this restaurant has great potential and I'd like to see them do better.

Came here for a 30th birthday. Had heard the amazing reviews and was very keen on trying. Unfortunately, the manager was under an immense amount of stress the evening we attended and abruptly told us that ‘if we weren’t quiet , it wasn’t going to work for them’ . Being a table of 11 in a restaurant that seats 20 was difficult but we really tried and we kept noise to a minimum. Unfortunately my partner was left with an ultimatum after trying to order 2 glasses of Prosecco for the 2 people joining our party that we needed to be even quieter. Sadly we had to leave as manager suggested that was best for all parties. Far away from the streets of Spain but if you’re a couple on your own or in a group of 4 I’m sure it’s worth the visit. All tables around us wished us a goodnight and apologised for us having to leave. I’m sure it’s worth the visit. Staff seemed lovely, sad about the main guy.

Always wanted to try this place and was very excited to come here for my 30th Birthday. There were 11 of us and the restaurant is quite small, we were fairly central in the restaurant so felt that we were quite near most other tables so I’m sure it was louder than us not being there. Unfortunately, within 10 minutes of us being there, the owner came over and seemed hostile telling us that if we couldn’t be quiet, this wouldn’t ‘work for them’. We were so shocked that we really toned it down and I only spoke to my friends that were sitting directly near me as to not let noise carry talking across the table which is the first time I’ve ever had to do this in a restaurant. Sadly this wasn’t enough and when my partner went up to the bar to order a couple of glasses of Prosecco for two of our guests, he was told he could have the prosecco but we needed to be even quieter if we wanted to stay. My partner asked the owner, do you want us to leave and his reply was that’s probably best for everyone. So unfortunately we left. We had our table booked for 8.30pm so the chance of getting food anywhere else by this point was very slim. We were highly inconvenienced and due to this didn’t pay for the drinks that had been opened so far. Luckily for us we went to Bella Vita the local Italian restaurant, told them we had been asked to leave for being too loud and they were more than happy to accommodate us. My shock with all of this is that we aren’t a young group that aren’t aware of social etiquette. My friends are a group of local LGBTQIA professional creatives and business owners who respect other local businesses. There was no foul language or rude behaviour on our part, there was just a group celebrating someone’s birthday. I am saddened by the experience as we love to support local business and I’m sure would have enjoyed eating here had our custom been welcomed. I can only advise that larger parties are situated in a better location in the restaurant. No suggestion was made to keep our business, we would have been happy to eat outside on their terrace if the owner had been wanting to find a solution for all parties. Wait staff were all very polite and looked embarrassed by the situation. We all want to thank the wait staff for being so attentive in the short time we were there.

Lovely food, cooked in a little kitchen. Enjoyed everything we ate. Service was friendly. Nice cosy atmosphere. Will certainly return.

Very fresh, well-prepared dishes. The menu is varied without being too complicated. Four of us for lunch ate everything we'd ordered at a very reasonable price. Definitely recommend.

Visited for an impromptu Friday night dinner - when we've tried to walk in before, they're usually fully booked but because of the comedy gig at the Quarterhouse, we managed to get a table this time! Food surpassed our expectations, we enjoyed the ensaladilla rusa and fabada in particular; boquerones, padron peppers and the asparagus (special dish) were great too. Finished off with a lovely glass of Pedro Ximinez. Service was friendly and efficient. Would definitely return, thoroughly recommend :)

Fabulous food, great service and fantastic value for money. Four of us had a wide variety of great tapas. Some we chose, some we asked our server to choose. An excellent selection of both hot and cold choices. I'd definitely recommend and will be returning.

My wife and I had an excellent lunch yesterday. The service was first class as usual and the staff are always friendly. We had bread and alioli, with patatas bravas, chorizo in red wine, garlic mushrooms and gambas (king prawns in garlic). All very tasty!! I had a bottle of red wine that I would recommend. It is a Malbec called ELCORTADOR. It went very well with the dishes. To finish the meal my wife had a creme brulee (not sure what that is in Spanish), and I had a coffee and a '43' (Spanish liqueur). I would thoroughly recommend El Cortador, and it is always advisable to book

Thank you for having us twice last Saturday. We will return.

We were truly impressed with our lunch today. The female waitress was incredibly accomodating, getting our dog a water bowl, baby highchair and generally going above and beyond to make our experience so relaxing and perfect. We felt so welcome and comfortable here and the food was amazing. Thank you!

Love this place food is always on point, staff very friendly. Overall great vibe and location.

Evening table for 2. They were very accommodating as we preferred to eat earlier than when we booked. The food and service was brilliant. Can't wait to come back again

Nice little tapas kitchen. Advised to book in advance

Very yummy authentic food in a nice setting with amazing staff

Lovely time had with good food. Service was impeccable. Can very much recommend.

Good tapas place, the food and wine were nice. Service was great

Amazing food, amazing service. Really relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely be back.

Love this place. Food is really lovely and staff great. They have an amazing garden for when the weather is good. See you next time.

Beautiful experience and delicious food. Visited in April 2024 and enjoyed meatballs, paella, vegetable stew and great sangria

Had a fab lunch here recently. Very reasonably priced and so so delicious. The asparagus special is to die for! Had the paella and chicken skewers too. And a nice glass of wine. Naturally.

A great place to have Tapas and wine. Not the first visit and definitely won’t be the last.

Went here on Saturday with my mother amazing food friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere

A little disappointed if I'm honest, especially after the amazing reviews I've read. Friendly staff but the atmosphere and ambiance was a let down and the food was nice enough but nothing to write home about and the restaurant decor wasn't great and maybe a bit of Spanish music wouldn't go a miss.

Lovely food and atmosphere. Superb

Superb food and great engaging staff. All home made food. We’ve just come back from Malaga and this food tasted just as good if not better.

Absolutely delicious food and lovely staff. Every single dish served was amazing and I look forward to returning, and highly recommend.

Great for gluten free choices and staff were so nice! Food was delicious

What a wonderful place. The food was a real taste of Spain. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. Our food arrived altogether. Very good selection and prices to choose from. A must if you want an authentic taste of proper tapas. Will definitely travel again to go here.

Loved this place. We didn't have a booking but the staff were really kind to let us set up camp on the stools at the bar. The fabada butter bean stew was a particular favourite, along with the serrano ham-wrapped asparagus, and the staff were so accommodating. Highly recommended if you're in town.

We came for a day trip and we were so impressed with this place, The waiter young guy so nice to us and the lady chef was very good in what she was doing! Well done guys!

Off street booking. Great people working there. Fantastic service and food. Cannot rate highly enough x

Cute tapas place. I'm usually suspect of tapas dishes cost over quantity but every tapas we ordered ( meatballs, paella, chorizo ....) was delicious and would not hesitate to come back again. Friendly staff and my dates Martini Express looked incredible

Simple, friendly. Have been many times and it is always good. You must have the chocolate orange pot for dessert!

Fantastic food and the best Sangria!

Delicious tapas dishes and friendly staff. I would recommend a visit but book a table as the El Cortador is a busy restaurant.

Superb! Ate here last night with my best friend, and we absolutely loved it. All of the dishes were divine. We ordered quite a selection and enjoyed every one. My friend was particularly happy with her veggie dishes, including the special. The cocktails deserve a special mention- I can safely say it was the best espresso martini I've ever had. A truly wonderful experience. Have already rebooked for a few weeks' time with my boyfriend.

A little gem hidden in the heart of Folkestone. If you fancy something out of the ordinary, then pop in for a selection of authentic Spanish tapas. The lunch specials are super, three or two tapas for a great discounted price. Delicious food and excellent service in a relaxed environment...perfect.

Lovely restaurant serving tapas, great staff, great dishes, great drinks options. Slightly expensive, but the food is delicious so totally worth it.

Outrages tapas....Great service proper authentic food cooked to perfection, 2nd time here will be back again

Really nice meal, service was amazing and everyone was very friendly. We will defo be back. We recommend calamari and plato de carne :)

Popped Thursday evening on the off chance of a table. The staff were happy enough to accommodate us. How luck were we… the service and food were amazing both with the cold and hot dishes. So much so that we returned again the following evening.

You have to go here. Food is amazing. Staff are just as amazing. Attentive, friendly & welcoming. I just wished we lived in Folkestone. Dinner every night. Thank you so much for your amazing food & service. Taylor you were fab on the phone tonight thank you

Needs a little more atmosphere. Liven it up with Spanish music please. Spanish guitar player would be amazing. Service was excellent. We want the Spanish vibes when we eat Tapas. Bring it please 🙏

Just very good, authentic tapas. Priced right. Lovely, knowledgeable service.

I chose the lovely restaurant to celebrate my 70th birthday with my family. Always top on my list of favourites. Staff welcoming and friendly. Service was impeccable. One young man on the waiting team who works on Saturday nights was absolutely fabulous and more than just an asset to the team. I am so sorry I didn't get his name. The Food was as usual outstanding and perfectly presented and timed. Thank you all for a wonderful evening.

Amazing food (with good allergen information on the menu) and friendly service. Actually felt like I was in Spain! 🇪🇸

Great value, atmosphere and service

My second visit to El Cortador & I will definitely be back! The food is delicious, there is loads of choice & something to suit all budgets but what really makes this place is the staff. Attentive (but also leave you to it), knowledgeable, friendly & polite the ambiance was relaxed & comfortable. We weren’t rushed & spent a good couple of hours enjoying our food & people watching. Plenty of seats (in the restaurant, on the balcony & in their beautiful hidden garden) but still maintains an intimate atmosphere. Thank you to the chef & the staff for making our visit so lovely.

Came here at the invitation of friends. I was a bit nervous reading some of the reviews particularly the references to the standard of the food (ok for the locals but not authentic Spanish, reheated for service - well how do you think restaurants work?) I’ve traveled extensively and Spanish tapas is one of my favourites and this didn’t let me down. Good service, good food and a great experience. We’ll be back

Just brilliant! Our first time here and will definitely come again. Amazing food and a lovely laid-back but attentive staff. We felt that nothing was too much trouble and were treated like royalty but completely without any pretentiousness. Thank you to all the wonderful staff.

First time visiting El Cortador and will definitely be making a return visit very soon! Great food, and plenty of it, fabulous attentive service and a great atmosphere. Would recommend to anyone wanting delicious tapas at a reasonable price. The jug of Sangria went down a treat too!

We visited on the back of our daughter & husbands visit the evening before. We arrived around 2 in the afternoon and left around half four. We were looked after by the delightful Natalya. Natalya was very friendly, she new the menu inside out and was able to recommend food for our palate great place, very reasonably priced. we will be back (as Arnie would say!!!)

Really good tasty food and great service.

Ate here with my son yesterday. As a very frequent visitor having spent multiple birthdays and evenings here, I am bitterly disappointed that I have food poisoning from the prawns. There is no doubt about this and I have not been able to eat anything else since. Really a massive shame as it’s usually a lovely place with decent food but, I will not be returning after this incident.

Authentic tapas, great location, service was efficient and friendly

El cortador Tapas bar Sadly, kind of embrassing… We appreciate locals might not know what real Spanish food tastes like, but El Cortador left us really upset. Food was average, everything was microwaved as it was clearly prepared in advance and displayed in the front fridge. Paella was mushy and tasted like stock, jamon was small pre cut bits, tortilla was microwaved too and lacked flavour, the cheese in the platter was nice. Only thing made fresh were the patatas bravas, but quite plain and bland. We did eat everything we ordered as we truly don’t like food waste but Spanish week at Lidl would have probably tasted better... Appalling to see the waitress sticking her hands in the food bowls on display, popping something in her mouth and sticking them again in the bowl. Service was overall kind but won’t recommend… Icing on the cake is the owner replying to our booking enquiry while we were dining, saying that there is no space for lunch and they can welcome us in the afternoon.. ( we were dining in the meantime as we booked at the door with the friendly waiter) and they sat a table in front of us shortly after replying to our enquiry. Confusing to see how they manage reservations… Seeing all the good reviews feels like lunch service is of lower quality than the dinner one? As the evening before the place was packed.

Came here on my birthday for lunch. Staff were amazing. They made me feel very special. Thank you

Shared a selection of tapas with friends. Huge portions, well cooked and very tasty.

Lovely place and staff, pricing was very reasonable and they cater for gluten-free.

Every dish we ordered was great. Particular mention needs to be given to one of the specials, the asparagus wrapped in ham. The prawns in the garlic prawns were fresh and perfectly cooked; the chicken skewers still moist; the tortilla a soft and melting thing; and the chorizo (I know it sounds daft) very meaty and also very soft in texture. The staff are helpful and lovely. We had a delicious lunch and will definitely be back.

We turned up early evening with no booking which wasn’t a problem. The service was very friendly and the food was wonderful. I particular enjoyed the padron peppers, the gambas and the chorizo bean stew. We had 8 plates between 3 of us and a bottle of white Rioja. Very reasonable priced.

My wife and I celebrated our Wedding Anniversary at El Cortador and we were not disappointed. We had calamares, patatsa bravas, chorizo in red wine and mushrooms in garlic. The calamares were very tender and cooked in a light batter. The sauce with the patatas bravas is just the right temperature (the heat slowly creeps up on you)!! Everything else was nicely cooked. It was washed down with a very nice chilled house rose. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. I was an Anniversary to remember.

Another delicious, convivial meal in Folkestone's friendly tapas bar. Thank you Sarah for your 100-watt smile and enthusiastic, professional attention. We had a lovely evening and you were a big part of it.

Very friendly. Had not booked - dropped in and every effort was made to accommodate us. A very good tapas.