The best restaurants serving Spanish food in England

This place is the definition of hit and miss. Personally, my experience was a miss. The calamari was served kinda cold without lemon, my red wine was served fridge temp, the rest of the food was wayyyy too salty, and the staff were disinterested and a bit snooty. Other friends have said they had a nice time here and had good food so it seems like it's just not a consistent operation.

A tres slay experience thanks so much x

We happened up on El Chigre Tapas Restaurant in Chelmsford, a) because we love good authentic tapas, b) didn’t want a heavy meal and c) we’re a bit bored with central cities being dominated by soulless chains. El Chigre is a one-off, family owned traditional Spanish tapas bar. The family hails from Asturias in the north of Spain and the cooking tells that story. Simple, elegant and delicious tapas. We ordered cod-loin stuffed roasted red peppers, fried aubergine fingers drizzled with honey, hand made ham croquetas, gambas cooked in garlic, calamares with aioli and sliced chorizo cooked in white wine. It was all rich in flavour, authentic, and simply delicious. Washed down with a white Rioja, this was a treat. They’ve been here a number of years but we’re thrilled to have found them. If you give them a few days notice, they’ll even prepare traditional suckling pig, garlic roasted lamb shoulder and other traditional dishes. Having sampled the tapas as a measure of the restaurant, next time we’ll try their paella and see how that measures up. Excellent food, reasonably priced, great family service. Muy bien.

Called today for a business lunch and wow absolutely beautiful many thanks and the pork was easily the best I’ve ever tasted, easy 5 stars so pleased your in our Town. Staff were great it’s immaculate and the decor is fab also the Santiago cake was unreal as it all was really 👌

Odd place, serving bottles of beer, but it has a cool vibe and a friendly barman. I could imagine chilling here for a few hours. In good weather plenty of seating outside.

Fab bottomless cocktail lunch! Super friendly staff and delicious tapas! Hidden gem!

This was without a doubt the worst Spanish food I have ever had the displeasure of eating. To add injury to insult it wasn’t even cheap. Avoid this hell hole at all costs! Arroz brut served with basmati rice. Prawns where served at a temperature hotter than the temperature of a nuclear reactor. The croquetas were circular which I have never seen before in my life. The only saving grace with the wine was drinkable!

Una serata con amici non poteva essere spesa meglio!!!

Food was lovely and the portions big! The waitress was lovely and helpful!

Went for breakfast last Sunday, walked past a couple waiting to pay at the bar area and sat at a table to wait for a server that was nowhere to be seen. After, no exaggeration 10 minutes, we got up from the table, walked past the same couple still waiting to pay and just left with the owners non the wiser customers had left. There are two things 29 needs to know. One, first impressions count and two, there are many other places to go in East Grinstead for breakfast/lunch etc. I do hope that you rectify the staffing issues and this review is useful to you?

Tasty food and was popping hot to my mouth which was enjoyable. Considering food arrived early and I was happy it that it came early. Just sadden they didn’t give me no salad for the curry’s and rice. I also didn’t receive any sauces for poppdoms and had to it it dry. Although everything was to a good point.

Lovely waitress and venue. Unfortunately a few items from the menu were not available, but, they did go out of their way to provide me with what I could eat

My empowering ladies group went out for lunch and we had a lovely meal our company as usual was amazing and everyone (baring one who’s fish was too dry) really enjoy their meal. We had seabeam, steak, lamb chops (which were a lot smaller than I had before), the fish was cooked superbly very tasty and well seasoned (you us West Indians love our food well seasoned lol), and a pasta dish. Some had wine others juices even the cocktail was on point you can taste the alcohol in it not like some where it’s watered down no not here. The desserts rum and raisins ice cream was right on point you can really taste the rum and the Tiramisu was nice but we didn’t get the cone on top as displayed in the pictures but when we pointed out they soon fixed that. The lunch menu for £11:90 +service charge is brilliant desserts extra but 3scoops of ice cream is really good. I have been there several times and will definitely be going back next week.

Great food, lovely service. 10/10👍🏼

Has the feel of a friendly local boozer; staff very friendly and welcoming; clearly a place with history and a devoted clientele. Worth saying that my family and I were here primarily looking for some scran. Yorkshire tapas sounds (and purports to be) generous and celebratory of local produce; this wasn’t what we got. At £7-9 plus a dish, we chose 5 or so and spent around £35. What arrived, among some drab olives and slices of jalapeños, were 3 pigs in blankets, four tiny albondigas that were mealy and dry (likely recently frozen), a handful of chips, and a burnt onion Bhaji. The bhaji was so black and acrid to eat that we returned it, and the waitress politely then informed us that it was how it was supposed to be. What then arrived was a pile of bhaji bits - not nearly as big as the first portion - that looked as if someone had dismantled angrily on to the plate. It was still caught and unpleasant to eat. We were all still very hungry after we’d eaten and couldn’t help but rue not just going to grab some pizza somewhere. Go for the vibes, the friendly staff and atmosphere. My advice is don’t bother with the food.