good service – Scandelights

If I had to choose one favourite meal in Seville, it would be a tough decision, but I think this lunch at Eslava would be my choice.

I had lots of fabulous food during my week in Spain, but the combination of gourmet tapas, great service and the atmosphere here made this lunch very special.

The restaurant was packed when I arrived, and I thought I was early, but a nice flirty waiter (my favourite kind) found me a spot inside the tapas bar, perfect for people (and food) watching.

No sooner had I ordered a glass of wine until it arrived with a bowl of olives. I love that! I feel that Spaniards must easily get hungry too; as you’re always presented with bread and/or olives as soon as you sit down at a table.

As you can see it was busy indeed, and a long queue that I managed to jump thanks to my waiter.

My first dish was the award-winning slow cooked egg yolk on boletus soufflé with caramalised wine sauce and it was AMAZING!

This is not a tapas for sharing – order one each!

The next special dish on the menu is this cigar with brie and cuttlefish – a very strange combination of flavours but it totally works!

After the first two must-have plates I felt I had to choose the next dish very carefully as it would most likely be my last here. (Sometimes I curse my inability to eat lots at one time; I’m more of a eat often but smaller portions type of girl.)

The courgette Charlotte with a garlicky sauce was just the thing to finish off my meal. More subtle than the previous dishes it still held its own and was very satisfying. Definitely one for sharing though as very filling.

I left the restaurant very content and ready to take in another day walking around the beautiful city. But as I’m writing this, I’m already dying to go back for another meal!

Eslava, Calle Eslava, 3, 41002 Sevilla, Spain

On Thursday, Kristin and I went to Gordon Ramsay’s latest assition; Bread Street Kitchen situated in the One New Change Shopping Centre near St Pauls.

The place consists of a bar on street level and the restaurant is on the first floor. It has a rustic feel to it and the interior is spacious but quite cosy in an industrial way.

The menu has a raw bar section and is otherwise a mix of seafood and meat dishes with a few vegetarian options too. It is not the most inspiring menu for foodies, they are playing it safe a bit, but the targeted customers are City workers and foodies.

The most inspiring dish on the menu was crispy pig’s head with chilli mayonnaise, which we had to order.

That dish looked a bit like croquetas but were tiny scraps of tender flavoursome meat rolled up and breaded. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and they were nice, although not very exciting.

The next starter we shared was a safe bet, scallops, perfectly caramelized with a smooth carrot purée and treacle bacon.

My maincourse was poussin with chimichurri and a side order of mash. The chicken was tender and moist and both the chimichurri and the mash were lovely, but perhaps a bit too simple.

Kristin chose pork collar with mustard glaze and mash, and the meat was lovely and tender and fell apart.

Both maincourses were nice and well prepared, but quite similar to food I would (or could) cook at home. I prefer to eat food more complicated to make when eating out, as I want something different from what I can make myself. The portions were also very large and both of us had to leave quite a lot on our plates, which feels like a waste.

Although everything was nice, it felt a little dull, and I will not go out of my way to go back. However, if I find myself around St Pauls one evening in need of a bite, I would be happy to pop in for a burger or a main course, as it is tasty and well cooked, just not exciting enough for me, I’m afraid.

But I have to say, the service was excellent, and it is nice to see that it is such a priority in a restaurant serving this type of rustic, hearty food. The waiting staff were very efficient, proactive, discrete and professional, and that made our dinner a pleasure.

Bread Street Kitchen

10 Bread Street

London EC4M 9AJ

Tag: good service

Seville: amazing gourmet tapas!

Bread Street Kitchen