La Viña Tapas Bar & Restaurant

Charming Location with Delicious Tapas Delight

It's often said that dining in London can be an adventure, and my recent escapade at this supposed Spanish tapas spot was nothing short of theatrical in its antics. Nestled atop the bustling Leadenhall Market, a setting known to transplant visitors to an Old World's maze, the restaurant's ambiance gave a cozy nod to the vibrant cafés lining Madrid's famed streets—or so I first mused, climbing several flights of stairs. The aesthetic charm of walls adorned in faded Mediterranean hues and strategically placed photographs suggested authentic Iberian roots. Yet, as I took my seat and gazed directly towards the kitchen—a venture some would call dramatic irony—it became clear that looks are where authenticity promptly packed up and left town.

The menu laid before me charmed initially with its promises of manchego cheese and patatas bravas; classic staples, surely easy enough for any aspiring chef to pull off. Alas, culinary sins abounded: the misleading "bravas" were kissed more by candy-makers than by red peppers, and the once-mighty Manchego was reduced to three embarrassing postage stamps of themselves, woefully priced at £16. Nevertheless, the staff plodded along earnestly, their good intentions marred by misunderstandings worthy of a Shakespearean comedy. Service ricocheted between sacrosanct silence and sudden bursts of unexpected song—in the form of a live serenade aimed more for two unbothered tables than the logistical palava nearby. Ripples of laughter echoed as requests for olive oil converted quite mystically into bowls of mayonnaise. While the whimsical madness unfurled before our very eyes (a baroque opera), it did not, however, include our orders—many remained entirely forgotten. By the finale, a Pedro Ximénez paired expertly with cheesecake seemed heaven-sent, solidifying its hold as the evening’s star turn. But a caveat to gastronomes hunting for veritable Spanish tapas: this would be one adventure you'd mayhap recount more fondly in hindsight—and perhaps somewhere else next time. — Penelope Savory