Jamon Jamon

Literally meaning ‘Ham Ham’, Jamon Jamon is also named after a popular (and rather sexually explicit) Spanish film. But then the Spaniards have always been a little more extrovert than the Brits. The staff at Jamon Jamon are so friendly I felt like I was in a tapas bar in Sevilla, without a care in the world. The waitresses cracked jokes and the waiters danced around, creating a jovial atmosphere to match the cheerful décor of hanging pots and jugs over the bar.

The food is rather good too. Classics such as tortilla and paella are tasty, but it’s the regional specialities that are the treat here. Empanada Gallega, which I have not seen since leaving Spain, is thin pastry stuffed with tuna, onion and tomato, typical of Galicia, a northern part of Spain. Alongside this we ordered the Basque cod cooked in alioli (garlic mayonnaise), red peppers stuffed with cheese, mushrooms cooked in garlic and béchamel, and a platter of Manchego goats cheese.

The delectable menu had sneakily made us order much more than we needed, but despite feeling about the size as Spain I couldn’t help but continue eating. We washed the tapas down with two jugs of Sangria, which while made properly with juice rather than Fanta (a pet hate of mine) appeared to contain hardly any alcohol.

Whilst Jamon Jamon may lack the finesse of restaurants like Brindisa it also lacks the expense. The food is authentic and wholesome, and the vibe is distinctly Spanish. I think I’ve found a new regular.