Navarro's

"Good value and charm stand out on Charlotte Street"

Added Tue 05 Aug 2008 by Leila

I would sum up Spanish eatery Navarro’s with the words wholesome, authentic, and good value.

Located on the restaurant heavy Charlotte Street, the charm and lack of pretension here make it stand out from the rest, particularly it’s neighbour and rival Fino which Navarro’s beats hands down, without the need for hype.

As well as the reliable, more traditional tapas dishes like croquettes, meatballs, and prawns in garlic there are also some other dishes particular to Navarro’s, such as the lamb cooked on upright skewers, with a bowl of potatoes, onions and garlic at the bottom that cooks in the juice of the meat as it drips down, and the stuffed peppers with crab meat in white sauce.

Larger parties have to have one of the set menus, prices start from £17. In our case this worked out well as we got to sample a bit of everything, and those less familiar with Spanish cuisine didn’t need to gamble.

The Sangria here is very good, no mean feat considering most places substitute orange juice for Fanta or Sprite, sacrilege in my opinion. This faux pas has been enough to put me off my meal on a few occasions.

The restaurant is large but does get very busy, particularly at weekends, therefore booking is best. The staff always appear chirpy and lend the place a very friendly, comforting feel. In short, Navarro’s is a safe bet for an always good dining experience. Long may it continue.