Sister restaurant to the ever-popular Barrafina (still going strong after 20 years), Parrillan's tabled offering differs slightly from Barrafina's counter style, but no less of the Mediterranean holiday vibes. With an open kitchen that lets you watch the chefs cooking over fire - the restaurant's MO - and a lively terrace perfect for summer evenings, it's energetic and buzzy.
The menu is a classic spread of Spanish tapas, accompanied by a great selection of regional wines, cavas and sherries. We kicked off with a plate of manchego and accompanying membrillo, dangerously moreish ham croquetas and a delicious dish of chorichitos, mini chorizo sausages. The first serving arrived cold in the middle - whoops - though the error was swiflty rectified. So far so good, though we were already filling up...
A grilled fillet of mackerel with lemon zest was perfectly simple yet full of flavour. We accompanied with grilled leek with picada and jamon serrano - delicious, but frustratingly tiny; a finger length of leek meant a mere mouthful each. The asador chips with brava sauce was a more hearty portion, as was the fillet of dry-aged ex-dairy beef which was juicy and rich. For a bigger party, we'd head back to try and whole suckling pig, though at £290 you can guess how many it serves.
Basque cheesecake is, in our humble opinion, the only way to finish such a meal and Parrillan's was perfectly creamy.
This is fuss-free, fire cooked Spanish food that continues to bring a taste of holiday to London. Despite a few hiccups, it's a delicious spot for an affordable meal and that terrace is surely calling out for a sunny summer evening of sangria.
