Tapas-style dining is the best way to enjoy the delights of Spain across an array of authentic dishes. I have been to some of the best in London, so how does Ibérica compare? Was it any good? Time to find out…
Ideal for:
Spanish tapas aficionados
A light lunch with mates
Date night
Ambience & Décor
Ibérica had a rustic interior which made the venue look very classy and chic with a retro vibe. The light and dark contrast everywhere worked well, and the classic furniture just complemented the design mould. Despite being a millennial, I prefer the charms of yesteryear to the modern and contemporary interiors of today. This Sunday, the restaurant had a lazy, relaxed vibe perfect for lunch.
Service
The service was quite professional and the staff were always on hand to attend. Not being at full capacity was a factor, but nonetheless, it added to the dining experience.
Food
Croquetas (left) is the staple dish I order at any tapas place. The crispy coating was beautifully done without it being too oily and the portion for the price was pleasing. However, authentic Croquetas does go easier on the cheese, and Ibérica skimped on the Serrano ham. Good without being great. The Patatas Bravas (left) was disappointing. The first batch was undercooked, and the cubes of potato were too small to be authentic. London portions afflicting a Spanish classic. The brava sauce and alioli brought some semblance of flavour to an otherwise one-dimensional dish.
The Calamares (right) was far better than the preceding plates. Fried to perfection, the batter was not too starchy, and the alioli was a great foil to the natural flavours of the baby squid. It was particularly more-ish, and the plate was licked clean.
The Cod Brandada (below) was the standout dish. White fish dishes bore me, but this was a pleasant surprise.
The mousse-like texture accentuated the natural, fresh flavours whilst being a joy on the palate. The accompanying vegetable crisps provided a great conduit for the cod, whilst being a wonderful taste and texture change. The consommé added much needed wetness, with its slightly spicy flavours bringing more depth to an already well balanced and well-presented dish.
The Black Rice had prawns, so I only sampled the rice and the accompanying alioli. For me, squid ink is a very strong, bold flavour that should complement and add flavour nuances to the main event, and not be the main event itself. This is not for everyone, and the starchy, gelatinous rice will also feel unpalatable to some. My advice is to order this and use it to accompany other dishes.
Foraying into the specials, the Secreto Iberico (right) pork was served with Mojo Rojo Sauce, rosemary potatoes & peppers. The pork meat was delicious if not a tad lukewarm. The star was the spicy, delicious and smooth Mojo Rojo sauce. It was a sublime pairing as the kick from the sauce awoke the pork and fluffy, crispy potatoes.
The final dish of Crispy Chicken with Romesco sauce and hazelnuts felt underwhelming. The chicken, whilst crispy, was too salty, the sauce was sickly sweet and felt out of place and should have been rendered down better. The hazelnuts were a nice garnish but not worth the price charged.
Ibérica Canary Wharf, had a beautiful restaurant with some slick service to match. Sadly, the food was hit and miss, with the biggest disappointments being the Patatas Bravas and Crispy Chicken. For the price, you want and expect more, and as such Iberica gets a B- rating.
Photos of Ibérica Canary Wharf and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: B-
Final comment: Beautiful setting and service, but much work needed on some dishes.
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