So what do I need to know about Morada Brindisa Asador?
As you might be able to tell from the name, this isn't your standard Brindisa (even the brand name is given very small second billing to "Morada" throughout). And while tapas are in evidence on the menu, along with large charcuterie platters, the real focus is on cooking on charcoal - in their Robata grill or Josper oven.
Where is it?
It's a couple of minutes from Piccadilly Circus and a few doors down from the other restaurant doing very well in the area, The Palomar.
Where should we meet friends for drinks first?
There's a small area for drinks in the front - but it's more of a waiting-for-a-table area than a full-on bar. That said, if you're planning on counter dining, the main bar area is perfect for snacking at while waiting for a guest to arrive. Otherwise, you're probably best venturing across Shaftesbury Avenue to Soho proper for drinks.
Where should we sit?
It does seem like Morada will be a good place for solo or couple dining as there's an awful lot of either counter dining or "high seat" dining. But, if you're like us, you'll see that the best seats by far are up at the counter. There, you'll have ample room to spread all your plates around you and watch the action.
And what kind of menu is there?
It's really a mix of snacks, small plates and the main grilled dishes. Our recommendation, as ever with any restaurant serving small plates, is to pace yourself on the ordering front - you should only order each load of dishes as you're happy for them to come. Everything arrives quickly so it's always best that you dictate the pace.
And what stood out on the night?
One thing we did agree by the end is that we'd happily go back to try more. For example - the steak tartare burger definitely looks tempting (£9) and the Moorish Iberico pork and jowl pinch is apparently worth a try too (£7.75). We'd advise against the chorizo fritter (pictured below) unless the menu is changed to serve it with a dip of some sort. But we'd definitely recommend the following:
- The wrinkled potatoes with mojos - this mix of perfectly-cooked spuds along with spicy (but not hot-spicy) mojos sauce was a real highlight. Order on its own if you want but it would pair well with any of the grilled mains (side note - the roasted veg worked wonders as a side dish too).
- The secreto Iberico pork (£34) from the charcoal oven was stunning - one of the best pork dishes we've had in a while. We were sorely tempted to order another of these - but it really showed the quality of the food coming from that charcoal oven. We've heard that the milk-fed lamb is also a must and if the presa's on, go for that obviously.
- And it's worth saving just a little space for dessert - as the light La Bauma cheesecake topped off our meal perfectly
And how about drink?
Obviously, being Spanish, there's a strong focus on Spanish wines, Cava, sherry and vermouth too. The cocktail list is very simple (with sangria and rebujito available in both glasses and jugs) but we'd recommend starting with a class of Cava, staring at £6 a glass and £7.50 for our La Vida al Camp Rose. Wines start at £20 but if you're feeling flush, head for the Los Grandes section where they can shoot up to £295 for Vega Sicilia "Unico" 2004.
Overall thoughts
There's a reason Brindisa's success continues, and that's because they've never really produced a duff restaurant. This sees them reaching out for a new style of restaurant and it's broadly successful. The charcoal oven cooked meats alone are worth a visit alone (as were those potatoes) and we think it'll be a haven for anyone wanting to escape the madness of Piccadilly come the summer.
Morada Brindisa Asador is at 18-20 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DF. You can book by calling 0207 478 8758. Find out more about Morada Brindisa Asador.
Hot Dinners dined as guests of Brindisa.
