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El Parador - London Restaurant Reviews | Hardens
Review | El Parador, Camden | James Ramsden
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Lunch in the sun is just about the perfect context for any meal.
Everything tastes better when it’s sunny; the idea of eating a Twister is quite repulsive on a cold, rainy day, but when the sun has got his hat on it becomes the most delectable treat the corner, nay any, shop has to offer.
El Parador serves tapas.
First up came some marinated anchovies with little nuggets of sweet, roasted garlic.
So next time the sun is shining, your step springeth, and your tummy rumbleth, mosey on down to Mornington Crescent, find a quiet corner in the garden at El Parador, and wallow in two hours of contented bliss.
El Parador, 245 Eversholt Street, Camden, London, NW1 1BA ...
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The less-than-glamorous Eversholt Street is home to the perennially popular Asakusa and tapas restaurant El Parador, which shares its name with a famous chain of Spanish hotels.We haven’t booked and there’s a moment of panic as we realise how busy they are.
As yet no one else is seated here therefore we have the room to ourselves for a short while.We immediately order bread and aioli (£4), the pungent garlic mayonnaise so beloved in Spanish cuisine, that I am more than a little partial too.
Chargrilled artichokes with broad beans (£5.90) are exquisite with Harissa oil and caramelised red onions.The patatas bravas (£4.50) or spicy sautéed potatoes are deeply comforting, as is the roasted butternut squash with padron peppers (£5.90), the sweetness of the squash fusing perfectly with hints of cumin and garlic.
It’s only once we’re halfway through our meal that we realise we’ve chosen mostly veggie dishes, it’s perfectly satisfying nonetheless.There is a tempting selection of wines, including choices from the renowned regions of Utiel and Ribera del Duero, however this being the night after the morning after the night before we stick to a San Miguel each and gallons of water.El Parador have stuck to simple classics.
Interestingly, the restaurant has a book, however owners Carlos Horillo and Patrick Morcas have opted for dishes like slow roasted pork belly with fennel seeds over Spanish tortilla; perhaps the draw of another tapas book wasn’t enough for the publishers.As far as dining here goes El Parador has an unassuming, friendly atmosphere coupled with some very pleasing food, which goes someway towards explaining why they’ve been open for over 20 years.
El Parador, Camden
They have been offering good value food, a delicious variety of wines and great service for over eighteen years.
You can enjoy their food either upstairs, or in their private downstairs function room, which can accommodate up to 30 people.
Restaurant: El Parador, London NW1 | Travel | The Guardian
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Alas, there was nothing strikingly Spanish about El Parador's simple interior, apart from the warm ochre tone of the walls, but there was something Spanish about the atmosphere, with its backing track of eager conversation.
The arroz con champinones (rice with mushrooms) had a similar consistency to risotto, with the strong, distinctive flavours of chestnut mushrooms, spinach and leeks making it a tasty accompaniment to the other dishes, as well as the bread.
In comparison, the hinojo del parador (roasted fennel with roasted tomatoes, sage butter and chickpeas) was a little bland - with the distinctive flavour of fennel apparently gone awol - and while the saffron potatoes, cherry tomatoes and peas worked well with my monkfish (rape con patatas), I can vouch, from a previous visit, that there are more mouth-watering items on the menu.
Try the gambas del parador (tiger prawns with garlic, paprika, white wine, olive oil and bay leaves), the albondigas (herby meatballs in a rich tomato and basil sauce) or the batatas con romero y tomates (roasted sweet potato with rosemary, roasted tomatoes and coriander).
Indulge yourself with the marquesa de chocolate (a homemade mousse made with orange liqueur, served with a generous layer of of fresh cream) if you're a chocolate lover, or, for a traditional Spanish pudding, try El Parador's arroz con leche laced with nutmeg, which is almost a meal in itself.
El Parador | Restaurants in Camden Town, London
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A London tapas institution with a loyal following, El Parador is a low-key restaurant that won’t necessarily change the way you think about tapas, but will certainly have you coming back for more.
The tapas style enables one individual ingredient to be the star of each dish.
Hence sea bream was served simply with fennel; merguez sausages were grilled with onions; and broad beans had been whipped into a purée with rosemary and confit garlic.
With over 40 tapas to choose from, the menu can seem overwhelming, but the large selection does mean that vegetarians are well catered for – beyond the predictable offering of tortilla.
As it happens, the tortilla is very good, with balanced seasoning, a comforting gooey middle and slight sweetness from the onions.