In the ever-buzzing area of Broadgate Circle, José Pizarro’s tapas bar beckons to city dwellers, serving up the kind of Spanish tapas that’ll make you wonder why you didn’t know about it sooner.
On an early Tuesday evening, when you might expect a quieter city scene, the space was anything but. Nestled at the ground floor of the circle, the restaurant hummed with life. With International Gin & Tonic Day upon us, and a fortuitous collaboration with Nordés Gin in the air, we kicked things off with José’s expertly mixed gin cocktails. These were no ordinary Gin cocktails – clean, bracing and refreshing sips. We loved the Nordés Colmena by Alejandro Sebastian – celebrating the hills of Malaga, this concoction of gin, blossom honey, lime juice, lime zest and sage leaves was a real hit. Paired with the first bites of the night – Pan con tomate – simple, yes, but these were Catalan tomatoes, fresh and sweet, spread onto crusty bread. Gordal olives stuffed with orange were a revelation. That salty, briny bite with a citrus zing? Pure genius. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but trust me – it does.
From there, the dishes just kept coming, and each one hit harder than the last. Padron peppers brought that roulette wheel of mild-to-hot heat, while the Croquetas de jamon Iberico were exactly what you want from croquetas: creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and all-around addictive.
Next a steady stream of Galician plates – the Spanish omelette was rich and gooey in the centre, the kind of comfort food you could eat on repeat. The octopus, served with a creamy Allada (garlic) sauce had us scraping the plate clean. By the time the tuna empanada hit the table, we were full, but not too full to enjoy its flaky, light pastry and punchy flavour. Service was on point – friendly and knowledgeable, recommending a crisp Tempranillo Blanco from Rioja, which worked like magic alongside the rich, bold flavours of the tapas.
José Pizarro’s tapas bar is not just a restaurant – it serves as a reminder that great food, when combined with a vibrant atmosphere and impeccable service, is reason enough to keep coming back.
josepizarro.com
José Pizarro, Broadgate Circle, 36 Broadgate, London EC2M 1QS
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