Opera Tavern

We recently spent a Friday evening enjoying tapas with some friends. We began with a drink at the Crusting Pipe. This is a Davy's wine bar found in the heart of Covent Garden where you can sit back with a bottle of wine in the undercover open air space listening to music and wrapped in a blanket! The bar is waiter served too so no need to stand in line for a drink. They do have indoor seating if you prefer.

We then took a short stroll around the corner to Opera Tavern. This is a dark, romantically lit, small tapas restaurant. Ensure you reserve as it's a popular late night haunt and by 9pm you won't get a table. The menu is extensive and delicious. Between the four of us we opted for the following dishes:

• confit of old spot pork belly with rosemary scented cannellini beans
• chargrilled octopus with chickpea fritter, red pepper and mojo verde
• patatas fritas with aioli and bravas sauce (2 portions)
• grilled flat bread with honey, hazelnut and rosemary butter
• crispy Iberico pigs ears
• padron peppers
• mini Iberico pork and foie gras burgers (2 portions = 4 mini burgers)
• chargrilled duck breast with apricot puree skewer (2 portions)
• Charred prawns with nero aioli skewer (2 portions)
• prosciutto

We shared two bottles of red wine and managed three espresso martini's between the four of us. The bill was over £100 per couple including service but it was a delicious meal. The atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. You can order food in parts. We ordered some and then went back for seconds. This just means you can determine how hungry you will be as you eat. The dishes will come when ready and are all designed to share as a table, although some are easier to divide than others.

The service here is great and staff will walk you through the menu and help make both food and wine recommendations. There were lots of groups of friends and lots of couples on dates. There was no rushing, we were here for around three hours. Our favourite dishes were the mini burgers, these are amazing and must not be missed. We also enjoyed the patatas fritas as they were slightly different to the traditional patatas bravas dish.

This is definitely a treat restaurant but it's really cute and the food is very good. I would thoroughly recommend grabbing some friends for a civilised evening in London.