El Rocio (West Hampstead)

• Inviting and friendly and as I was to learn later from its co owner
• Most of the food is imported from Spain and the seafood bought from Billingsgate
• A firm favourite with the customers is the ratatouille with goat's cheese which we had no hesitation in trying
• I didn't want a whole plateful of the Serano ham and so asked for a few slithers to try which were offered free of charge
• A bottle of white Rioja was to accompany our Spanish journey and I had a feeling we were in for something rather good
• The goat's cheese was sitting in a pool of velvety tomato sauce
• Gently oozing into it and it was a hell of a mouthful
• The quality of the prawns was second to none and there is nothing I like better than dunking a fat piece of bread into the garlicky oil
• Soft and simply served with a raita (rather than an aioli) was moist and tender
• Dressed side salad was just too much for our bellies we barely touched it
• The owner came and joined us with complimentary coffee and liquors a warming amaretto on ice was very graciously received and we proceeded to chew the fat for the next half hour
• Serving staff with a smile and an owner who understands how to treat his customers and not rob them blind because it's West Hampstead
• On a Friday night there is live Spanish music and apparently the place is rammed
• Rancheros eggs (poached in slightly spicey tomatoey sauce with peppers and onions) is good too but doesn't quite stuff you as well as the full english and doesn't feel especially breakfasty
• (Skip the 'Spanish breakfast' the tomatoes were strangely tasteless and the Serrano ham was a strange token Spanishification that didn't really add up)

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