LONDON - BERMONDSEY - JOSÉ - TAPAS & SHERRY BAR

JOSÉ TAPAS & SHERRY BAR

We paid a covid time visit to José in October. 2020

There are now tables in the street and this is where we chose to sit.

We were a group of six friends and, on the occasion. we chose to share various tapas including

Tartar de atún (tuna tartar)

Bife de lomo con patatas y salsa romesco (rib-eye steak with potatoes and romesco sauce)

The meal went on into the night and we had plenty of refills

Jamón Ibérico de Bellota

Boquerones (anchovies marinated in vinegar)

Gambas al ají y al ajillo (prawns in chili and garlic)

A stunning pluma Ibérico (A cut from the shoulder of the pig, served medium rare, which is very unusual for pork)

Boquerone fritas (fried anchobies)

To drink we had

6 glasses of Cava

2 bottles of Adaras Lluvia Blanco 2019 (Sauvignon Blanc (50%), Verdejo (50%)

2 bottles of Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva Gran Dominio.

All in all, an excellent evening with great service and all the covid rules in place. It's great when we can all sit outside but when it gets colder, that's when it gets more difficult.

Previous visits

Situated on a corner of the now trendy area of Bermondsey Street this cosy little tapas bar serves up excellent authentic tapas. Opened by José Pizarro with his eponymous restaurant, Pizarro, further up the street.

José is a buzzing spot for an atmospheric lunch or dinner.

This is not a sit-down restaurant, but a Spanish bar, where you go to have a drink and some tapas, standing or sitting on stools with a barrel for a table. There are also window stools looking out onto the street.

A typical menu would consist of:

Baby spinach with honey dressing

Gazpacho, toasted bread

Boquerones con vinegre (anchovies in vinegar)

Pimentons de Padrón

Jamón croquetas (ham croquettes)

Gambas al ajillo (chilli prawns)

Green peas, Manchego, mint oil

Blue cheese croquetas

Patatas bravas

Jamón Ibérico Manuel Maldonado

Marinated pork loin

Gambas a la plancha

Chorizo al vino

Sea bream, roasted peppers

Pan fried squid

Crema Catalana

There is also a blackboard with the days specials

As well as the excellent wine list there is also a classic sherry list ranging from Fino, Manzanilla, Palo Cortado, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez.

Opening Hours are (Please check due to Covid-19 restrictions)

Mon-Sat 12.00 - 22.00

Sun 12.00 - 17.30

No Reservations...........just walk in!

The best time to grab a stool is around 12.15 pm or 4.30 pm, the place is small and always busy.

You can now buy José's own pimentón - Extremeño natural pimentón alumado from his own region in Spain, Extremadura.

José, when it was a grocery shop in 1988!