Las Iguanas

A butterfly must have flapped its wings in Brazil in anticipation of our visit to this good-time pan-Latin-American refuellery (think Latino TGI Friday), for it was in a state of abject chaos when we showed up. Dishes were being misdelivered left, right and centre, and then carted back to the kitchen by flummoxed, frowning waiters. We must have been at the eye of the storm, as the only gaffe to affect us was the double delivery of a drinks order. But what was going on around us was a farce that shouldn't be in session three weeks after opening. At least the kitchen has oiled its cogs a bit better. We ate some reasonable dishes, though nothing astounded. There are tapas like bolinhos (cod fritters, fluffy and fresh), albóndigas (meatballs, nicely seasoned and a little more exotic than the Spanish standard) and cusquinha (tomato tortilla chips with a lightly dressed salad of crab, peppers and frisée - and very nice too). There are bigger things, ranging from fajitas and chimichangas (in veggie, meat and seafood variations) to Argentinian steak grills and other regional specialities. Steak fajitas filled a hole, but could have used more seasoning, and the £12.50 price tag was a touch steep. Xinxim was the menu's alluring name for a Brazilian regional speciality (apparently) that proved to be no more exotic than 'peanut chicken'. Assuming the service improves, Las Iguanas offers a fun extra option for South Bank regulars who have already eaten at Giraffe, Wagamama and Strada (just downstairs) too many times. But if you're not yet so jaded, any of those is a shrewder choice.

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