Restaurants

Dining is only half the equation at this lively bar-restaurant: drinking and dancing are given just as much attention (half the floor space has bar seating rather than dining tables, and a DJ plays on most nights). So our culinary expectations were not especially high. Yet there were some pleasant surprises in store for us. Albóndigas were moist, expertly seasoned and dressed in a mellow tomato sauce. Calamares, so often either chewy or deep-fried to destruction, were very good, their tender flesh coated in a crisp and light batter. A surprise menu entrant – scallops with prawns in a rich fish sauce – arrived sans prawns, but was tasty nevertheless. Other menu items were more predictable: some serrano ham looked as if it came from a packet and a tapa of garlic chicken was unnecessarily oily. Ultimately, Café Loco is an unpretentious local hangout that is first and foremost about having fun.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007