Restaurants

Tucked away at the quiet end of Portobello Road, Galicia nevertheless continues to attract a crowd. Its narrow corridor of tables and bar quickly filled up early on a week night. The menu offers regional and national dishes, including classic seafood and meat tapas. Gruff but amenable, the old-school waiting staff ensured professional service throughout. We opted for a tomato-based Galician chicken stew, and veal in sherry sauce. Presentation of the dishes and combination of their ingredients were both very much from the traditional school of cooking, but not to their detriment. The dishes arrived with a huge silver platter of simply cooked, seasonal vegetables and chips. Puddings were on display and a quick inspection tempted us into ordering a rich caramelly flan and a slice of tarta santiago, doused in a generous slug of almond liqueur. With a lively atmosphere, simple decor and solid, dependable cooking, Galicia is the place to head for an informal night with friends or an intimate tête-à-tête.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009