Amidst the super modern regeneration of Victoria, lies a plethora of modern uber restaurants, which are large, opulent, sterile-looking, mainly chain restaurants. Probably the most difficult to find among them is Iberica, whose entrance is just off the main road, opposite Jamie’s Kitchen.
Once inside, however, Victoria’s concrete jungle dissipates and you enter the world of old Spain, with its old wooden shutters, beautiful tiles, patterned ceramics, guilted mirrors and brass piping. Spanish bric-a-brac adorns the shelves and, although obviously this is obviously not a 19th century Spanish Cantina, the inspired styling does a darned good job of creating the illusion of Iberian grandeur.
We started with the classics pan con tomate, Serrano ham and croquetas. But it was the unlikely tempura-style crispy aubergine with miel de caña that was the first dish to take our breath away, as did the grilled octopus, which was beautifully soften, coated in a pimento de la vera oil and accompanied by puree. The lamb sweatbreads with a black trumpet mushroom sauce and a deep fried soft egg oozing over the crispy meant, were divine.
We couldn’t resist the unusual looking dishes on the winter menu; Burgos black pudding with a Granny Smith puree and the wild autumn mushrooms (ceps, black trumpet & girolle) with sauteed chickpeas and garlic breadcrumb
Another highlight was the hare croquettes, which had a slightly meatier texture than the usual ham ones, and definitely a taste of luxury. But the dish of the day, according to unanimous vote, was the seared venison which was incredibly tender, accompanied by Jerusalem artichoke and drizzled with an intense a roast garlic and honey alioli. To die for…
We followed these delightful morsels with the seafood paella, whose rich, saffron flavoured rice was adorned with the most gigantic prawns. The kids watched in silent awe as the waiter scraped the socarrat - the caramelised stock that is not absorbed by the rice, but stays at the bottom of the pan - unleashing unleash the toasty and amazing flavours. It was quite an art.
Unbelievably there was still room for desert, and the kids dug in to the classic churros with chocolate sauce and caramelized rice pudding ( a kind of hybrid between arroz con leche, with the crispy coatsing of catalan coating) as if they hadn’t eaten for days.
My 8 year old left uttering the words: “that restaurant must have a Michelin star. it was…outstanding.” I laughed, he’s definitely been watching too much Masterchef.
Iberica, 5-6, Zig Zag, 68 Victoria St, Westminster, London SW1E 6SQ
