This place opened about 15 years ago, when I worked in The Cut. It had been a Barclays Bank, and they kept the polished wooden counter in the middle, giving the room quite a Spanish feel. I went once or twice, but I didn't think it would really take off. Nothing wrong with it, but it was usually pretty empty and I thought maybe Londoners simply didn't 'get' tapas. Shame, because it was good. Last week we'd arranged to eat at Livebait, but on a whim darted into Meson Don Felipe instead. What a difference ! It was heaving, but we managed to get two seats at the bar. Glass of fino each and three tapas did us nicely, especially as the tapas portions were more like a 'racion', and you get bread and butter. We got six big Champignones Fritos, (deep fried mushrooms) eight Croquettas Atùn (tuna fishcakes, spherical and a tiny bit dry) and an Ensalata Especial which involved more tuna, olives, tomatoes, egg, lettuce and mayonnaise. All good stuff and freshly made, it's obvious why it's popular. Understandably, they have crammed as many tables in as possible, and just as we were about to eat, the waiter asked us to move up so that two more people could squeeze in. And that's my only complaint, really. You can't sit comfortably at a bank counter anyway, but perched on a stool with people brushing past you all the time just ain't relaxin'. And 18 inches (Oh, OK - 45cm) behind you sit other diners, also on stools, at very small tables.

But we were off to the QEH anyway, so didn't want to linger, and that's what Meson Don Felipe is ideal for: a quick something before the Sarf Bank. Approved. DM