As a blogger, eating in restaurant after restaurant (a terrible job I know) – falling in love with too many restaurants is all part of the job. There is only so much food I can consume (unfortunately) and so getting back to my favourites is never quite as simple. That much became apparent very recently on my return visit to Aqua Nueva. A gorgeous innovative and contemporary Spanish restaurant with a stunning rooftop terrace in the heart of the West End.
Showing how quick time passes, our last visit here was back in July 2017. We loved it then and we still love it now. Currently head chef Yahir Gonzalez has worked on a menu of traditional Spanish tapas-inspired dishes, specially designed for sharing ‘family style’ between two or more people. Every Saturday, guests can enjoy an authentic Spanish dining experience for £35 per person, which includes a selection of six savoury dishes and a dessert to finish. Plus the option to add FREE FLOWING DRINKS (music to my ears) as a supplement and with a fantastic range to choose from. You could be sipping on a Mojito, Sangría, Daiquiri, Peach Bellini’s, Cava, House white & red wine, Beer or a selection of Soft drinks
To accompany the meal, we opted to start with one of the drinks from the bottomless selection – a delicious glass (or two) of chilled Cava. Perfect whilst we looked over the menu and waited for our food to arrive.
Everything you’re about to see here is served as part of the Saturday Feasting Menu and portion wise, ours was shared between two people. First out was a classic and one of my favourite dishes of Aqua Nueva. A selection of croquetas. The black squid ink is and always has been my favourite from the selection. It’s no wonder they’ve become a staple feature of the restaurant menu.
Another classic Spanish dish, Pan con tomate arrived and it was every bit as good as it should be. Lovely toasted bread, sweet tomatoes, a good helping of olive oil and a sprinkling of sea salt.
Quickly followed was the Ensalada de aguacate – a mix of avocado, toasted corn and bitter leaf salad. A simple dish, but the one we really enjoyed. Full of textures and a good amount of colour. Plus, it went perfectly with the glass of white wine we was tucking into by this point.
A classic Spanish tortilla with some aioli sauce later, it was time to enjoy what was my favourite dish of this Saturday Feasting Brunch Menu. The most amazing paella de marisco (aka seafood paella). Vibrant with saffron, the rice was so well cooked and the whole thing was jam-packed with huge red prawns and gigantic mussels. If there was one dish you need to save room for, it’s this.
I’m still dreaming about the marinated rump skewers of beef with a ‘green sauce’ of coriander, olive oil, sea salt, garlic and cumin. It arrives on a small grill, filled with embers and smoking away – letting that gorgeous meaty smell waft across the table. Cooked to perfection, dipped into that coriander dip – you’ll be transported to BBQ heaven.
Even the dessert was delicious The classic Spanish churro, taken to new heights because these ones are green and made with pistachio. It adds just an extra depth of flavour, the texture is a little more firm and the sweet sugar dusting will having you licking your lips well after. The dip of mango and passionfruit sauce was the perfect accompaniment and so good you’ll be spooning any remains from the pot.
Enjoying the free-flowing drinks, we finished by a very lovely glass of sangria which we ended up taking outside on the terrace to enjoy the lovely views from the Aqua Nueva rooftoop. The food was great, the portions very generous, the bottomless drinks delicious and the service as always – seamless. Our only regret is having left it so long since our last visit. Would we come back? Absolutely!
NB: My meal was complimentary. All views are as always, my own. My views are not influenced by anyone other than my own palate and slightly poor eyesight.
I love this kind of food! I need those churros in my life!