Escocesa

Indulging in a tapas extravaganza @escocesa_n16 was an absolute culinary delight! 🍽✨ Nestled in Stoke Newington, this hidden gem seamlessly marries the flavors of Spain with the bounty of Scotland’s seas, resulting in a gastronomic experience like no other. From the moment we stepped through the door, the aroma of sizzling seafood and savory spices enveloped us, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining adventure. We started our journey with the classic patatas bravas, crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside, followed by the gambas al ajillo – plump prawns bathed in a garlic-infused olive oil that danced on our taste buds with each savory bite. But the true revelation came with the courgette flowers stuffed with creamy goat cheese and drizzled with honey, a harmonious blend of sweet and savory that left us speechless. Next up were the chipirones, delicate baby squid fried to golden perfection, and the tortilla with jamon, a comforting medley of fluffy eggs and savory ham that warmed our souls with each forkful. And let’s not forget the Lemon sole with piperrada and sardines at the end – both were fresh, flavorful, and expertly prepared, they showcased the unparalleled quality of Escocesa’s seafood selection. Throughout our meal, the attentive and friendly team ensured that every aspect of our dining experience was nothing short of exceptional, adding an extra layer of warmth to an already unforgettable evening. Escocesa truly exceeded all expectations, transporting us from a cozy corner in Stoke to the vibrant streets of Spain with each tantalizing dish. We left feeling not just satisfied, but thoroughly enchanted, eager to return and explore even more of this culinary treasure trove.

Absolutely stunning spanish food. Each dish was flavourful and well presented. Takes you back to your local tapas bar in spain. Very polite service staff too

Great spot. Highly recommend. Warm and welcoming service with great food and a solid wine list. The counter looked really inviting but we chose a table on this occasion. We’ll be back!

What a discovery! This tapas place is something special that needs to be treasured. The food was delicious from the first pepper through the croquetas to the last bit of the prawns. All accompanied by a fresh white wine from Valencia. To finish it off I had a chocolate mouse with berry sorbet, for which I have run out of words! Thank you for this unforgettable experience.

Came to this restaurant and got some oysters on their sunday deal. The oysters were not properly opened and had lots of shell bits inside. At the time they also felt a bit off but didn't think much of it in the moment. The next day both me and partner started having signs of food poisoning and it only got worse later on. Its a shame as the place itself is nice and the waiters were friendly. Let down by their oysters.

This is our second time here and we will go again. The food is great, the staff is friendly, the music is fantastic and the atmosphere is very good. You should definitely try it. Salut

I would probably call this place a hidden gem, as it's not located in central London like many other tapas restaurants. Every time I walked by, we were curious about the menu and what it could offer, given its lively atmosphere and good vibe from the outside. It didn't disappoint. Everything we ate was very delicious. I would probably call this place a hidden gem, as it's not located in central London like many other tapas restaurants. Every time I walked by, we were curious about the menu and what it could offer, given its lively atmosphere and good vibe from the outside. It didn't disappoint. Everything we ate was very delicious. We started fresh with pan con tomate, which acted almost like a palate cleanser. Next, the chipirones - fried baby squid arrived, and they were quite generous for the price. Patatas bravas was no surprise, with its rich, flavorful tomato dip. The charcoal-grilled sardines were nicely cooked and seasoned, with the ajillo sauce on top adding a great touch to the smokiness from the grill. Moving on to the specials (for us), the courgette flower stuffed with goat cheese & honey was definitely the highlight of our dinner, both in terms of originality and the fusion of flavors. The fried aubergine came with another sweet touch and was definitely worth trying. Up until this point, we thought we'd had the best food Escocesa could offer; but then came the baked cheesecake with blueberry sauce. It was the perfect sweet finale to our menu and definitely made our day. We'll hopefully come back here again, bringing many other friends who must try the cheesecake (and the courgette flower).

All the food are delicious ! I see they update their menu, would definitely come back to try new dishes!

I love this place a little gem if you make it as far up and Stokey then go! I am in love with the idea of the Scottish sourced Spanish tapas bar but also they put some lovely details into each dish! The boquerones are to die for and have a little toasted garlic on top providing exquisite texture to the dish! The wine a Manga del brujo suggested by the waitress was a beautiful garnet colour, not too expensive and complemented the meal perfectly! Also some interesting combinations such as a cured tuna with Caper-berries and lemon creme. And a veal dish which was indescribably delicious! My only regret is I didn't get a photo of each dish to post in the review but really I was too busy enjoying to think about something so mundane! Sorry Yelpers you will just have to see for yourself!

This is my favourite restaurant in London. Make sure you sit at the bar in the kitchen so you can get the full experience watching the chefs make your food. Sunday is the best day, £1 oysters and seafood paella on the menu. The wine list is carefully crafted and I actually discovered my favourite wine that I now always order. Service is impeccable and their gin tonics are very much above average. 10/10!

I was so excited to try this place after my friend said it was on her list for like forever! We arrived and the setting was dark and lit by candles.. So far, so good, but the food was just average.. After a long debate I went for the tortilla and prawns. Hmm I so wanted to love it, as I'm a big fan of tapas, but the prawns were super average, and you could barely taste the garlic. The only positive was the portion was a good size, but for £8 it would have to be. The tortilla wasn't bad, more flavoursome than some places, but not a stand out dish really. My friend was more adventurous than me, ordering the aubergine coated in sugar and honey. We both agreed that it sounded a weird combination, but she decided to be brave and try it. Well, it was just that, weirdly ok. The fig and manchego salad looked great, but after more than a few bites, kinda lost its appeal. All in all.. This place was just ok! Wouldn't run to go back, but wouldn't avoid it either...

Every dish we had was tasty and just the right amount - even though it's technically 'tapas' we still felt full after sharing three plates for Sunday brunch. Great decor, friendly staff, can't wait to come back again one evening and try out one of their specials!

I went there for dinner without a reservation, our only option was to sit at the bar. Great experience! The personnel is super friendly and each tapa is crafted by the corresponding expert. We took the rabbit, squid, pantomaca, bravas and Aubergine tapas. The first two were amazin, tender tasty very well combined. The other three were for us the sides, they were really good.in particular it made us happy tthat our patatas bravas didnt have Mayonnaise as in most places. I can only recommend them all.

Beautiful place on Stoke Newington church street. Sit at the bar and watch Barcelona magic happen... yummy!

This is our go-to in Stoke Newington. Lovely food. Very fresh. Reasonable prices. We enjoy watching the cooking from the kitchen bar. I think we could eat here every night without getting tired.

A perfect tapas experience in a friendly atmosphere. Captures the spirit of this neighborhood-- such a refreshing change from antiseptic and indifferent central London restaurants. Stunningly delicious Spanish food in an intimate setting. The meat and vegetarian dishes were equally delicious, which is rare. The special - a pork cut called pressa Iberia-- was one of the best pieces of meat I've ever had. Such a delight.

The space is quite nice to start off: dark and light wood, neon signs and candlelit tables create a cosy, buzzing atmosphere. The staff is smiley and very accommodating. However, it's quite LOUD so make sure your food companion is speaking loudly as I had to ask my friend to speak up several times. I got the figs and manchego salad for £6.5 and the fried aubergines with walnuts and sugar-cane honey for £4.5. The first was pretty bland- I've had much sharper manchego in Spain- and the second dish sounded amazing but was... ok as well. The first bite or two was delicious. The aubergine had a lovely slightly crispy texture. But then the flavour faded so ended up pretty middling by the end. You get about 5-7 slices of aubergine so a good amount for a tapa portion. My companion got the tortilla and prawns with aioli. She liked the tortilla but we agreed the prawns were ok. We also got a carafe of the cheapest red wine for £11 and it was fine. However, I think £11 is kind of steep for how small the carafe was!