La Sal

The 2012/13 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the 2013 edition.

Floor-shaking stamping, plaintive strains of Spanish guitar and passionate cries of ‘ole!’ might well accompany your meal at La Sal, thanks to regular performances from Alba Flamenca, the dance school next door to the restaurant. Formerly known as El Bar, this diminutive tapas joint was taken over by head chef and owner Carlos Pedrero in December 2012 and the menu offers a plethora of staple dishes such as jamon Iberico, Spanish omelette, chorizo, calamari and patatas bravas. More adventurous options include filling fabada (bean stew with pork shoulder), a somewhat stodgy calamares rellenos (baby squid stuffed with prawns, vegetables and egg) and, aptly, huevos a la flamenca (crisp potatoes, chorizo and egg sizzling in tomato sauce). For less adventurous appetites, steaks are also available. Almond tart makes a pleasing dessert accompanied by a smooth, rich ice-cream, although cheesecake comes with a somewhat unusual topping of strawberry jam. While the menu offers up few surprises, La Sal’s flamenco connection undoubtedly adds a charge to the atmosphere and it is worth seeking out on nights when performances are scheduled.

• High point: A novel take on dinner and dancing
• Low point: Menu doesn't quite match the energy of the entertainment

6. JamesEH3 – 19 May 2013, 12:00pm La Sal Report

This place is over-rated and I would like to share my experience of last night.
I booked a table for 9.00PM and when we arrived to the restaurant, the table was not ready and we had to wait a couple of minutes. We sat in the backroom wihch was 1/3 full but very noisy as a spanish group of girl was having some drinks.
The food took around 1hour to arrive and the kitchen porter brought 2 out of 5 tapas wrong. He did say sorry and brought 30min later the tapas we ordered.
The food was OK but I have to say that my spanish flatmate (which is not a cook in any ways) makes better crocetta and tortilla.
I will not be back again and not recommend.

5. CathyM – 16 Jun 2012, 11:43pm La Sal Report

I kept passing El Bar on my trip from Tesco to my flat and thinking how quiet and unassuming it looked but decided that I would pop in and book a table. It turned out that El Bar was an absolutely fantastic, hidden away restaurant and the best tapas I've had outside of Andalucia - along with a very reasonably priced selection of Rioja tinto which slipped down all too easily. There are also catered flamenco nights which look great - well worth booking into. The staff are also really very friendly and helpful.

4. Rollo – 22 Feb 2012, 5:18pm La Sal Report

The food's delicious and cheap. Best Spanish restaurant in Edinburgh!

3. Richard H – 9 Feb 2012, 4:04pm La Sal Report

It's quite unusual for me to give five stars in a review, but four stars wouldn't do this place justice. The two chefs that run the place have a clear vision of the kind of restaurant they want to create. The tapas are authentic, delicious and underpriced. I would recommend this place to anyone.

2. casahildy – 5 Feb 2011, 6:43pm La Sal Report

After searching for a tapas bar in Edinburgh, we were drawn to this place after only reading the one positive review and my husband and I were not disappointed, its a hidden treasure in a busy capital city. From the moment we arrived the service was first class, the staff were helpful and friendly, the pinchos were a great idea whilst deciding which of the many tapas dishes to have - the dishes were tasty, plentiful and excellent value for money in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, very reasonably priced food and drink and a place we will definately visit again and recommend to friends, we can't rate this tapas bar highly enough.

1. Kelly – 24 Feb 2010, 12:46pm La Sal Report

I think this is a little gem of a place. Introduced by word of mouth from locals and what a treat. I had to have two helpings of the patatas bravas and calamari - not because they were small portions, but because they were so yummy. And I love the feeling as if you're stepping into a little piece of Spain when you enter El-Bar. Highly recommend, and highly recommend booking!