Meza
Above: Above: Inside Meza
No longer just ‘that tapas bar above Floridita’, Meza in Wardour Street has emerged from refurbishments as a destination in its own right. Infinitely cosier than before, its gently spruced up interiors may look familiar at first glance, but the feel of the place is now entirely different. Casually split into separate eating and drinking areas, it now has space in between for those who’d like to do a bit of both, with convivial buzz and ambient lighting creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout.
Tasty cocktails and a central location make the bar a good meeting point, but the best spots for ‘proper’ meals are the curved banquettes along the back wall, where low lights and tall-backed seats ensconce you in your own private cocoon – great for secretive business meets or a romantic date.
Service, thankfully, is attentive, saving customers from sticking their heads out of the booths, but while the smiley staff were almost psychic in their ability to pre-empt our every liquid need, they offered little guidance when it came to ordering food.
The menu has had a major overhaul, with several ‘big plates’ now featuring next to long lists of tapas, off which dishes vary significantly in size, making it hard to know how much to order. Having plumped for what we thought would be the signature selections (those items highlighted in boxes on each page) our meal wasn’t actually as balanced as we’d hoped, so a few hints wouldn’t have gone amiss.
The best bits were the beautifully presented sliced meats and breads. We also loved the vegetable couscous but the fatty pork belly, deep-fried risotto balls and spicy salt cod fritters all proved a bit too rich – at least in combination. Next time, we’ll opt for more cold cuts and grilled things in the hope of finding room to try dessert.
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