Camino

It is au fait currently to mention anything in connection with the Kings Cross area in the exuberant tones of renaissance, as this formerly seedy area, where those arriving from the north formerly put their heads down and kept going until they could open their eyes in somewhere a touch more salubrious, undergoes a transformation, albeit slowly.

So Camino, with its overtones of flamenco, colour, excitement and Spanish cuisine fits in well and who better to promote it than a man whose quarter century attachment to Spain has given him an enthusiasm that shows throughout the whole operation.

There are few concessions to other cuisines, and such is the way of Spanish food that tapas open the menu, closely followed by starters that embrace Spanish ham, chorizo and seafood. Main courses certainly make good use of local ingredients with tender lamb cutlets from Romney Marsh, 25-30 days rib-eye charolais steak served on the bone, and from further afield fillet beef from the cattle of an Aberdeen Angus/Limousin cross.  On the side, slow roasted piquillo peppers with orange and brandy reduction, before moving on to the rather alarming sounding hot molten chocolate cake with passion fruit sorbet, which translates much better as pastel de chocolate caliente con sorbete de maracuyá.

A Spanish wine list offers the wine of the country by the glass, carafe or bottle enabling some really interesting drinking to be pursued.

So let's raise a glass to El Espana in King's Cross and the future of this attractive and lively restaurant.