TaPaell'Ya

Stan (3 August 2007)

After navigating the short corridors into TaPaell'Ya, we were met with chic, modern surroundings and an impressively extensive tapas menu, with around thirty different dishes. However, don’t let quantity get confused with quality. The sprinkling of customers amongst the many tables should have hinted as much, but we cast away our doubts to order seven tapas and a paella (for three of us), ranging from the classic gambas al ajillo to queso de cabra sobre cebolla. What we were served was a different story, which included a rather tasteless tuna carpaccio, some bland prawns and skewers of chewy lamb. There were a few saving graces: a decent mushroom and chorizo fritter and mediocre beef fillets. However, they saved the worst for last and presented us with a chicken and seafood paella (aella valenciana), which resembled a very watery glop. After one mouthful of rice, my taste buds agreed with my eyes to say without doubt that this was the worst paella I’ve ever eaten. A bite into the overcooked chicken and rubbery mussel did not prove otherwise. To name this restaurant TaPaell'Ya and to serve such an inedible dish is a mockery. At least they were kind enough to not charge us for it. Overall, highly disappointing!