Don Fernando is situated so close to Richmond main line and tube station, you can almost hear the platform announcements. It’s not surprising then that on an early weekday evening, it is pretty busy with commuters enjoying a drink and snack or a full meal before braving the journey home.

The Venue
Furnished in Spanish style with terracotta floor tiles and red bent back café chairs, Don Fernando feels informal and welcoming. The attractive bar is along one side of the L–shaped room and it is here one can see the tempting meat tapas on sticks waiting to be cooked. Set up by Don Fernando over 20 years ago, this well-regarded restaurant is very much a family business and is now run by his nephews and niece.

The Atmosphere
Discreet Spanish music plays in the background but it's the lively buzz about the place that hits you. The tapas is the main attraction, so it’s a popular place for groups, but couples certainly won't feel out of place. Staff are dressed in distinctive green polo shirts and dart about attentively.

The Food
The tapas portions are generous and two to three per person is suggested. The idea is to share but some of the options are so good, you may find this difficult - the quality of the food is light years away from chain restaurants that try to imitate. The aforementioned skewers – pincho pollo (chicken breast and chorizo sausage), pinchito moruno (lamb marinated in red wine and Moroccan spices) and pollo a la miel (chicken with mushrooms marinated in white wine) are firm favourites, followed by calamares romana (deep-fried squid) and Spanish omelette (properly made), with the egg just set and potato that still has some texture. With over fifty other options, it’s not a good place for ditherers.

If you need a steer, the berejenas domingo (aubergine slices deep fried and glazed with honey) are beautifully light and not a bit greasy; the wild honey adds a touch of sweetness to take the edge off any bitterness. Similarly the alcachofas fritas (deep fried artichoke hearts) are melt-in-your-mouth-wonderful. It’s not often you see baby broad beans, so choose the habas de la huerta, where the beans are sautéed in olive oil with mushrooms and pimentos. Non-tapas lovers may opt for paella or for less adventurous souls there is a sirloin steak. You may feel too full for dessert but they are all home made so you’d be a fool to miss out. The crème caramel manages not to be too sweet (often a downfall) and the chocolate truffles served with ice cream are pleasingly - and generously - plied with rum and raisin.

The Drink
Well-flavoured rustic food needs something robust to partner it; from the red rioja list the Marques de Caceres Crianza is fruity and full-bodied (£18.50). Fish lovers may prefer the white, dry and creamy Muga (£18.95), but for those wanting to wash their tapas down with a beer, San Miguel is available. True tapas aficionados, though, may go for sherry.

The Last Word
An authentic and friendly Spanish family restaurant that promises to get diners coming back in their droves. And soon.

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