Arguably one of the best tapas places in Richmond, Don Fernando consistently delivers classic Spanish dishes time after time.

The Venue
Opened since 1990 and situated on the Quadrant, a row of shops ideally positioned right next to the train station and a few minutes walk to the main Richmond High Street, this is a perfect pit stop before hopping on a train back to your final destination. Once inside an eye catching tapestry of rich colours awaits with many influences from the owners birthplace of Andalucia. Traditional Spanish pottery and knick-knacks adorn the walls along with intricate Spanish tiles. Simple wooden dining furniture and gentle authentic Spanish music ensures a warm and inviting welcome.

The Atmosphere
Lots of Richmond locals who have made this restaurant their second home combined with lots of couples and especially larger groups of people guarantee Don Fernando as a deservedly busy place. The service may be rapid but the reception offered by the staff is more laid back.

The Food
With an extensive list on offer covering meat, fish, vegetarian and seafood dishes the choice will satisfy the fussiest of eaters. From the meat section try the pollo al aljilo pieces of soft white chicken on the bone in a garlic butter and white wine sauce. The combination is sublime and really works well on the palate together. The lomo plancho is also a roaring success. Slices of moist pork are griddled and finished off in extremely dry white wine, olive oil and garlic. The pinchito pepe is also worth a mention - juicy cubes of beef skewered and griddled with onions and peppers. The pollo a la miel is a simple dish of chicken in sweet honey with button mushrooms. The sweetness is just right and doesn’t overpower the meat.

From the fish and seafood division, recommended choices are salmonetas a la plancha, grilled fillets of red mullet which are meaty and cooked well. The aptly named torpedoes are deep fried butterfly king prawns which come with a sharp tomato sauce and is beautifully presented. Other choices include the boquerones fritos, deep fried whitebait which are incredibly fresh, and a typical signature dish of fritura de pescado Andaluza, a combination of deep fried and crispy scampi tails, scallops, haddock and cod goujons all served up with tartare sauce.

Desserts feature some typical Spanish sweets. The tarta di Santiago is an authentic Galician almond tart which is soft and not too dry. There’s also Braza di Gitana, a Spanish cake consisting of sponge, custard and cream and Lecha Frita, lemon ice cream with the softness contrasting against the hot caramelised top and is finished off with a touch of anis.

The Drink
An award winning wine list covers most Spanish regions which are deep in wine making traditions. Typical offering include a La Mancha Allozo, pale in colour yet full of fruity flavours. There’s also an impressive list of Spanish liqueurs and brandies on offer to tempt diners.

The Last Word
An all round enjoyable dining outing, Don Fernando presses all the buttons as far as the tapas experience is concerned.

venue information venue map view london review add a review