El Molino - Islington

Ideally I would give it 3.5 stars The food is OK, nothing I would write home about. Flavors were quite mild. It was extremely loud and the drinks were a bit watery. Not a bad place to go but there is so much in the area I would probably try elsewhere.

Unassuming, homely, permanent, perfect. Ever since I moved to London this place has always been there on my way to work, on my way home. It has been there, seemingly silent and permanent, friendly because its good, great because people care about it. You have not only great 'homemade ' tapas but also a a really personal service. Always go for the patas bravas, , the gambas al pil pil, the octopus and the sizzling onion liver then leave room for the finishing muscat occasionally peppered with spanish travel advice. Good times!

This restaurant is a cozy and affordable option for dinner. The portions are very generous, with each main course easily sharable between two people. However, the quality of the food is lacking. The steak was too rare and tough to chew, and the pork was average with unremarkable sauce. While the prices are reasonable at £11-£13 per main course, this may not be the best choice for those seeking fine dining and high-quality food. Review by The London Insider [hidden link]

This restaurant in London is truly my favorite. One review on the website describes it as the best thing in Holloway, and for those familiar with this area of Islington, that's saying a lot. El Molino has been open since 1987 and is run by a family. The interior is cozy and inviting, with dim lighting and dark wood furniture giving it a cavernous feel, especially in the evening. The bar offers a variety of hard liquor and wine. The food is the highlight here, with almost everything on the menu being delicious. If you have the time, make sure to try the paella - just like in a great tapas restaurant, you'll need to order it as soon as you sit down as it takes a while to prepare, but it's well worth the wait. My personal favorite dish is the gambas al ajillo - I just need a loaf of bread to soak up all the garlic, salt, and oil. And you can't go wrong with ordering the patatas bravas either. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend dining here. It is located near Holloway Road station on the Picadilly Line, or you can take the number 29 bus towards Camden. Great food, affordable prices, and friendly service - what more could you ask for?

DO NOT EAT HERE!!!! THEY PUT SAND IN MY FOOD! I went to this restaurant next to the church late at night clearly the waitress had an attitude because my party of 3 had gotten there close to closing time. This was also my first time having Spanish food my first trip to London. I ordered a crepe told her no meat because I'm vegetarian. when she presented the crepe to me, it had ham so naturally I asked nicely for her to change it to one without meat....also gave her permission to simply remove the meat to avoid having to cook another crepe. When she brought back the meatless crepe, I thought it was ok at first, but later realized it had a sandy texture. I'm pretty sure they got angry put sand in my crepe. Very rude unaccommodating for travelers. I'm not sure if they were rude because my group was American with one Brit, or the fact that we were Black or if they were just having a bad night, but our treatment as paying patrons was absolutely unacceptable. When I return to London, I'll make sure to avoid this place at all costs.