It seems that in London, there are two choices: value and quality. On one hand, there are many lower priced restaurants offering a quick meal that will certainly fill an empty stomach. On the other hand, there is also a wide variety of restaurants with gourmet menus, interesting ambience, and a winning reputation. However, a new Spanish tapas bar opened in London’s West End, called Barrica, brings the best of both worlds to people eager for a fun and frugal eating option.

Barrica offers Barcelona style tapas at a very affordable price, with a wine and sherry list that will please both casual drinkers and sophisticates alike. The menu varies widely according to availability, but always offers a variety of different tastes for lovers of authentic Spanish food including cold dishes, smoked meats, and hot plates. With a constantly evolving menu and a variety of flavours, there is always a reason to return to Barrica.

The decor of the restaurant is classic European with a simplicity and woody ambience that will appeal to UK sensibilities. The walls are a rich gold, and wooden furniture adds a comfortable, homelike feeling. Special attention was paid to the lighting fixtures, which are distinctively Old World and give the restaurant a dim and sophisticated feeling. A tiled floor is authentically Spanish in feel. In all, Barrica offers a good setting for both lunch dates and late night trysts, for a quick snack or a full meal.

If this restaurant seems well planned, that’s because every detail was addressed before the first glass of Amontillado hit the bar. Barrica has been in the planning stages for several years, ever since Tim Luther, a former wine trader, discovered the joys of Spanish food. Much of the restaurant’s details were planned in Spain, where Luther visited numerous tapas bars to determine what elements made them so popular and distinctively Spanish. The wait staff is primarily Spanish to add to the exotic feeling of the restaurant. The head chef is ex-Moro food artist James Knight, supported by Basque native Eusebio Martin.

The restaurant logo design compliments the brand perfectly. Tapas are known for their simplicity and flavour, and this logo portrays the same feeling. Simple lower case letters give the establishment an informal feeling. The white and gray lettering in a newsy font sits on a rich, brown background that conveys warmth. The word ‘tapas bar’ is below in small ochre letters for people who are not aware of what kind of cuisine the restaurant serves. This logo design has a modern yet classic feeling that will appeal to tapas lovers all over London and the UK.

Outdoor seating and a wooden sign advertising the specials of the day complete the continental image and offer an inviting scene to passersby, completing the Spanish image perfectly. The overall brand offers world class food with high quality and exotic flavours at an affordable price. It’s easy to see Barrica being successful in a market where value is a brand attribute we all can believe in.