Much has been blogged about the food at José and it is indeed excellent. I have been 3 times now and have tried pretty much everything on the menu. As a frequent visitor to Spain I can confirm that the croquetas are up there with the best I’ve ever eaten, the jamon literally melts in your mouth and the seafood is fresh, perfectly cooked and delicious.
In true Spanish style, you can’t book a table so you just turn up and hope for the best. This can be a little frustrating as during the week it gets exceptionally busy and José is, unfortunately, also exceptionally small. However the intimate dining room feels relaxed, with many people standing or perched at the bar overlooking the kitchen. Mr Pizarro himself can usually be found in the kitchen or out on the floor, I think he’s enjoying the fact that he has become something of a local celebrity!
It’s a mark of how good José is that I’ve been 3 times and left so drunk I’ve forgotten to write about it. However the excellent wine list, compiled by Tim Atkin and Jo Ahearne, is really rather special. I’ve only tackled the red so far and whilst not cheap (the house wine is £5.50 a glass) I can highly recommend the 2007 Decenio Tempranillo at £26 a bottle and the 2009 Pasion de Bobal at £29. 
However it really came into its own with the sherry. I tend to steer clear of sherry as it either reminds me of Sunday lunch with my grandparents or the New Year’s eve I got horrifically drunk I passed out before midnight. However last night I opted for a glass of sweet sherry; the Moscatel Soleado, Gutierrez Colosia and WOW it didn’t disappoint. Amazingly sweet but with a slight saltiness it tasted like caramelised raisins; this was the perfect end to the bank holiday weekend. I’m looking forward to visiting again and working my way through the rest of the wine list.
José, 104 Bermondsey St, London, SE1 3UB
http://joserestaurant.co.uk/
One Response to “Sherry and Tapas at José, Bermondsey Street”