So off we went to La Tasca as we had been there about a year ago to the day and it was great then. This time the entire experience can be summed up in one word.

TERRIBLE!

The food was just plain crap, the service was like dental surgery and the toilets needed some attention.

I ordered a paella which was was stodgy, tasteless and dry along with some fish balls, which weren’t very nice. They just didn’t taste very nice, but I’m not sure if they were meant to look like little deep fried sponges.

Mandy’s chicken wings were salty or burnt and her "meat on bread" was like a section of tarmac on a lump of wood. Matthew enjoyed his cheese on toast (they got one dish right) but his children’s menu salad was clearly prepared either that morning or the evening before. The carrots where grim and dry, the tomatoes where mushy and the lettuce was like cut grass. Even the starter of garlic bread was nasty and tasted funny.

The last time we were there they gave Matthew a glass of crayons and a piece of paper. He loved that as he could draw on it. This time they gave him a glass of crayons (perhaps the same one…) and a section of laminated paper that was totally filled up with pictures and images. Have you ever tried to draw with a crayon on a plastic surface. I can tell you no that it’s a little difficult.

To top it all off the waitress make us feel like we were making her work there. She would come up to the table, mumble something and then slap/throw a dish of food in front on you. She really has presentation down to a fine art!

The bottom line? I’m not going to try that place again! They have clearly lost the plot!

Anyway, for lunch we went to a restaurant in the New Orleans section called La Tasca, a tapas bar.

Having had tapas before we were well versed in what to do so we ordered two dishes each and some bread, thinking that Matthew would at least eat the bread.

The food was brilliant, apart from the bread, and was quickly devoured by all at the table. The most surprising was Matthew, who had something of everything, even the calamari and fish that I had ordered. I can recommend the sea food medley and the chicken wings.

The place was very child friendly. They had lots of high chairs, and plenty of space between tables so you can get your pram in there. Also, when we sat down the waitress came and gave us a sheet of paper and some crayons, for Matthew obviously, but that was a really good idea as it kept him occupied while waiting for the food to come. An excellent place with excellent food!