El Cortador Tapas Bar
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Quick info
About El Cortador Tapas Bar
El Cortador Tapas Bar is a Spanish tapas restaurant on The Old High Street in Folkestone, with a tucked-away garden setting that backs the dining room. The kitchen covers a traditional tapas range built around small plates for sharing, with croquettes and gambas among the dishes on the menu. Staff work the floor and suggest starting with a few dishes and ordering more as the meal unfolds, pacing the table rather than rushing it. Dogs are welcome in the garden area, extending the setting beyond the indoor room. Reservations are required for dining, and the room opens onto the outdoor seating for the warmer parts of the day. The format centres on ordering in waves, which keeps the table tasting across the menu without overloading any one course.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Family-friendly
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
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Menu & Prices
24 dishes · mains £4–15- Aceitunas Mixtas£5.00
- Almendras Marcona Tostadas£4.00
- Pan Y Alioli£4.00
- Pan£3.50
- Boquerones En Vinagre£6.50
- Queso Manchego Y Membrillo£7.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention gambas, croquettes, tucked away garden and outdoor seating area.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention gambas, croquettes, tucked away garden and outdoor seating area.
Customer Review Summary
Across these reviews, the food and the warmth of the front-of-house team sit at the centre of the experience. The croquettes and the gambas are the most frequently singled-out dishes, with one diner calling the croquettes some of the best they have had. A close second is the service, which several reviewers describe as friendly, welcoming and attentive, with one noting that the team recommended pacing the order by starting with a few plates and adding more as needed. The tucked-away garden and outdoor seating also come up repeatedly as a draw. One reviewer flags a markedly different experience, describing a dirty glass, a poorly made mojito at £9, and a garden they say was dirty and overrun with cobwebs, a complaint that stands alone among otherwise enthusiastic accounts.
Customer Review Summary
Across these reviews, the food and the warmth of the front-of-house team sit at the centre of the experience. The croquettes and the gambas are the most frequently singled-out dishes, with one diner calling the croquettes some of the best they have had. A close second is the service, which several reviewers describe as friendly, welcoming and attentive, with one noting that the team recommended pacing the order by starting with a few plates and adding more as needed. The tucked-away garden and outdoor seating also come up repeatedly as a draw. One reviewer flags a markedly different experience, describing a dirty glass, a poorly made mojito at £9, and a garden they say was dirty and overrun with cobwebs, a complaint that stands alone among otherwise enthusiastic accounts.
Featured reviews
- Dave Batchelor
“Very good food , excellent staff, great atmosphere.”
- Digby Jones
“Great atmosphere, fantastic food and not even that expensive. Recommended!”
- Mark Hempleman
“2nd visit to this fabulous Tapas restaurant. Great service and food and very reasonable prices. The staff are all super friendly and I loved the gambas.”
- Chris Kirkham
“Absolutely superb venue , excellent food, friendly staff, lovely outdoor seating area in the garden.”
- Local Londoner
“Loved this place!! The food had a nice variety (some of the best croquettes I’ve had) however the menu wasn’t so big you’re overwhelmed! However the real winner was the service- from the moment we walked in the team were so welcoming and friendly. We were never rushed and the team even recommended starting with a few and then ordering based on how hungry we still were. Didn’t match their names however the mother daughter team were so lovely - amazing service and very personable!”
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Family-friendly
- Vegan options
- Bar onsite
- Cozy
- Beer
- Offerings· 11
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Free water refills
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Dining options· 5
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Family-friendly· 2
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Planning· 2
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Highlights· 3
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Facilities· 2
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Atmosphere· 3
- Casual
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Restaurants near El Cortador Tapas Bar
- Burrito Buoy4.92160 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
burrito, vegan options, huge portions
- Marleys4.89190.1 mi£10–30Wheelchair accessible
beetroot salmon, pork belly and mash, Nutella macchiato
- 0.1 mi
vegan dishes, singapore noodles, salt & pepper ribs
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Cortador Tapas BarOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.7854 | — | £20–30 | gambas, croquettes, tucked away garden |
| Burrito BuoyOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.9216 | 0 mi | £10–20 | burrito, vegan options, huge portions |
| MarleysWheelchair accessible | 4.8919 | 0.1 mi | £10–30 | beetroot salmon, pork belly and mash, Nutella macchiato |
| Nine Dragons Chinese Takeaway | 4.1130 | 0.1 mi | — | vegan dishes, singapore noodles, salt & pepper ribs |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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