Harden's says
Harts Group's May 2022 newcomer again celebrates Spanish cooking over fire. Like its Coal Drops Yard sibling, the venue will have an outside terrace (with 40 covers) with tabletop ‘parrilla’ grills, for guests to cook themselves over coals. But, for the first time, you will not have to DIY here, there also being an indoor restaurant (with 60 covers) with a menu designed for sharing cooked on an Ox Grill and an apple and olive wood-fired stove at the heart of an open kitchen.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“A fun way to share and eat for a small group” – you BBQ your own meal at your table at the Hart Bros’ duo of Hispanic haunts in Borough Yards and Coal Drops Yard, which take their inspiration from the Spanish ‘parrilla’ or grill. You can also eat more conventionally in SE1, allowing the chefs to do the work for you, and since it opened in 2022 this has become the more highly rated branch. In N1, there’s the benefit of a large outside terrace “set under cover outside, but with overhead heaters and heated cushions so you don’t feel cold”. You might feel the chill when the bill arrives though, especially at the N1 original (“the menu looked good and the food was fine, but all I could think of was how expensive it was. £8.40 for two mini croquettes just overshadowed how tasty they were”).
Summary
“Taking the good bits from Parrillan Coal Drops Yard and improving on it X 2” – the attractive Borough Yards branch of the Hart Bros Hispanic duo has eclipsed its N1 sibling in terms of feedback. At both sites, the parrilla grill is a DIY job if you sit outside (you order para picar, and then chicken, seafood and meat for the BBQ); but at SE1 there’s also a stylish, brick-lined interior section, complete with chefs and a more conventional menu-style service. The younger branch is not beyond criticism though: as in CDY it can seem “a good all-round experience, but overpriced” and the odd reporter finds it all too “hyped”.
Summary
“In an outdoor, but well-sheltered setting”, the Hart Bros’ outside-only terrace in Coal Drops Yard has won a good following: “dining outside on a sunny day is a highlight”, and the tabletop ‘parrilla’ grills allow guests the fun of cooking their own meat, seafood and vegetables over coals. On the downside, though, “results can be very average at high prices” and “while it works as a novelty, having a proper chef to cook for you is generally a better option in a restaurant!” In May 2022 (too late for survey feedback), they opened a second Borough Yards location. Like its sibling, it too has an outside terrace (with 40 covers), also with grills. But, for the first time, you will not have to DIY here, there also being an indoor restaurant (with 60 covers) with a menu designed for sharing cooked for you in the open kitchen.
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