Anyone been in recently ?

They have a special offer on Monday - Wednesday.

All you can eat for £10.00 until 9pm

Sounds great so we headed off there last night, at 7pm firstly when we asked for a table, ( for 4 ) not a hoard of us, we were told "minimum wait is 45 mins " even though the place was nowhere near to being full, so we waited, and waited, it turns out that there were only 2 waiting staff. hence they could cook the food but not serve it.

When we eventually were seated, after more than an hour, the food took ages and ages to come. They were obviously trying to keep us there until 9pm so they could avoid us taking advantage of the special offer.

It was a very disappointing night, the place could be brilliant but their service is such a joke.

I agree 100%.

This is one of the badliest managed restaurants I have ever eaten in. They are constantly overbooked, understaffed and incredibly disorganised. In my experience however, the food when it does eventually come, is of a reasonable standard.

Bring back La Vina!

Yes no problems with the food, it was all very nicely cooked and presented.

They could do so much better if they had a proper staff though. . .

Well, a friend and I went in on Wednesday night, at about 10.30pm - and thoroughly enjoyed it, had no problems. Used the 50% voucher, great deal.

Well, a friend and I went in on Wednesday night, at about 10.30pm - and thoroughly enjoyed it, had no problems. Used the 50% voucher, great deal.

so alll you can eat for a fiver...??!

so alll you can eat for a fiver...??!

No, he says 50 percent off and had no probs with service on that evening ?

You can calm down now - go and see Shaggy123 at the curry canteen on dorking street :hihi:

The offer ended yesterday, alas. It was 50% excluding other offers...

We now plan to try the tapas for a tenner!

We went in couple of months ago for the "all you can eat for a tenner" offer. There weren't many in, but it still took over 45 mins for a table and there was only one waitress at first (another one came later).
We were advised the amount of tapas to get, and to get more if needed afterwards. Whilst choosing, someone on another table told us to get everything we were likely to want straight away as it had taken them an hour to get a second helping of meatballs.
So we ordered loads and wasted a lot.
It kind of goes against the grain for me to order tapas like this anyway. How come when get tapas in Barcelona (for eg) you order one or two dishes and then, if you want more, order one or two more and they don't take over 5 mins to come? Whereas I've been to quite a few in this country and they all, without exception, seem to take ages.

As a footnote
La Tasca, food was actually not bad the night we went, service was way too slow. Not in a rush to go back, even at a tenner.

I've been to the meadowhall one twice and both times didn't rate it, the first time it was a bit salty and the second time the wine was warm and the food was cold. But we were visiting relatives at the weekend in Leeds and had a 50% off voucher so went to the Leeds one which was really really nice, the service was a tad slow but the food was spot on :-)

The offer ended yesterday, alas. It was 50% excluding other offers...

We now plan to try the tapas for a tenner!

For anyone who is interested they have another 50% off voucher until 13th February

http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/vouchers/la_tasca_50.pdf

what a pity !

what a pity !

Wow, your imput will without doubt change the course of human history. Thank you!

Post 2 - I don't believe badliest is a word. I think you are looking for 'worst'!

Post 2 - I don't believe badliest is a word. I think you are looking for 'worst'!

You're spot on, I don't believe that badliest is a word either. But at the time the word I was looking for was "badliest".

I agree 100%.

This is one of the badliest managed restaurants I have ever eaten in. They are constantly overbooked, understaffed and incredibly disorganised. In my experience however, the food when it does eventually come, is of a reasonable standard.

Bring back La Vina!


I'd agree with this summary

I agree 100%.

This is one of the badliest managed restaurants I have ever eaten in. They are constantly overbooked, understaffed and incredibly disorganised. In my experience however, the food when it does eventually come, is of a reasonable standard.

Bring back La Vina!

La Tasca is La Vina. All they did was change the sign on the outside. It's still the same management. It was c**p when it was called La Vina and it's still c**p now. Like you say, It's down to bad management, I experienced the same problems as you.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes and for words that don't exist, I wasn't aware that it was an English test to post on here.

Anyone been in recently ?

They have a special offer on Monday - Wednesday.

All you can eat for £10.00 until 9pm

Sounds great so we headed off there last night, at 7pm firstly when we asked for a table, ( for 4 ) not a hoard of us, we were told "minimum wait is 45 mins " even though the place was nowhere near to being full, so we waited, and waited, it turns out that there were only 2 waiting staff. hence they could cook the food but not serve it.

When we eventually were seated, after more than an hour, the food took ages and ages to come. They were obviously trying to keep us there until 9pm so they could avoid us taking advantage of the special offer.

It was a very disappointing night, the place could be brilliant but their service is such a joke.

Was that the actual number that were suppose to be in that night or had people not turned up or called in sick? At least they were honest with you rather than trying to wing it and not being able to cope. Maybe you just caught them on a tough night! It's hard to predict how many staff you may need in any Restaurant cause you never know how busy it will be on Weekday nights. Unless You are Busy all the time!

I think waiting more than an hour is probably justifyable to complain especially as Tapas isn't food that takes that long to Cook. But you should always be prepared to wait for Good Food! People are in too much of a Rush and should learn to relax and enjoy their evening at a Leisurely pace!

I've only been once a while back and It was fine though the "All you can Eat" isn't really "All you can Eat" it's a set number of dishes from a specific menu! Thought the food was nice though but would have been better if we could have had as many dishes as we wanted!

None of the tapas are cooked on site. It's all made at their head office, frozen, then reheated in the microwaves on site.

I've only been once a while back and It was fine though the "All you can Eat" isn't really "All you can Eat" it's a set number of dishes from a specific menu! Thought the food was nice though but would have been better if we could have had as many dishes as we wanted!

I'll agree it's a set menu, with 14 items on it (used to be more items), but there was no set amount of dishes when we went. They recommended how many to get each, but there was no limit.

None of the tapas are cooked on site. It's all made at their head office, frozen, then reheated in the microwaves on site.

Well How do you know that's true unless you have worked for them or taken an impromtue Tour of the Kitchen! If that's the Case then why do you have to wait a while then?

La Tasca is La Vina. All they did was change the sign on the outside. It's still the same management. It was c**p when it was called La Vina and it's still c**p now. Like you say, It's down to bad management, I experienced the same problems as you.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes and for words that don't exist, I wasn't aware that it was an English test to post on here.


I'm aware that the same company own (or do they franchise? As I heard that the La Vina in sheffield went bust?) La Tasca and La Vina, but I'm suprised you think that the standards where the same in La Vina as they now are in La Tasca.
I would have to disagree, having also eaten in the Leeds La Vina just before christmas. Both myself and the OH thought the service, quality of food and general ambience where of a much higher and more proffesional standard in both the Leeds and Sheffield La Vina.

Well How do you know that's true unless you have worked for them or taken an impromtue Tour of the Kitchen! If that's the Case then why do you have to wait a while then?

Exactly. I cant see Patatas bravas and any of the Chicken dishes being done like that!

A lot of the dishes are also grilled, and it would be impossible to make the paella in the way the person your talking about described.

Im off to their Meadowhall one tonight so I reserve judgement on the food until tomorrow.

been several times with mates and never had a problem - only been at lunch time though.

Exactly. I cant see Patatas bravas and any of the Chicken dishes being done like that!

A lot of the dishes are also grilled, and it would be impossible to make the paella in the way the person your talking about described.

Im off to their Meadowhall one tonight so I reserve judgement on the food until tomorrow.

I sometimes have to go into restaurant kitchens as part of my job. I'm not trying to convince anyone, just stating facts.

There's nothing wrong with reheating tapas. In Spain, tapas are all pre-cooked and kept in chillers on the bar for you to choose what you want. They are then taken away and reheated. That's what tapas is all about, a quick snack with a few drinks.

The problem with tapas restaurants in the UK is that they try to pretend to be something they are not, like La Vina. The reason you have to wait so long in La Vine is because of bad management. I like it for a drink, but even then I've had to wait ages at the bar just for someone to pour me a drink while the management walk past pretending to do something else.

I'm not saying all La Vina's are like this, the one in Meadowhall when I went was okay. And as for pealla, making a large pot and then freezing it to reheat later is not rocket science. In Spain you have to order it 24 hours in advance to get the real deal. There's not that many grilled dishes on the menu and even then it's pre-cooked and finished off on a grill. Patatas braves are just deep fried potato with a spicy tomato sauce. Don't be fooled into thinking it's all cooked fresh to order.:thumbsup:

My GF lives opposite almost and we use la tasca as a place for a late night meal and a pint - she works late hours at DRI and all we have ever found is good food, great service and decent wine. The manager and staff bend over backwards to help, even keeping our order back to the very last minute if she is late home. One day he even offered to wrap it in foil as a take away - bring the dishes back next time!
you dont get that in other places

Horses for courses and although its not haute cuisine or fancy bistro grub it gets 5 stars from us for friendliness, quality and value for money

and I am not on commission!

When living in Manchester some time ago, i used to always go to La Tasca on Deansgate, the original one. Then when Didsbury opened my son & i often had tea here as it was near school.

Since their expansion & buyouts, i have tried Leeds & Sheffield, and neither have been upto scratch or anywhere near as good as Deansgate was or is (i was there a wee while ago). Its not just service & atmosphere, but menu changes and quality/quantity of food.

None of the tapas are cooked on site. It's all made at their head office, frozen, then reheated in the microwaves on site.

I work at the la tasca on eccesall road and i can GUARANTEE hand on heart that all the food is made on the premises and it's allllll fresh!!

and also we have had a few staff leave recently but have hired some more now so hopefully we will get a few more good comments on here!

good to hear food cooked on premises. Been a few times for lunch and its been fine.

i've been for the all you want for a tenner thing at meadowhell and it was fab the first time - no messing and brought everything we wanted in good time. Was a bit of a pain the last time as the girl who served us was insisting on only ordering 3 dishes each and we wanted to order a 7th to share between us and she refused but the manager then cam eover and said we should have been allowed to order it. We didn't bother ordering anything else as it took 45 mins for the first lot to arrive. Ny friends have been since and said it was fine so i must've gone on a bad night.

Went to the one on Ecc rd on sat night, it was busy but the service was quick and the food was great. No complaints whatsoever

I work at the la tasca on eccesall road and i can GUARANTEE hand on heart that all the food is made on the premises and it's allllll fresh!!

and also we have had a few staff leave recently but have hired some more now so hopefully we will get a few more good comments on here!

Extract from La Tasca Plc 2005 annual report

La Cocina
The Company owns and operates a dedicated production and distribution business based in Salford, solely for the benefit of its restaurants. The La Cocina operation guarantees a high quality food product and allows the Company to control the specification of dishes produced. The majority of products are pasteurised ‘‘sous-vide’’ (under vacuum) and are produced ‘‘just in time’’.
La Cocina manufactures 15 products for La Tasca and La Viña (including sauces, tapas, paellas and casseroles) and distributes to each restaurant on a weekly basis. The product range is extended at various times to produce dishes for the Christmas menus and special occasions. The directors believe that La Cocina’s current premises and logistical services could be expanded to service up to 120 restaurants.


I know someone who works for them & an old supplier (pre-Salford production unit) and both say that most of its delivered in vac-pac?????????????

I've eaten in tonnes of Spanish tapas places - all over Spain. I've also had food in La Tasca / La Vina on Ecclesall Road. It's not the same as in Spain, but I really didn't expect that. I've had a number of decent meals out at La Vina / Tasca without complaint - good food / service etc.

Unfortunately, I've not been back since I had dodgy (and I mean dodgy!) guts after the last evening meal I had there - up all night... and the rest I'll leave to your imagination. I can't put my finger on what triggered this - it might have been something I'd had for lunch earlier, but put it this way, I don't even want to go for a drink in there. It really put me off. I tried to let them know, but had to complete some online Health and Safety form, but haven't heard anything from them since.

I've not been back and won't be doing in future. I eat out an awful lot and I'm not the type of person to have a go a restaurants - if they're is good, I'll say it's good on the Forum, but I'm really not sure about this place.

:thumbsup:Extract from La Tasca Plc 2005 annual report

La Cocina
The Company owns and operates a dedicated production and distribution business based in Salford, solely for the benefit of its restaurants. The La Cocina operation guarantees a high quality food product and allows the Company to control the specification of dishes produced. The majority of products are pasteurised ‘‘sous-vide’’ (under vacuum) and are produced ‘‘just in time’’.
La Cocina manufactures 15 products for La Tasca and La Viña (including sauces, tapas, paellas and casseroles) and distributes to each restaurant on a weekly basis. The product range is extended at various times to produce dishes for the Christmas menus and special occasions. The directors believe that La Cocina’s current premises and logistical services could be expanded to service up to 120 restaurants.


I know someone who works for them & an old supplier (pre-Salford production unit) and both say that most of its delivered in vac-pac?????????????

Thank you Brindisa, I rest my case.:thumbsup: