Michelin Star Restaurant in London You Can Actually Afford

Barrafina is an one star Michelin restaurant where it isn’t pretentious like the others. It is nothing like PerSe. I went to PerSe once and actually fell asleep after few courses later – yes, me no classy. But Barrfina doesn’t hold you for 3 hours or forces you to put a tie on. It is more relaxed and serve easy-to-eat food.

Barrafina serves Spanish tapas that are influence from Mallorcan. The foods are coated in a thin tempura-like batter and deep fried, grilled on a charcoal grill with thick sauces and freshly cut and made. It feels more like a millennial rebel going against the tradition and old.

You sit on a tightly spaced high stool which makes it look a little uncomfortable, but actually it is the total opposite. With seats looking over the kitchen and watching the chefs working harmoniously, you eventually forget about the space you are in and get carried away into the magic of the Barrafina kitchen. It truly is an experience watching them making our meal.

Michelin star rating is like a badge for being an excellent restaurant – Three being exceptional and one being the good. It is almost like an honor if you receive one. One of the most famous chef in France has even killed himself after the rumor that he might be just getting two stars instead of three. The movie Ratatouille was based on him, Bernard Louiseau.

Barrafina Is the Answer to Michelin Star Restaurants

This is how much people take serious about the ratings. People go to Michelin star rated restaurants to experience. It even brings a lot of customers from outside of their town. But it isn’t easy to go as it is very expensive and almost always fully book. For example, Brooklyn Fare base price is $350 or Masa in NYC can go up to as much as $1,000 per person. Yes, it is expensive, but not all Michelin star restaurants are like that. One of them are Barrafina in London. That is why I always visit Barrafina when I go to London. Here then I can say I have been to a Michelin star restaurant, and I don’t have to stress about spending too much money. Here is how to go to Barrafina without dropping your salary.

To book Michelin restaurants, you have to do it at least a month before visit. However, at Barrafina, because of no reservation policy, you don’t have to plan in advance. I would go around 4:45 and wait 15 mintues, then you will not be waiting for 2 hours to just get seated. It is less of a commitment than booking in advance with cancellation penalty.
It is tapas style, so you can easily control how much you want to eat. You can also control how much you want to spend.
Don’t go starving if you are on budget. Yes, it is expensive and you will end up spending 100 pounds per person if you go hungry. The portions are small. It like buying a Gucci eraser or Supreme brick.
Order the specials. It is the bests and quite filling.