El Cortador Tapas Bar

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#11 of 172 Restaurants in Folkestone££ - £££, Mediterranean, European, Vegetarian friendly

+44 1303 243974+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

12:00 - 16:00

Tue

11:00 - 22:00

Wed

11:00 - 22:00

Thu

11:00 - 22:00

Fri

11:00 - 22:00

Sat

11:00 - 22:00

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

784 reviews

#11 of 172 Restaurants in Folkestone

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

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PRICE RANGE

£3.00 – £10.00

CUISINES

Mediterranean, European, Spanish

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

41 The Old High Street, Folkestone CT20 1RL England

+44 1303 243974

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Does this restaurant allow dogs or considered pet friendly?

Yes

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About

El Cortador offers a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for everyone to come and enjoy a taste of Spain in the heart of the Creative Quarter in Folkestone. Our dishes are made from traditional, classic Spanish recipes with ingredients from seasonal local and Spanish produce. You can dine inside or outside in our garden depending on the weather. So, whether you're looking for a coffee, a snack at lunchtime or an evening meal with wine, beer or sangria - El Cortador is the place to come. Booking is recommended.

PRICE RANGE

£3.00 – £10.00

CUISINES

Mediterranean, European, Spanish

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Mastercard, Visa, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly, Gift Cards Available

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4.5

784 reviews

Excellent

609

Very good

131

Average

Poor

Terrible

Naomi S

1 contribution

Evening supper was fantastic

Sept 2020 • couples

We found the restaurant online with great gluten-free reviews. It did not disappoint! There was plenty of variety for GF, vegetarian. The hot tapas plates were all delicious and we had beautiful Spanish wine, all very reasonably priced. We’ll try to get back before we leave Folkestone. The Spanish waitress was also extremely welcoming and hospitable, fitting us into the restaurant for an on the day booking. Thank you again.

Written 2 September 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

toniallan

Ramsgate33 contributions

Spanish sunshine on a plate(or more)!

Jan 2020 • none

Visiting Folkestone for the day, my wife and I were looking for lunch and popped into El Cortador Tapas Bar. What a wise move! The ladies who warmly welcomed us gave exemplary service throughout our time in the restaurant. The tapas that we ordered was delicious...packed with flavour and variety. The whole experience was wonderful and with such great value for money. We both wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Folkestone who are looking for great food, great service and great value.

Written 18 January 2020

ElCortador

Lovely to hear you discovered us on your visit to Folkestone. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your feedback about your experience with us. We look forward to welcoming you back next time you're in town.

Written 26 January 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

AirborneConstable

Huddersfield126 contributions

Nice Little Tapas Spot

Feb 2020 • none

I visited El Cortador this week, it is situation on the Old High Street, which is as good a setting as any for a restaurant - it's a beautiful little street. The setting inside the bar was also welcoming. For my tapas selection I chose: Chorizo with/in red wine The Spanish omlette The paella Stew Meatballs Fried potato - Yes it was too much food for one. 4 dishes would have probably been ok! The Spanish omlette was very good, I actually dipped it in to the stew gravy as it was a tiny bit dry. The chorizo was very good, but the stew also came with a lot of chorizo so I probably could have dropped this dish. The chorizo dish was plentiful. The stew was spot on - really enjoyable, and the 4 meatballs were also beautiful. For the above dishes I paid £30. The service was really good. Would recommend and would visit again.

Written 8 February 2020

ElCortador

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your fabulous review. So lovely to hear you enjoyed a selection of our dishes. Many thanks for your recommendation too! Look forward to welcoming you again soon.

Written 16 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vivagando

3 contributions

Bad quality food

Mar 2020 • none

Either Folkestone dining scene is quite depressing or people recommending this place have no idea what proper Spanish food (and good food in general) tastes like. Of the four dishes I ordered ('Russian Salad', 'Garlic Prawns', 'Fish Croquettes' and 'Red peppers stuffed with goat's cheese and chives'), perhaps the only acceptable one were the garlic prawns, even though they were frozen and drowning into a litre of cheap olive oil. The Russian salad was an indistinguishable purée of overcooked vegetables bound together by a poorly executed mayo with cheap tinned tuna added. The salad came decorated with four supermarket breadsticks inelegantly tucked into the surface of the salad. The salad was almost frozen and tasted like it had been kept in the refrigerator for at least a week. Same goes for the peppers: old and almost frozen. The croquettes were perhaps the most embarrassing dish: allegedly made with 'pescado', they only thing you could taste was the flavour of a nasty, overcooked vegetable stock of the kind you find in the worst high-school canteens. No crust, no salt, horrible texture. To drink I had Sherry, the typical accompaniment for Tapas. They have two types: Tio Pepe Fino and Gabriela Manzanilla, i.e. the nastiest industrial Sherry that you can find in any Tesco around the country. The price of a glass is £4.50, which is more than half the cost of the entire bottle if you buy it from Tesco. If I go to a Spanish place specialising in Tapas I expect at least to find something better than the worst sherry available on the market. Service was ok but it didn't make up for the bad food.

Written 10 March 2020

ElCortador

The team are saddened to read your review, which is why we have been in touch with you to understand your comments further. We were puzzled to read your views online, because at the time of your visit there was no mention whatsoever of your dissatisfaction. So, it seems strange that our records show you ordered a second glass of sherry, despite being unhappy with the quality of the first one! We always welcome constructive feedback so that we can learn from it, but we feel that on this occasion it has been totally down to personal taste and not the quality of our food or drink. As you can see from our reviews most people love our food and service, so we're sorry for not meeting your expectations.

Written 15 March 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Philip J

8 contributions

Superb lunch at El Cortador

Jul 2020 • none

My wife, son, grandson and I had an excellent lunch at the El Cortdor on Tuesday, 7th July, first day after the lockdown was relaxed. We started with the cold meat and manchego cheese platter with olives and the padron peppers. Then we had the chorizo in red wine, garlic mushrooms and patatas bravas. To follow, gambas ajillo (garlic prawns) and calamari served with crusty bread. Everything was cooked to perfection and was washed down with a nice bottle of Crianza. Considering the restrictions, the staff, especially Dan were efficient and as always friendly. Our grandson had ice cream with chocolate sauce and we finished the meal with a coffee and a liqueur. We will be returning

Written 8 July 2020

ElCortador

Thank you so much for choosing us for your first meal after lockdown and your wonderful review! It was a pleasure to welcome you as our first customers on our reopening day and we really appreciate your support. It's a joy to see customers enjoying themselves again and we hope to welcome you back again real soon. Adios until the next time.

Written 17 July 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sarah J

5 contributions

Food was exceptional-service not so much

Jul 2021 • couples

We decided to book here for lunch and we were able to sit outside on a hot day, it was perfect. Firstly I will start with the positives, the food is delicious! My partner lived in Spain for 12 years and he tells me it’s like being in Spain. We ordered drinks as soon as we arrived but unfortunately our food arrived before our drinks, I had to go and find a member of staff to chase up our drinks. Then there was confusion regarding food as the waiters were bringing us food to our table that we hadn’t ordered. This then followed by original waitress coming over to check our order again. I then could not get anyone’s attention to request the bill for quite some time so we had to go the bar and pay. I noticed on the bill that there was a service charge added automatically, I have no problem paying a service charge if I am in a larger party or if we felt it was deserved. However, for just two of us on a hot day where we waited over 30 mins for drinks, our food arrived before the drinks and the food orders were somehow confused we were not happy. When I asked if the service charge could be taken off due to the reasons stated above we were given attitude by one of the waitresses. The food is delicious and we are hoping this was just a one off as we would like to visit again. We have been many times before and never had any issues.

Written 19 July 2021

ElCortador

Hi Sarah We would like to sincerely apologise for the errors that occurred during your visit with us at the weekend. As you know this is not the normal level of service we aim to provide our customers and we pride ourselves on making sure every customer gets the best service possible. On this occasion we didn't achieve that and we are very sorry. We hope this has not deterred you from giving us a second chance and we look forward to being able to give you a better experience next time.

Written 22 July 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Nanneke

Canterbury53 contributions

Something close to a real Spanish tapas bar.

May 2021 • none

We chanced on this tapas bar at 11.30 one Saturday morning and were told that they were fully booked but, as we were so early, they could fit us in... What a delight! We have lived in Spain in the 60s and visit frequently and this is the closest thing in the UK to the real thing: croquetas de pescado made from fish not colourless potato filled sawdust. Pimientos de Padron as good as any you will find in Padron, a village in Galicia. Crema Catalana, modest in size but as authentic as you could wish for. All washed down with a good Spanish bottle starting at £17 from a short but good list. topped off by an excellent cortado NOT a flat white but the real thing.. We are takng the 17 bus from Canterbury again very soon.

Written 1 May 2021

ElCortador

Hola, Muchas Gracias for your wonderful review about your impromptu visit to El Cortador. It’s always a pleasure to hear we have replicated the authentic, traditional flavours you will find in Spain 🇪🇸 We very much look forward to welcoming you at the end of your next bus journey 😊

Written 3 May 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Fran H

190 contributions

Still lovely food and great service

Aug 2020 • none

This was our 5th visit, myself, daughter and grandson have visited every summer since he was 6 and now he's 10. As always we booked ahead as it's a very popular restaurant. We had a lovely couple of hours eating a variety of dishes. My grandson asked which was my favourite but I honestly don't have a favourite, everything is full of flavour and lovely and hot. Even better this year was the discount which helped with the Penny's! Obviously we will be returning, thank you to all the staff.

Written 6 August 2020

ElCortador

Thank you for taking the time to post your fabulous review. It's great to know that our customers love to come back and enjoy the hospitality our wonderful staff provide. They take great pride in making sure everyone has an enjoyable time. We look forward to seeing you and your grandson when is 11 or sooner 😉

Written 14 August 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

mike P

Maidstone255 contributions

Birthday Dinner

Jun 2021 • family

Whole team were really polite and attentive from start to finish. It was a birthday meal and the front of house lead offered to bring out a free dessert with a candle and sing happy birthday in Spanish at the end of the meal. It was a really thoughtful touch and finished a great evening. Good choice of dishes which require 2-3 per person based on the size of the tapa served. Accompanied with a refreshing Albariño at £30 a bottle.

Written 24 July 2021

ElCortador

Thank you for choosing us for your birthday celebration. It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed your meal and birthday wishes. Good choice on the Albariño wine, the Galician name for grape and the perfect accompaniment with fish tapas. Adios until next time.

Written 30 July 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

kenttravellerKent

79 contributions

Good food, initial welcome needs work !

Feb 2022 • couples

This is the second time we have eaten at this restaurant. We know it gets busy so booked well in advance. It doesn’t have a huge number of tables and you get 90 minutes which was clearly stated in the booking confirmation. We arrived 10 minutes early and our table wasn’t ready. No problem for us but we were rudely shown to the rear balcony area to wait. This in it self wasn’t really a problem but when I asked if we could order a drink whilst we waited I was rudely told ‘In a bit we’re busy’. After a few minutes a more welcoming member of staff came out, took our drinks order and we were offered blankets should we get chilly. The service was good from that point onwards. The food was good although we both found the garlic chicken skewers to be a bit bland. On the whole this place is a good place to eat and we would definitely go back. I put the initial welcome down to a staff member being a bit too busy.

Written 28 February 2022

RCULLEN

London30 contributions

Lovely fresh tapas with friendly staff

Feb 2020 • friends

Me and my boyfriend came to Hythe for a long weekend and choose to visit El Cortador Tapas bar. We didn’t make a reservation but the staff were really accommodating and offered us a table for an hour. They were prompt with taking our orders and the food came pretty quickly. We ordered 6 different types of Tapas and that was plenty. Although all the tapas were really nice and fresh I would highly recommend the fish croquets. We will definitely be back!

Written 1 February 2020

ElCortador

Thanks for your kind words. We're super pleased you chose to spend your evening with us on your visit to the area and so glad you had an enjoyable evening. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit.

Written 16 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sam R

Whitstable54 contributions

Not able to get to Espana? No fear, tastes of Spain in Folkestone

Jul 2021 • friends

Three of us sat in the lovely courtyard garden, ordered a selection of hot tapas, and then had to order more because the dishes were so delicious. Everything tasted fresh, and a jug of sangria helped to transport us from the UK to Espana. The staff were friendly, polite, attentive. It's very reasonably priced too. Thank you, El Cortador. Coming back soon for the rest of the menu.

Written 3 July 2021

ElCortador

Hey, great to hear we transported you to a little taster of Spain here in Folkestone, even though the weather may not be as good at the moment! We'll look forward to serving you up the rest of the menu on your next visit. Muchas gracias

Written 10 July 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

PatriciaM_11

Folkestone256 contributions

Perfect

Aug 2020 • couples

I booked lunch when it was hot and sunny, on the day of the meal it was wet and windy, so we weren't sure how appropriate tapas would be - we needn't have worried..the restaurant was busy with a great atmosphere. Staff were helpful and friendly. We had tapas and sangria to remind us of the holidays we have missed this year - all of it was lovely and we enjoyed the whole thing. Can't wait to return on a sunny day and eat at one of the tables in the garden.

Written 27 August 2020

ElCortador

Thanks for taking the time to post your review about your visit to El Cortador. Lovely to hear it made up for the holidays you missed. Hopefully, the sun will shine for you next time and it'll feel like you're in Spain in our secluded garden 😊. Thanks again and see you soon.

Written 1 September 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

gglover1

London62 contributions

EXCELLENT STANDARDS MAINTAINED

Aug 2021 • couples

Me & my wife always visit this place when staying in Folkestone, we have been coming here for five years now and I am pleased to state that the food and service are still as good today as to our first visit back in 2016. The menu hasn't changed much over the years, just a few old specials that have made it onto the full menu but that suits us absolutely fine as we have tried many many many of the dishes and they have all tasted great. Good portion sizes and reasonably priced. A special mention to the girls Abbey & Taylor, the service they provide us & the rest of their customers is absolutely superb, always very friendly & smiley.....and the owner Ian is ok too 😀. Thank you all. Lord & Lady Glover

Written 25 August 2021

ElCortador

Thanks so much for your lovely review and kind words about our staff and Ian! It's always a pleasure to welcome you on your trips to Folkestone and your continued loyalty over the years is much appreciated. Until the next time, take care and we look forward to seeing you again.

Written 30 August 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Marta E

Paola13 contributions

Not so Spanish, not so nice..

Oct 2023 • couples

El cortador Tapas bar Sadly, kind of embrassing… We appreciate locals might not know what real Spanish food tastes like, but El Cortador left us really upset. Food was average, everything was microwaved as it was clearly prepared in advance and displayed in the front fridge. Paella was mushy and tasted like stock, jamon was small pre cut bits, tortilla was microwaved too and lacked flavour, the cheese in the platter was nice. Only thing made fresh were the patatas bravas, but quite plain and bland. We did eat everything we ordered as we truly don’t like food waste but Spanish week at Lidl would have probably tasted better... Appalling to see the waitress sticking her hands in the food bowls on display, popping something in her mouth and sticking them again in the bowl. Service was overall kind but won’t recommend… Icing on the cake is the owner replying to our booking enquiry while we were dining, saying that there is no space for lunch and they can welcome us in the afternoon.. ( we were dining in the meantime as we booked at the door with the friendly waiter) and they sat a table in front of us shortly after replying to our enquiry. Confusing to see how they manage reservations… Seeing all the good reviews feels like lunch service is of lower quality than the dinner one? As the evening before the place was packed.

Written 2 October 2023

Director El Cortador

The team at El Cortador were really disappointed with the comments you posted here following your visit and feel it’s an unfair review. We have responded to you directly, so this is to clarify our point of view regarding your comments. Firstly, we feel it’s a bit condescending to assume our local customers do not know what real Spanish food tastes like. Many of our guests are frequent visitors to Spain and some are residents who are naturally acquainted to Spanish food. We freshly prepare our Paella and Tortilla constantly upon demand and we do reheat these dishes on service, a common practice in most Spanish restaurants. All other dishes are home-cooked and freshly prepared to order. In terms of the booking confusion, you originally requested a last-minute reservation for Saturday evening, but we were already fully booked. At very late notice on Sunday at 11.35am you requested a table at 12.00pm. As we do not open until midday, one of our waiters responded to your email at 12.10pm at our first opportunity. Unfortunately, we were totally unaware when replying to your booking request that you'd already walked in after making a direct booking with one of our waiters and were already seated at the time we responded. As a team we pride ourselves on customer service and the quality of food we serve, therefore as you did not complain at the time or return any food, we do not feel this was a true representation of the experience you have described here. The El Cortador Team

Written 24 October 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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