I have always loved Las Iguanas, so it was no chore visiting for review purposes. The fun, noisy Mexican chain serves up some of the best Caiprinhas and Nachos I have ever tasted. And I have tasted a lot.
With branches across London, this cheerful and reasonably priced eatery is perfect for a quick drink or snack but can also serve as a lovely venue to spend an evening. It has a great vibe that puts me in a celebratory mood. Las Iguanas have kept the Olympic flame alive well after the closing ceremony. Honoring their Brazilian routes and in anticipation of Rio 2016, they are hosting a pop up ‘Rio Botequim’ across all their restaurants. With Rio set to be the next city after London to host the Olympics and Paralympics, Las Iguanas is the ideal place to mark the occasion.
Akin to a Brazilian pub, a botequim is a place to eat, drink and be merry so Las Iguanas have created a special menu highlighting typical botequim dishes and drinks as well as staging a number of culinary, cultural and sporting activities.
The service is exemplary, our waitress popped by regularly to check if we needed anything despite the overflowing restaurant of guests. Another good sign… it is ALWAYS busy in Las Iguanas. We visited the Southbank branch before seeing the Crazy Horse cabaret show. Our waitress highlighted the specials and new additions to the menu, I think she was surprised that I instantly knew what I wanted! Caiprinhas came first, ice cold, sugary with a kick from the lime… I love this cocktail so much, it seems to medicinally soothe the throat. The sizzling food was all ultra fresh and delicious. Crispy nachos with gooey cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream was addictive especially with the extra grilled chorizo on top. Definitely a bad idea to write this review at lunchtime, as I am drooling at the memory of our Las Iguanas feast.
Later we tried two of the new red fruits cocktails, they tasted stronger than I had expected. Reggae Rumba has a tropical taste with Havana Club Especial rum, lemon juice, strawberry & hibiscus syrup, strawberry liquor and fresh lime. Mulled Daiquiri was the real hit though, a combination of rum, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, vanilla liqueur, cassis, orange and red wine… basically a better version of mulled wine, the perfect drink to welcome in winter.
Fajitas at Las Iguanas are faultless. Every element comes separately so you can make your own wraps to your personal specifications. It is the spicy sizzling chicken that makes the fajita so good, with a mix of coriander, lime, paprika, cumin, onions and peppers, it is good enough to eat alone. There was no room or time for pudding but a selection of exotic influenced treats are on offer.
You can tell I love this chain, equally excellent cocktails and food: Las Iguanas is a restaurant for any occasion and every situation.
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