Pizzaro The @14TheFrog review.

We actually intended going to "Jose", which is the sister tapas and sherry bar to this Bermondsey St favourite, but they were jammed in like sardines when we got there so we gave it the swerve. "Pizzaro" is only 100 yards back up the road and although we hadn't booked (not even sure you can) you could at least get in the door without taking a run up, so in we went.
First impressions were good in that it was very buzzy, lots of dark wood everywhere and a nice young girl with a clipboard managing the queue. After leaving our names, we were told we'd be able to get a table for two in 45 minutes, so we headed for the throng at the bar. We must have looked a bit nonplussed by the wine-barrish look (we were to be honest) because the manager gave us the old "you're safe with me" look and flipped us a drinks menu in between a few heads infront of us. He was good this guy, having his finger well and truly on the pulse and he was matched the barman, who despite a dodgy haircut was extremely professional and buzzing around like a wasp in a jam jar.
We ordered a bottle of Alberino, declining said barmans offer of trying one which was twice as expensive (just in case we liked it), and it was superb. He offered us some olives or almonds, and needless to say we went for "all of the above" cheers. At this point a couple in front of us who were perched on two of the few barstools bang in front of the bar were called to their table, so I was in like a butchers dog and we had a prime spot.
From this observation post it was comfortable and easy to guage the buzz and the mechanics of the restaurant. The waiters were all professional, all Spanish and all out of the top drawer. The kitchen is open, so despite the fact that the chefs all look like blokes who used to man the waltzers down at the local fairground with their tats and earrings, they do make the effort to look cool, and they do.
The olives and almond were very tasty, especially the almonds, and the girl with the clipboard came over bang on the 45 minutes to steer us to a seat. I say seat rather than table because it was at a kind of window bench thingy, but as the vista is like a scene from "Notting Hill" (except with the occasional black person) we didn't mind one bit.
As for the food, well I opened the batting with the croquettes, while Sarah went for a big prawn on black rice. The croquettes were sensational and definately the high point of the whole meal. Little fried balls of fish and silky smooth potato, about the size of a Ferrero Rochet but infinately more satisfying. Sarahs prawn thing was also good, the rice (which she said had squid ink in it and who am I to argue?) was good too.
For mains I had braised pigs cheek in sherry with almonds, while Sarah had salt cod. The pigs cheek dish was very good, tasty chunks of meat which were meltingly tender. You got a lump of bread with it and I'm probably showing my philistine Britishness when I say I'd have liked a scoop of buttery mash to melt into the sauce (which was quite thin without it).
Sarah's salt cod was very tasty, the brining of the fish rendering it almost meat like in texture. To be totally honest I can't remember what it came with, which probably says more about me than it does about the food.
At this point (and having had two bottles of wine) I had to break the seal and toddled off to find the loo (there's only one cubicle, if you go yourself  DON'T wait until you're as desperate as I was). Sarah said she was going to order some sherry, and when I came back I pronounced it the most devine glass of sherry I'd ever tasted. Fortunately I didn't say it too loudly, so when I was informed it was actually dessert wine I wasn't too embarrassed by the whole faux pas. Whatever it was though it was sensational, as was the catalan brulee we had for dessert. This was kind of like its French cousin, but a bit looser and slightly more creamy it seemed to me. Superb anyway.
The service at our table was excellent, and the waiter was a smashing fella too. There was no service charge so full marks for that, and the bill came to £126 which considering we had over half that worth of wine, represented good value in my book.
We had a really good night at Pizzaro, and I'd definately go again. It's not easy to feel romantic to a couple who've been married for 15 years, but long before the end of the meal we were holding hands and feeling pretty lucky to be together (although having definately got the better end of the deal, I normally feel like that).
It's an easy place to get to, train into Waterloo then about a tenner in a cab. It's got a lovely atmos' for a night out with your wife and I'd recommend it to anyone. That said, judging by the queues at the two restaurants most people don't need a recommendation, they go anyway.