From the queues at Padella to the buzz around live music venue Omeara, one thing is clear: London Bridge is thriving. The south bank of the river has got it going on right now, and the recent influx of promising culinary hotspots is proof, if you needed it. We’re sure you’ve already got some favourites, but prepare for some newcomers.
Back in June, former Viajante chef Leandro Carreira was finishing off his run at Borough Market’s Eighty Six List, and now his eagerly anticipated new restaurant is here. Londrino, named after the Portuguese word for Londoner, is Leandro’s first permanent site, and incorporates those two influences into the mix at his new Southwark restaurant. The first round of dishes – octopus with red pepper miso and grilled brioche with sour caramel and hazelnuts – have already caught our eye. Fans of Leandro’s work at Lyle’s and Koya, take note.
Eight pastas, pared-back antipasti and 25 wines available by the glass? Flour & Grape are spelling it out for us, and we’re into it. The new Bermondsey Street spot from the same team behind Antico is housed in a former antiques warehouse. They’ve switched the fine dining for counter seating and communal tables – we say bring a crowd and try the whole menu.
Even The Bridge Theatre has some impressive food credentials. They’ve brought on St John’s for the theatre’s bar and small eats, and you can say goodbye to the mad interval dash and rushed snacks. Instead, house Champagne and freshly baked madeleines (yes, really) will be available between performance parts, and the all-day bar stocks their infamous homemade doughnuts, meaning it’s worth stopping by for the sugar rush alone.
If you rarely find yourself south-side, mix up your weekend hangout spot – there’s a lot more to come from SE1.
Photo: The Bridge Theatre
