Quirky hidden eateries in London

I'm the type of person who far prefers a vacation filled with trips to museums and art galleries, shopping and exploring vintage flea markets, people-watching at cafes, and discovering delicious restaurants as opposed to lounging on a beach for days on end.

Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman

As most of you know by now, I'm a bit of a foodie! I love food, I love browsing through the millions of cook books I have, I love searching for unusual ingredients, I love cooking for friends and family but most of all, I love exploring the huge variety of cuisines and restaurants that have brightened

some of London's dark little corners.

Once upon a time, London was maligned as a bit of a culinary desert, especially by our friends over the channel who would rightly sneer and scoff, at les rosbifs! That’s now all in the past, London has become a global destination for foodies, thanks in no small part to its multicultural blend of tasty and innovative offerings.

Here’s five hidden gems to try that are well worth a look if you're in town;

Gremio de Brixton

On the corner of Brixton hill and Effra Road is a little church, Saint Matthews. It’s not the most beautiful of churches, in fact you could easily drive past without actually noticing it however, what lies beneath is a vaulted crypt housing a smaller cellar bar and an amazing Spanish Tapas restaurant, no, really, there is, I’m seriously not making this up!

Gremio de Brixton serves classic and contemporary Spanish tapas and cocktails. Attractively presented dishes include Croquetas De Queso, Gambas Al Ajillo, and my personal favorite, Bunuelos de Garbanzos which is essentially Chickpeas & sweet potatoes with a chilli aioli. There are DJs at weekends; and the atmospheric venue is a popular party destination for those in the know. In the week they even host Flamenco Nights!!

Now I know you don’t believe there is a Spanish Restaurant/Night Club in a crypt under an unassuming church if sarff London so, take a peep at their website;

https://gremiodebrixton.com/

La Bodega Negra

Sounds like we should be back in Spain again but no, this is a delightful Mexican restaurant. I use the word “hidden” here a little loosely, you’ll find La Bodega Negra on Moor Street, just off Charring Cross Road in Soho however, what it lacks in hidden it certainly makes up for in Gem! Ignore the main restaurant and make for the basement, there you will find a sexy, underground cavern which features some of the best Mexican food you’ll find in London! As well as the usual Mexican fare, they serve amazing dishes such as Pollo a la sarten and Slow roasted lamb barbacoa – delicious!!

True to its surroundings, the décor is fabulous although it does feel a little as though you are eating in some kind of seedy burlesque club and Dita Von Teese will pop out at any moment!

http://labodeganegra.com/

Gunpowder

There’s two of these to choose from in London, one in Spitalfields and one close to Tower Bridge. Now I LOVE Indian food but this place is special. The chef specifically set out to do Indian comfort food well – and wow have they hit the jackpot! The Menu is an interpretation of family recipes the chef grew up with, showcasing the vibrant, confident flavours of home cooking.

Don’t expect your usual plethora of Indian dishes, the emphasis here is on a small menu cooked to perfection. They serve one of my favourite Indian dishes of all time, spicy venison and vermicelli doughnut – To DIE for!!

http://www.gunpowderlondon.com/spitalfields/

Anglo

Tucked away on a side street in Clerkenwell, Anglo has been quietly wowing guests, critics and fellow chefs since the moment it opened in 2016, and so it should really, the chef, Mark Jarvis arrived in Farringdon via the Bingham in Richmond and Le Manoir – now there’s a pedigree! Their relaxed, accessible approach to set menu dining completely turned traditional thinking on its head, we’re not talking starter, main and pud, this is an exquisite 7 course-plus-snacks journey of unadulterated foodie joy. Saddle up for the ride and dance, breathless, towards the grand finale! If you leave with change from £50 still in your pocket, I wouldn’t be surprised – Wow.

https://anglorestaurant.com/

Menier Chocolate Factory

The French Menier Chocolate Company expanded overseas in the 1860s and built a five-storey factory and warehouse of brick with stone dressings in London. Sadly the business went bust and the beautiful building fell into disrepair, in the early noughties, as London was going though something of a renaissance in 2004 The Menier Chocolate Factory was opened in its current incarnation, a fully fledged theatre which has hosted some of the greats of stage and screen such as Catherine Zeta Jones. Attached to the theatre is the lesser-known Menier Chocolate Factory Restaurant, a curious and quaint little space which up until recently was primarily a dessert café however, it now boasts a delicious menu it its own right. Not Michelin star dinning however, dishes such as the Port & Guinness braised lamb shank are divine. For me the desserts remain the star and my fav is the Chocolate platter – Menier brownie, white chocolate ice cream, cherry truffles, AND chocolate crème brûlée. Needless to say, it’s the perfect place to go after a show but also worth seeking out on its own.

https://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/

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