What: Llewelyn's
In a nutshell: Noteworthy neighbourhood spot
Summing it all up: A stellar front and back of house crew make this new Herne Hill neighbourhood restaurant worth checking out.
The low-down
Opening rather quietly a few weeks back, Llewelyn's in Herne Hill looks set to be rather interesting and follows a slew of openings of local restaurants worth making a trek for - we count Dandy and Lorne (even if it is in Victoria) among these.
The space it's in has a lovely history having been a restaurant since the Victorian times when it was known as Pullens Dining Room & Bar. Now it's got a great chef in the form of Warren Fleet. Fleet was one of the original Jamie's Fifteen - alongside the likes of Tim Siadatan of Trullo. More recently he was Head chef at the Anchor and Hope in Waterloo.
Now he's in charge of a kitchen where, you know this by now, the menu is ultra-seasonal and changes weekly. So for breakfast, there might be granola with yoghurt and poached rhubarb or Welsh cakes and salted butter. Sunday lunchtimes see various roasts and larger sharing dishes go on the menu - so this weekend that would have been a seven-hour lamb shoulder with gratin dauphinoise for three for £48. Smaller dishes like crab soup with rouille croutons or mussels with leeks and cider range in price from £6-£7.50. Recent desserts have included blood orange marshmallow with granita (£7) and pistachio, lemon and salted honey tart - (£6.40).
For drinks, there's a businesslike wine list, with several available by the glass, carafe or bottle and a couple of cocktails for £6 such as Stellachello with vodka and grapefruit as well as a few beers.
Coming into summer the restaurant has a decent number of outside tables overlooking Station Square making it a place worth noting for alfresco dining. And with GM Alcides Gauto running the show - previously of Rochelle Canteen - we predict reviews of this hitting a national newspaper near you soon.
More about Llewelyn's
Where is it? 293–295 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 0JP
When does it open? Now open
How do I book? Email bookings@llewelyns-restaurant.co.uk or phone 0207 733 6676. Opening hours - breakfast 8am - 11.30am, lunch is 12 -3pm, followed by charcuterie and bar snacks until the kitchen reopens for dinner at 6pm. On Sundays they do roasts and sharing dishes until 4pm.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Twitter @llewelynslondon or Insta @llewelynslondon
