The perennial lure of the foodie pop up shows no sign of slowing down and so it was that we found ourselves at The Miller Pub, home to Street Kitchen's latest residency and their first foray into hot dogs.
Tucked away down a quiet residential street in Bermondsey lies The Miller; at first glance an unusual choice for a pop-up from the guys at Street Kitchen. However, the Miller's credentials speak for themselves; their sister pub is The Sebright Arms, home to the famed Lucky Chip, another hugely successful pop-up and so we were pretty happy to give it a whirl.
Where is it?
Tucked away down a quiet street in Bermondsey, opposite Guy's Hospital.
Where should we meet for a drink first?
We suggest you head straight to the Miller and take advantage of the their extensive drinks list. With a great selection of real ciders and craft ales sourced directly from the producers, plus a pretty decent wine and spirits list, there is a tipple to suit all. Alternatively - you could head up the Shard first if you felt like splashing out.
And where should we sit?
The Miller has a great buzz about it and is constantly packed full of young-ish folk having an after work drink. You can pretty much sit anywhere and feel a part of the buzz, although we did notice an outdoor terrace which is a great addition now that the sun has reappeared for more than a fleeting moment.
What should we order?
The dogs of course! The American Pitbull (£5.50) was the most conventional approach to a classic hot dog, elevated with crispy onions and pickled dill cucumbers for a sweet and sour taste and the accompanying classic slaw was creamy and crunchy. The Bull Mastiff (£7.50) was spicier, with a delicious chilli and chorizo relish, pickled red onions and a slither of sour cream to balance out the heat. Its accompanying celeriac, cucumber and mint slaw was light and creamy and incredibly moreish. We were recommended the chicken wings (£3.50), which were, to excuse the awful pun, properly finger licking good with meat that literally fell off the bone - a definite must-have. We also indulged ourselves with the rosemary salted skin-on chips (£2.50) and the fennel, radish and rocket salad (£4.50) which proved a zingy and fresh palette cleanser which worked well to balance the carbohydrate overload of our other dishes. We had absolutely no room for dessert, but there is an offering of flavoured ice lollies dipped in chocolate and almonds.
How much will this set me back?
The menu is extremely wallet friendly, with no single dish costing more than £7.50, making this the perfect place to pop-in for a bite to eat after work. Likewise, the friendly atmosphere at The Miller along with the fantastic food lends itself to weekend sessions with friends and family.
Overall thoughts?
Street Kitchen's gourmet interpretation of the classic hot dog is inspired. Every ingredient that has gone into the menu has been hand made by the Street Kitchen team. From homemade ketchup, to the hand smoked barbecue sauce on the 12-hour marinated chicken wings and the sausages themselves, which are made with free range, rare breed, locally-sourced pork, you can really taste the freshness and flavour and the time that has been spent making these dogs so delicious. A must visit should you find yourself peckish around London Bridge or Bermondsey.
The Miller is at 96 Snowsfields Road London Bridge London SE1 3SS - 020 7407 2690. Follow Street Kitchen on twiitter.
Prices were correct at time of writing. Hot Dinners were invited to eat at The Miller.
