Originally published on Tuesday, 16th July 2013

ROUTEMASTER

A culinary crawl according to UJ
 

London's foodie tide is still high, and we've been suffering a case of "too many restaurants too little time". So, we've replaced the traditional pub crawl and instead been eating our way through the capital from SE1 to W1 (with a few drink stops along the way). Restaurant routes – get set, go!

Bermondsey, London's cult foodie hub, is all about le quality. Kick start the neighborhood crawl at 40 Maltby Street, where you can share plates of quail with grapes and gravy, washed down with Gergovie organic wines under railway arches. Chase this with some mid-route sherry refreshments at José before visiting Noma alumnus Tom Sellers at his new home Restaurant Story. End the night on whimsical creations such as bread and dripping, burnt onions coated in apple, gin and thyme, and pigeon with summer truffle and pine.

For some on-trend snacking, join the trailblazer route in Shoreditch. We say salami and buttermilk bar snacks at The Clove Club, with fresh cocktails expertly shaken by the Young Turks, followed by some homemade tequila con verdita (tequila, followed by a shot of pineapple, mint, coriander, and chilli) at Casita. And for mains? Keep on the Southern American trail at Casa Negra, the Mexican fun house: bite sized tacos, ceviche, and a flight of margaritas. Now stand up.

For those on the I Heart N1C bandwagon, pull up a stool at the impressive Carriage Bar at Grain Store. Sip on concoctions such as pumpkin and caramelised maple bellinis and butter and hay champagne, and snack on Loubet-style veggie merguez sausages or jalapeño hot dogs. Then onto some prosecco, frozen margaritas and slushies on tap at Shrimpy's outside grill. When the sun goes down, head to The Great Northern Hotel for an affair with Mark Sargeant at the Plum and Spilt Milk as he gets set to takeover the menu on July 18.

Lastly, stalwart Soho has been given a lick of new paint with its latest additions. Sip on freshly made mojitos, cosmos, and negronis on tap at the new Soho Diner before getting seated at Social Eating House for a fill of 2013's buzz ingredients – salt cod, monks beard, and "jars to share". Top off the evening with a nightcap upstairs at the Blind Pig for some cocktails that include Coco Pops milk, popcorn-infused bourbon, and Skittles.

And breathe.  

Info
Restaurant Story, 201 Tooley Street, SE1 2UE
Casa Negra, 54-56 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3QR
Plum and Spilt Milk, Great Northern Hotel, Pancras Road, N1C 4TB

by JC