Eat & Drink
Originally published on Thursday, 27th June 2013
Casa Negra
East London's latest plaything
54-56 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3QR | 0207 033 7360 | @CasaNegraLDN
Location
Casa Negra calls Great Eastern Street home – and it's a match made in heaven. If La Bodega Negra is Soho's sexy lair, Casa Negra is Shoreditch's latest fun house.
Vibe
Like something out of Y Tu Mama También. Will Ricker hasn't let Casa Negra become a simple branch of Bodega; it very much has its own identity. This is where you should come for late dinners and long nights. The Casa Playroom downstairs is the most fun bar we've seen in the East for a while (see Décor below), and we'd imagine the same door policy and in-the-know events apply. Like Bodega, it will probably attract the celeb set – Jessie Ware was there on the night we dined.
Flavours
Unlike the somewhat Mexico-via-New York options on La Bodega Negra and the Moor Street Café menus, Casa Negra feels like a much more authentic take on Mexican food. Here, it's all about sharing. The guacamole is moreish, the tiny tacos are small but pack a punch, and are a great size for lunch. Try the Cochinita Pibil with achiote and orange-braised pork (our favourite), and the Queso Asado with Chihuahua cheese, a Mexican, and better, version of halloumi. The Carnitas de Lechon, Casa's speciality, is a must – the scratching is salty and super-crunchy, and the sucking pig itself, which should be wrapped up in a taco with all the garnishes, is soft and smoky. Fish-wise, we had the spicy Ceviche de Caballa, with fresh mackreel and lots of chilli, and the seafood cocktail with mussels, prawns, avocado and coriander, doused in ketchup. We weren't sure about this, but – points for authenticity – it definitely felt like something they'd do in Mexico. The Lucky 7 cocktail list (all with tequila) was a highlight. The Casa Margarita is classy, the Paloma is sweet (and very strong), and the elderflower, cucumber and minty Vote Pedro is a great palate cleanser. And, instead of dessert, we say order the flight of frozen fruit margaritas – spiced mango and strawberry and black pepper were the best.
Decor
Three words: tacky, fabulous and Mexican. Classic English chichi – chandeliers and wood paneling – is contrasted against Mexican beach party – fold out chairs with popular beer logos, beach lanterns and multicoloured bulbs on string. Downstairs in the Playroom, piñatas and tacky toys hang from the ceiling, while incredible, lit-up, cardboard art, which is in La Bodega Negra too, adorns the walls of booths. We'll be back here to party.
Upshot
One… two… three… tequila!
