Santiago Lastra’s more casual restaurant
Intro
It definitely started with Sabor, but over the past decade, Heddon Street has been trying to crawl back to its glory years (RIP Momo). Out with the Absolut Icebar (et al), and in with places like Sabor, Mo Diner, and now Fonda.
The Décor
This is exactly where you want to catch up with friends. Warm with Mexican-inspired sun-kissed terracottas, with bold tourmaline and emerald green accents, any time of day is a good time here. Highlights include an open kitchen, tortilla-making theatrics that keep things moving along and authentic, and large windows that spill onto the terrace – definitely a perk in summer months. We could see bundling up outside and sitting on the terrace in the winter, too (TBC if it will stay open year-round).
The Menu
You’ve heard of KOL, Santiago’s Michelin-starred restaurant and mezcaleria, and here, he’s kept things more laidback but just as spectacular, on both the drink and food fronts. For drinks, you need to start with a Champagne Paloma (maybe even a bottle of it, as our waiter suggested: it had been that kind of day) and then order things to snack on, like roasted pumpkin seed mole and cheese and chorizo fondue. Next: a steak and grilled cheese costra (it’s the tortilla-style grilled cheese you never knew you needed), followed by truffle quesadillas with walnuts. See what you can manage after that: halibut T-bone al pastor, slow-cooked beef short rib with peanut mole; ribeye with aged salsa verde, plus sides like green salad with jalapeño honey and carmelised bone marrow. The basics are elevated, the combinations are unique and outstanding.
Highlights
The vibe. The menu. The drinks. The terrace. We really liked it here.
