56 Westow

At 56 Westow in South East London, the cooking is flavour-first and travel-minded, weaving Mediterranean and North African influences through a contemporary lens. It is a menu that favours generosity over fuss, where spice and citrus brighten, and slow, savoury notes keep things grounded.

Small plates set the tone: warm hummus stirred with harissa and lifted by pickled red onions, ready for scooping with crisp bread; chicharrones that crackle against a chorizo, orange and cumin sauce, smoky and sunlit all at once. The rhythm continues with larger plates, from the signature 56 steak, a sirloin with shallots and a classic mushroom sauce, to a spiced chickpea and celeriac tagine threaded with red kale, gremolata, pine nuts and apricot.

Sides play supporting roles with style: patatas bravas dusted in rosemary salt and brightened by lemon aioli, and rainbow carrots glossed with harissa and maple, cooled by a swoop of labneh. Desserts lean Spanish, whether a burnished slice of burnt Basque cheesecake with fig reduction, or Tarta de Santiago teamed with homemade raisin and Pedro Ximenez ice cream.

Expect a relaxed, flavour-led dining experience that invites lingering, sharing and a second glance at the dessert menu. Book in for an evening of easy charm and bold plates, arrive hungry, leave happily, and let 56 Westow do the talking.