Bamboo Mat — the Peruvian-Japanese restaurant in Leyton that famously got glowing reviews from Grace Dent — has since opened a Stratford branch. So, we headed over to check out the new festive menu.
Located on Victory Parade, alongside the likes of Eggslut and Mother Kelly, Bamboo Mat stands out with its day-glow neon accents and faux flowers hanging from the ceiling. The semi-private dining room is also worth checking out if you’re looking for a work party venue, or special occasion for friends and fam.
The festive set menu is available at £60 a head — which we felt was pretty great value for the quality and quantity of food we tucked into.
You’ll kick off with a selection of starters including excellent tuna tostadas with wasabi mayo, a mini mountain of crispy chicken karaage fresh out of the fryer (served here with a yuzu dressing), and seabass ceviche with dashi tiger’s milk.
For mains, we enjoyed a thinly sliced picanha steak with baby salad and chimichurri sauce, as well as grilled seabass with coriander mash and vibrant salsa (we weren’t lying when we said there was a lot of food!).
Of course, you’d feel short changed if you left without fitting in some sushi, and this menu includes a dedicated course of wagyu sushi with smoked egg sauce and salmon nigiri with kizami wasabi.
Top tip — if you ask for the Christmas special avechido maki, they’ll bring out delicious rolls of nobashi shrimp, avocado and blue fin tuna, arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree!
Before we went on our merry way, we managed to fit in individual passion fruit and cranberry cream brulees, all washed down with an excellent glass of gewurztraminer (however the cocktails also sounded great — gin-based Yuzu Blossom anyone?)
It’s also worth noting that bottomless brunch is also served every Saturday and Sunday — perfect for a damp January.
