We originally discovered the joy that is Smoke & Salt back when they were a pop-up above a pub in Angel. So we are blimmin’ thrilled to see them spread their wings and move into their first permanent venue – this time in a shipping container in Pop Brixton. Don’t let that put you off though, they’ve managed to turn the humble space into something actually pretty gorgeous – think marble tables, gold touches and clean lines.
So what’s the premise here then? A range of exquisite small plates. And my god are they good. We started with a few ‘tidbits’ (sharing starters to you and I). Crispy new potatoes were drizzled with a light gorgonzola sauce and splodges of chimichurri – SO moreish. Lighter but with an incredible depth of flavours was the tomato salad, utilising all different shapes, sizes and colours and paired with a head turning smoked ricotta.
Next up came the Trombetta Courgettes, famous for their squash like taste, here they’d been quartered and sprinkled with a savoury crumble and a good dollop of ‘summer savoury dressing’ – we’re not sure what this consisted off but we scooped up every last drop.
Sure to become their signature dish, meet the Wiltshire Lamb Tartare. We need a moment to compose ourselves here. Seasoned to utter perfection, a pleasing mound of diced merguez-style meat was served with thick yoghurt and piping hot charred, pillowy flatbreads. We’d happily eat this every day for the rest of our life. My veggie companion was equally delighted with her cabbage believe it or not. And after tucking into hers too (for reviewing purposes obviously), we can believe her. Meat-eaters shouldn’t overlook it.
There’s only one dessert, the quintessentially English showstopper, London Mess.
Note perfect, there honestly wasn’t a mouthful we didn’t love.
We got into the summer vibes and started with a Rose Mary Berry (gin, raspberry rosemary), ending the night with their only dessert cocktail – the hard banana. Like drinking a rum spiked banana cloud, it was fluffy and light yet gutsy.
Exceptionally well-priced for the quality of cooking and ingredients, we can’t recommend Smoke & Salt highly enough. An ideal date spot (hint, hint!) there’s not many things we’ll cross the river for, but this is without a doubt one of them.
