Cafe Murano Restaurant Bermondsey Street Review: We were super excited when Cafe Murano Restaurant opened up on Bermondsey Street, London SE1. It’s one of Angela Hartnett’s restaurants, and she’s best known for her sophisticated yet straightforward dishes using quality ingredients. You can expect a thoughtful Italian style menu full of rustic charm and full-on flavours. If you’re looking for the best restaurants on Bermondsey Street, places to eat near London Bridge or Italian food in SE1, you must book a table.
“The Bermondsey Street Cafe Murano is a big hit with the locals who love dining out and socialising with friends. The no-nonsense menu delivers quality food in a super stylish setting which is a fabulous new addition to the neighbourhood,” Homegirl London
Cafe Murano is around the corner from our apartment, so it’s effortless for us to pop in and treat ourselves to a delicious lunch or dinner. We have dined here twice now. We ate dinner with a neighbour before Christmas, but the lighting was too dark for me to take pictures. I, therefore, booked a table last Tuesday for lunch in a bid to write an article. An hour before we were to arrive, a friend (Max) called and said he would be in the vicinity, so we invited him along. It’s a real treat enjoying a leisurely lunch mid-week in a beautiful restaurant like this. We are all self-employed, so this is one of the perks of not having a regular job!
Cafe Murano Italian Menu
Start by ordering small snacks (Cicchetti). We tried the Arancini with Mushroom, Truffle and a sprinkle of Parmesan. These are stuffed rice balls coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. They probably aren’t very healthy, but they were indeed tasty.
Arancini Snack
Select a couple of Antipasti options such as Globe Artichoke with Bagna Cauda (garlic and anchovies) or Octopus Carpaccio (thinly sliced octopus in vinaigrette style dressing) with Olives, Potato and Chilli Oil. We shared the creamy Burrata with Hazelnuts and Crispy Jerusalem Artichoke, which was lovely. Max hadn’t eaten Burrata before, but now he is a convert!
Burrata Starter
From the Verdure and Insalata section of the menu we choose the Carrots with Basil Pesto, we ate these on our last visit and enjoyed the dish. The helping is quite substantial, so this is perfect for sharing with your guests. Other options are Beetroot with Walnut, Lentils and Sherry Vinegar and Castelfranco (Italian winter radicchio) with Lemon and Pecorino Saraceno.
Carrots with Basil Pesto
Now you can move onto the main dishes. I selected Gnocchi with Pumpkin and Chanterelles (woody tasting fungi) which as rustic in appearance and comforting in taste. There aren’t many vegetarian options on the menu, so I did eat this meal on my previous visit. However, it is a great dish, so I didn’t mind in the slightest.
Gnocchi with Pumpkin and Chanterelles
Homeboy selected a fish dish which was Stone Bass with Fennel and Samphire. It was perfectly cooked and lay on top of a buttery sauce. You might want to add a couple of sides to this, and we ordered the Rosemary Potatoes; otherwise, it’s Parmesan Polenta, a Green Salad or Kale with Chilli and Garlic. Other fish dishes included a Hake and Cuttlefish Stew or Monkfish with Picked Fennel.
Stone Bass with Fennel and Samphire
Max settled on the Lamb Neck Stew which was in a bowl of broth with Carrots and Celery. He commented that although the lamb tasted succulent and with a few of the Rosemary Potatoes, it was a hearty meal. Other meat options included a Pork Chop or Venison.
Lamb Neck Stew
We shared two desserts which were the rich and creamy Tiramisu and the Pistachio Cake with Milk Ice Cream. Both were superb, and the only problem was I had to divide these with the other two people! A Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Pear and Cheese Board with London Honey were also available.
Tiramisu Dessert
I thought the final bill was reasonable considering the venue, location, quality ingredients and professional service. The snacks cost £4-6, starters £7-12, mains £12.50-24 and desserts £7-10. The wine list is excellent, so treat yourself to a couple of glasses of Italian wine.
Cafe Murano Restaurant Bermondsey Street Interiors
Restaurant Interior
The restaurant is quite sizeable with a main dining area and additional booths to the side. The open kitchen is situated against the back wall so you can watch the chefs in action. The décor is contemporary and minimal with industrial touches and a muted colour palette. There are some stunning touches such as the industrial style chandeliers with dangling bare bulbs and glass wall divider separating the entrance from the dining space. We were lucky enough to be seated in a booth which was comfortable and private. It’s a stylish place to hang out with your lover or take clients for a business lunch.
Cafe Murano Restaurant Bermondsey Street Information
Restaurant Exterior
To find out more, go to the Cafe Murano Bermondsey Street Website. The address is 184 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ. The nearest station is London Bridge, take The Shard exit and turn left, walk past Vinegar Yard and turn into Bermondsey Street, walk towards the bottom and you will find the restaurant just before the church. Another station is Borough, on exit head to Long Lane and walk to the end where you can turn into Bermondsey Street. Check the website for current opening times, at the moment they are closed on Monday and open from 12 noon until 11 pm Tuesday to Saturday and on Sunday from 12 noon until 9 pm. I recommend you book a table because this restaurant is already popular. Enjoy your meal.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London and the interior picture is from the Murano website. Thanks: Max and Homeboy for dining with me.
