On Saturday, we had a lovely lunch at Bermondsey Larder Tower Bridge Road. Bermondsey Larder is a new restaurant that has opened up behind the new Bermonds Locke apartment hotel on Tower Bridge Road. There is building work taking place next door at Newham’s Yard, so we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to check out the restaurant before more people discover it. The restaurant is by the people behind The Dairy in Clapham (now closed), with chef Robin Gill at the helm. I’d eaten tat The Dairy before and thought the food was fabulous. We weren’t disappointed by this new venture; what a treat after being couped up during lockdown. If you’re looking for the best places for lunch near Tower Bridge, dinner near Bermondsey Street or weekend brunch in SE1, you must book a table at Bermondsey Larder.
“We loved every mouthful of the fresh, seasonal, delicious and beautifully presented food at the Bermondsey Larder restaurant; what a treat,” Homegirl London.
Bermondsey Larder A La Carte Menu
We arrived at the restaurant at noon, which was great because the a la carte menu was on offer. A friendly staff member recommended that we order three dishes, one from each section of the menu. Being obedient, we did just that but also added desserts! I selected the vegetarian options while my partner opted for fish.
Potato and Rosemary Sourdough
First up was a cute little loaf of warm potato and rosemary sourdough with smoked butter. I split the bread into two even halves and spread over the butter, which melted on contact. I hadn’t eaten warm bread for a while and had forgotten how wonderful it tastes. No, I didn’t try baking bread during the lockdown. That would have been taking things a little too far. Besides, with Borough Market close by, luckily, there was plenty of freshly baked bread to be had. Sorry, I digress, back to the food. The broad bean dip with onion chutney and heritage radishes arrived simultaneously as the loaf so I could scoop some up with my bread. It was yummy!
Broad Bean Dip
Homeboy was presented with a stunning looking plate of cured Cornish trout with a horseradish remoulade. While he tucked into his trout, I enjoyed my grilled asparagus and boiled Cracklebean egg with a sprinkling go furikake. I had to Google what furikake was and discovered that it’s a Japanese sesame seed seasoning usually put on top of hot rice. I enjoyed the taste, so that will be on my shopping list next time I visit an Asian supermarket.
Grilled Asparagus
My third plate was roasted cauliflower with cocoa beans, almond and sorrel. Wow, I loved this dish. The cauliflower was a tad crunchy, and the cocoa beans had a wonderful texture and taste. Meanwhile, Homeboy ate the succulent ‘Julie Girl’ skate with piattone beans, seaweed butter and lemon.
Roasted Cauliflower
Meat eaters would have been impressed with the aged raw beef, bone marrow, parmesan and sourdough dish. The other option was belted Galloway beef, grilled Tropea onions, pink fir and green garlic.
Skate
We were getting quite full, but the desserts sounded too tempting to miss out on. Besides, we hadn’t eaten out for a while due to Covid, so we felt we should take full advantage. We shared the poached loquats with yoghurt and a seeded honey tuile. The Virunga original beans chocolate English cobnut choux bun didn’t last long!
Desserts
Every mouthful of food was a joy. Each dish was inventive and interesting enough to make you feel like you were eating something special. We will go back for more. I’d love to try the brunch menu.
Bermondsey Larder Tower Bridge Interiors
Restaurant Interiors
We sat outside, which was enjoyable even though there was building work in progress a stone’s throw away. Once that has been completed, the restaurant will have an excellent spot for alfresco dining. I went inside to take a few pictures of the interiors. It’s glam yet casual. With plenty of plants hanging from the ceiling and in the centre of round tables, it has a relaxed vibe. If you are dining solo, you can perch at the high counters, and people watch. With plenty of glass windows, the space is light and airy. It’s a great restaurant for a date night, celebration meal or when you deserve a treat.
Bermondsey Larder Restaurant Information
Bermondsey Larder is tucked around the corner behind Bermonds Locke, a new urban apartment-hotel and co-working space on Tower Bridge Road. A residential development called Newham’s Yard is being built next door, and there will be a walkway joining Tower Bridge Road with Bermondsey Street. As I live a few minutes away, it’s great for me, mainly because I found out that Planet Organic is also opening up as part of Newham’s Yard development.
Alfresco Dining
To find out more, visit the Bermondsey Larder Website. The restaurant address is Bermonds Lock, 153-157 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LW. The nearest stations are London Bridge, Tower Hill and Bermondsey. Please check the website for current opening times. Book a table to avoid disappointment. If you want to explore the area more, read my Ten Things To Do Near Tower Bridge article.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about restaurants where I had a good experience, but please make sure you undertake further research as restaurant standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please check if the restaurant is still in business and the opening times before you go. If you discover that this restaurant has closed, contact me to remove it from my blog.
