This is a tough review to write because I really wanted to like this place. I love the story behind…read moreit, and it's a cute little spot tucked next to Pretty Decent Beer Co. on the canal by Victoria Park. It's the kind of location that makes you want to settle in for a leisurely evening.
The biggest disappointment actually had nothing to do with the food. About an hour and fifteen minutes into our meal, the general manager, Patrik, came over to tell my group of four that our table would be needed in ten minutes. We were just finishing our food and had been debating another cocktail and dessert, so we hurried through our last bites and practically sloshed down our drinks. A few minutes later, another member of staff came over and told us we didn't actually need to leave after all. By then the mood had gone. We ended up heading elsewhere for that nightcap. It was an avoidable mix-up that left an odd note at the end of the evening.
There were a few other hiccups as well. A couple of dishes went to the wrong tables before coming to us, and something that we didn't order was brought to and left on our table for a few minutes. Our confusion kept us from digging in, only for a server to swing by and scoop it back up with apologies. In my service days, that would have been ours on the house, but hey, I don't work there. While nothing was a disaster, service didn't quite feel smooth.
As for the food, everything we had was tasty, but almost everything was also noticeably salty. The tuna tostada was probably my favourite. The sashimi-grade tuna was fresh, the guacamole was good, and the oi-muchim added a nice contrast. I did think the fried leeks made it oilier than it needed to be, and my friend who ordered it said the same. My group enjoyed the pork belly tacos, the drunken egg salad, the honey buffanero wings, and the cauliflower wings. Again, all good dishes, but pretty heavy on the salt.
I also thought the portions were a little on the small side for the price. Certainly not the worst value I've seen in London, but enough that I noticed it.
One thing that surprised me was the vegan menu. Both vegan options revolve around deep-fried options, with the cauli wings and tofu tacos double-fried. It would be nice to see at least one lighter plant-based option alongside those.
The cocktails were the highlight. I enjoyed the Picante, especially the spicy rim, and the Kimchi Bloody Mary tasty. One of my friends had the Feather and Flame and liked that as well. I was also looking forward to trying a michelada, but they were out when we visited. It looks like the drinks menu has changed since then, so hopefully they'll make a return.
Overall, I landed at three stars, although this is one of those places where I'd give 3.5 if Yelp allowed it. There is a lot to like. The concept is fun, the food is flavourful, and the location is great. I just think the execution needs a little tightening, particularly with service and seasoning. I'd be happy to come back in the future and try it again, especially if they rolled out a Taco Tuesday or Wing Wednesday.
