Village East, Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UW

New York vibe in South East London makes a great start to the weekend. 
Though they'd have to try harder in Tribeca. 


Village East is situated in buzzy Bermondsey Village. We visited on a Friday evening when the atmosphere was gently bubbling and the crowd a mixed bag of local media types, City workers and glammed up locals looking to kick off their night with a cheeky cocktail.

The cocktail list was varied but not overwhelming with 3 regional twists on a Bloody Mary and a variety of botanical and herbaceous concoctions. The bloke went off-menu asking for his favourite cocktail, a Saserac (rye whiskey, peychaud bitters and a spray of absinthe). It's always great to see cocktail barmen going about their work with such obsessive attention to detail. And indeed the bartender took great enjoyment and time though having to replace the rye with a brandy, meant the investment didn't quite pay off.

Food-wise we were looking for something quick and light, so chose to sit in the bar. Fortunate, as the wait for a table in the restaurant was an hour and a half. We opted for the vegetable antipasti and the charcuterie plate. The antipasti was an uncomfortable mix of cold broccoli florets, limp salad and butternut squash cubes josting against more expected fare; peperonata, warm sauteed mushrooms and baked ricotta. Remniscent of mum's slightly curdled home made quiches, the warm, squidgy ricotta was without doubt the saviour of the plate. The charcuterie was tasty enough, a selection of salami, chorizo, serrano and mortadella served with celeriac coleslaw and cornichons ro give some welcome bite.

While not offensive, the bar fodder wasn't up to scratch for a restaurant with a Michelin mention on the door. The vegtables were missing a key ingredient; flavour and the plate lacked harmony. Maybe it's the price you pay for ordering a vegetarian dish, but it all felt a bit HaHa for me.

All in all, Village East has a nice New Yorky vibe and offers a good spot to start the weekend. But I have to say the disappointing bar food has made me less likely to return for the full restaurant experience.


Bill for 2 with one drink each, £39