Where We Eat – Cantinera in Brockley

Given everything we've written about the challenges facing hospitality, you'd be forgiven for thinking that anyone opening a restaurant in the current climate must be slightly mad!

Thankfully, hospitality has always attracted optimistic people!

One of the most exciting recent additions to our little corner of South East London is Cantinera in Brockley, where Celia and Jake have taken on the former Mother Flipper site opposite Salthouse and transformed it into a lively cantina-meets-tapas bar inspired by Celia's Mexican and Spanish heritage.

It's a brave move in the current climate, but we're very glad they've done it and you should be too!

On a recent visit we worked our way through almost the entire menu and it was hit after hit! The sea bream tostada with aguachile & habanero was a particular highlight, combining freshness, heat and acidity in all the right proportions. The bavette with mole was equally impressive, rich, deeply savoury and packed with flavour!

It's BYO only, but with Salthouse directly across the road that's not a hardship…in fact, it feels like part of the fun.

Do what we did…head over on a sunny afternoon, grab a beer outside while you wait for a table (it's walk-ins only), then settle in and eat your way through as much of the menu as possible!

The room has a warmth and energy that feels instantly welcoming, the cooking is confident and full of personality, and it's exactly the sort of independent opening that reminds us why London's restaurant scene remains one of the most exciting in the world despite all the challenges it faces!

Congratulations to Celia and Jake. They've absolutely nailed it!

Along with everyone else in this industry, we wish them nothing but success!