Chef Tomasz Baranski brings Mexican and Peruvian gastronomy to Chayote, the brand-new restaurant overlooking St Katharine Dock’s marina.
Overlooking St Katharine Dock’s marina, Chayote is the latest restaurant to open in this picturesque part of London. The marina is situated within walking distance of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. It has a vibrant waterfront atmosphere which makes it the ideal destination for a night out in London.
Chayote gets its name from a pear-shaped fruit originating from Central America that has a mild, crisp, and juicy texture and a subtle taste reminiscent of cucumber.
Chayote is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Head chef Tomasz Baranski has created a menu that blends Mexican and Peruvian gastronomy with a Spanish twist. It is modern, sophisticated, grown-up and mess-free!
Named “one of the world’s top chefs” by Forbes, Tomasz Baranski has been mastering Mexican, Peruvian and Spanish cuisines for over 18 years at prestigious and Michelin-star restaurants including Barrafina, Donostia, and Soho House.
Chayote’s relaxed yet sophisticated modern interior is a palette of deep greens, tan browns, moody blacks, natural wood and warm, exposed brickwork. It is cosy and refined, and a completely different feel from the brightly-coloured street food Mexican restaurants you usually find in London.
The menu consists of a selection of starters (from £7.5 to £14.5), tostadas and tacos (from £7 to £12.5), sharing mains (from £18 to £30), sides (from £7.5 to £8), and desserts (from £7 to £8).
There is a good selection of Latino-leaning wines including many organic, bio-dynamic, and natural wine options with prices ranging from £30 to £95 a bottle. The cocktail and mocktail menus reflect the diverse Hispanic influences that make Chayote such a unique destination.
Sustainability is central to Chayote’s dining concept. From selecting B Corp-certified drink brands like Pensador Mezcal and 58 & Co; to food tracking to reduce waste; reducing their carbon footprint through energy efficiency and sustainably sourced seasonal ingredients.
I was pleased to see that Chayote’s menu had quite a few unusual dishes but a bit disappointed that there were only a handful of vegetarian and vegan dishes.
For starters, I opted for some light and crispy cactus tempura with salsa taquera and Graham enjoy a really tasty ceviche of seabass complete with green mango aguachile and red caviar.
This was followed by a roast chayote with girolles mushrooms and red mole as a main with a side of quinoa salad and a side of yuca fries.
While the sides were really enjoyable, the main was disappointing. The subtleness of the roasted chayote was underwhelming and could not be rescued by the girolles mushrooms and red mole sauce. Bit of a downer for me as this is the only veggie main option. Luckily, the zingy quinoa salad saved the show alongside the soft and crispy yuca fries.
Dessert was a scoop of homemade ice cream each: corn for me and (very) spicy chocolate for Graham. Both very different, both very yummy.
We enjoyed our dinner with a very respectable bottle of organic Sicilian Nero d’Avola.
If you enjoy Central and South American cuisines, Chayote is definitely worth a visit. The menu is well-crafted, with lots of interesting unusual ingredients and pairings. The service is quick and efficient and the staff super-friendly. The menu would however benefit from a few more vegetarian or vegan options.
Chayote has a really chic, grown-up and cosy feel. Probably not a place where you would want to bring (noisy) kids but ideal for a date or dinner with a small group of friends. We will definitely visit again.
Chayote
2 St Katharine’s Way
London E1W 1AA
www.chayote.co.uk
Disclaimer: We were guests at Chayote. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely honest.
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