Kudu
Peckham, London
Envisioned by South African-born Patrick Williams and Amy Corbin, the Peckham-based Kudu Collective now comprises a cocktail bar, a gallery/private dining venue and an open-fire eatery as well as this livewire restaurant near Queens Road station. Diners sit side by side in the narrow low-key dining room, while the food references Williams’ home country – with much use of the braai (barbecue). That said, British ingredients provide most of the building blocks, supplemented by gobal ideas and influences – from piri-piri chicken hearts with dukkah to treacle-cured salmon. Be warned: the menu is seriously front-loaded with carbs. First there is the Kudu bread, lightly spiced and brioche-like but custom-built for mopping up copious amounts of deliciously melting smoked bacon butter and seafood butter. After that, snacks might bring a choux bun piped full of rich chicken parfait and offset by some sharp, spicy blatjang (a South African chutney) or a crisp but pillowy-soft crumpet slathered in whipped cod’s roe. Small and bigger plates usher in the animal and vegetable proteins, from a sophisticated dish of scallop and prawn ravioli with punchy, umami-rich miso foam and charred sweetcorn kernels to braai-grilled lamb loin and belly (‘perfectly pink and tender’ with a goodly amount of fat) accompanied by smoked tomato purée, ribbons of courgette and rosemary sauce. Elsewhere, charred aubergine is also touched by the braai and presented with Roscoff onion, black garlic and smoked yoghurt – a dish loaded with ‘caramelised flavour’. There’s generally something involving tropical fruit to finish, perhaps pineapple tarte tatin with miso caramel and coconut/anise ice cream. Weekend brunch is a hot local ticket, and the all-South African wine list promises real value at the lower end (bottles from £28).
Dining Information:
Private dining room, Counter seating, Outdoor dining, Wheelchair access, Family friendly, Dog friendly
119 Queens Road, Peckham SE15 2EZ
020 3950 0226
