Created by the team behind Mildreds, Mallow is a relatively new restaurant that has attracted quite a buzz since opening in late 2021. Their ethos is sustainable, seasonal food that's 100% plant-based and full of flavour, inspired by cuisines from all over the world - and I couldn't wait to see what all the hype was about. So on a sunny evening, I decided to head to their original Borough Market outpost, keen to try out their subtly vegan menu.
The interiors at Mallow promise understated luxury.
DesignMyNight Reviews Mallow London
Perched on the edge of one of London's most bustling markets, Mallow offers a much-needed dose of calm. The restaurant was split into three sections, two dining rooms and an intimate bar, and we were led upstairs to a bright and airy space that provided views of the striking Southwark Cathedral from it's large windows. Here, we were seated in a comfy red velvet booth in the corner, giving us a vantage point across the whole restaurant.
Their cocktail list offers some playful twists on the classic, and I opted for a watermelon basil margarita (£12). This was a milder, fruity take on an iconic drink, with a refreshing taste and a strong herby scent from the basil leaf perched on top. My dinner date chose the coconut daquiri (£12), made with clear rum, falernum and a citrus-infused coconut syrup, with a foamy finish.
I'm never one to bash vegans (because, let's face it, we all know they're right), but it's often the case that plant-based options at restaurants are lacking. But even the most meat-obsessed diners would struggle to find fault with Mallow's menu, which ticked every box in terms of flavour.
Mallow are especially known for their small plates (pictured on the right).
We began by sharing some small plates, which is where the restaurant really shows off its culinary skills. We dipped freshly baked, fluffy pieces of pita (£3) in a bowl of hummus (£8.50). This delicious dip was smooth in texture and came topped with crispy chickpeas and fried capers for a kick of salt - drizzled in top quality olive oil and salsa verde. This was paired with a Spanish escalivada (£10) that tasted like pure sunshine, made up of roasted romano peppers, tender strips of aubergine, sauteed onions and kalamata olives, with paprika oil coating the vegetables.
For my main course, I ordered wild mushroom ravioli (£14.50), swimming in a rich sage butter sauce. The soft pasta parcels were almost hidden when the plate arrived, as there was such an abundance of mushrooms and shredded leek on top, combining to create a beautifully creamy dish. The waiter advised that this was a fairly small portion, so I ordered some mojo rojo croquettes (£9) to go with it. These were crisp, breadcrumb-coated balls of smoky peperonata, served on a bed of bright yellow aioli.
My partner opted for a Mallow chick+n burger, which featured a fried, battered piece of imitation chicken that tasted just like the real deal, minus the cruelty. This came in a toasted brioche bun, filled with saffron aioli, norma relish, rocket and a grated parmesan substitute - with salsa verde and rosemary salted chips on the side. The burger had lots of different ingredients going on - possibly one too many as it was difficult to pin down the flavour - but as a vegetarian I was just happy to be able to have a bite of his burger for once.
Save room for dessert, the pistachio cake is to-die-for (pictured on the right).
Before our next course, we ordered a couple more drinks: another coconut daquiri (£12) and the lychee jasmine martini (£10) - a mocktail made with Pentire adrift, lychee and a citrus juice, infused with jasmine.
Next up on the Mallow menu, two of their desserts. The pistachio pandan tres leche (£11) impressed us the most: a gorgeous soaked almond pistachio sponge that reminded me a little of carrot cake, topped with a light, fluffy layer of icing that was almost the consistency of cheesecake. This was surrounded by a dreamy pistachio anglais, which added an extra saucy element. As we were pretty full, our second choice was the smaller dark chocolate sea salt truffles (£3.50) - rich, chewy bites with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Overall: Mallow London Bridge
Having been impressed with Mildreds, I had high hopes for Mallow, and it certainly delivered. It's great to see plant-based dining thriving, especially in a stunning restaurant that's down-to-earth but equally dedicated to top-quality eats. The Mallow Borough Market menu is full of enticing food, and their small plates are particularly worth trying - though I think it's the pistachio dessert that I'll be dreaming of for days to come.
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💰 Price: £105 for three courses and drinks for two, excluding service charge. 📍 Address: 1 Cathedral Street, London Bridge, SE1 9DE. 👌 Perfect for: plant-based meals that you wouldn't even know are vegan. ⭐ Need to know: you can also try Mallow Canary Wharf for vegan food in East London. |
For more plant-based goodness in the area, check out these other vegan restaurants in London Bridge.
