The Table, Southwark, London

It was a visit to this recent addition to the Southwark landscape last night for a colleague's 50th birthday salutations. We had reserved a table at The Table and due to some original booking hitches, were on a promise of free prosecco cocktails with our meal. The hoards left the office, starving and work-weary, in need of a good honest repast. We were not to be disappointed.

The décor on arrival was minimalist but comfortable with long wooden tables and benches and clean lines.

We had all reviewed the menu before we arrived and now looked to the chalkboard for the specials. These tantalised half the table, offering a Kerala style chicken curry, confit duck with mash and salsa verde and thirdly pollock on aubergine agro dolce (sweet and sour, like the caponata I made recently!). Four of the party took up the specials. 

 

I opted for the fabulous Portobello mushroom and smoked cheese brioche burger with fantastically crispy fries as I was desperate to sample the home made ketchup and brown sauce. I have to say that this was one of the best burgers I have had.

 

 

The last, but not least member of the party chose the tuna salad.

 

Each of us genuinely, thoroughly enjoyed our dishes. Everyone was of a very high quality, beautifully presented and full of flavour. Also, just large enough to satisfy us without leaving us hungry, but also sufficient that we felt we could partake in dessert. It was a birthday party after all.

 

The dessert menu seemed to be tailored to the all-day dining experience with pancakes and waffles that would suffice on their own as breakfast. These options however, were supplemented by the classics, chocolate profiteroles and bread and butter budding with clotted cream ice cream. Four of us snapped up the latter and were blissfully delighted. The dessert was rich and extravagant, however beautifully light and indulgent.

 

 

Two of the party who opted for the waffles were surprised and perhaps slightly daunted by the frisby sized waffles they received with chocolate, hazelnuts and bananas. It might have been advisable to state on the menu that these (at £8 each) are large enough to share.

 

We all came away having thoroughly enjoyed our meals, the best we have eaten in the area for some time, considering all our local team lunches. The birthday boy felt truly spoiled. I’d therefore highly recommend The Table as fantastic dinner location if you are in the area. The service was superb, friendly and efficient. It’s just a shame that the set menu which we had seen when we originally booked the table had disappeared.

 

 

I also have it on good authority that the menu is to change soon, so try and get in there in the next couple of weeks if you want to sample the amazing bread and butter pudding. However, with a menu change, I expect to see you soon the Table.