SC Edit — Brixton’s Best Restaurants
By Something CuratedEnshrined in popular culture and well-documented social history, Brixton’s identity has always been rich and multifarious, with a reported 130 languages spoken by the area’s local community. Known for its Caribbean heritage, immigration has been a continual influence in the South London neighbourhood, defining its diverse character, and inevitably, its remarkable food offering. Alongside the longstanding Jerk chicken spots and curry houses, in recent years, Brixton has hosted several burgeoning culinary ventures, playing a critical role in the development of a number of recent London restaurant start-ups. Taking a look at the founders and proprietors behind the eateries, Something Curated highlights some of the best food and drink on offer in Brixton today.
Franzina Trattoria || Stefania & Pietro Franz
Sicilian style cafe Franzina Trattoria is run by Pietro and Stefania Franz, two Sicilians from Palermo. The latest ‘Restaurant in Residence’ at Pop Brixton, here for a few months, the eatery brings the taste of the Italian islands to south London. Franzina specialise in Sicilian small plates, serving up beautifully presented, traditional dishes, using locally sourced ingredients. They also stock a selection of Italian wines to wash down your meal.
49 Brixton Station Rd, Brixton SW9 8PQ
Salon || Nicholas Balfe
Salon started life as a pop up above a cheese shop in Brixton’s Market Row. Chef-founder Nicholas Balfe explains: “We’re guided by the seasons and are led by which vegetables, fruits, meat and fish are at their best at that moment. In the evenings, we serve an ever evolving set menu, of four or seven courses – like a tasting menu, but without the fuss and pomp. Our dishes are primarily plant based, but also include meat and fish too.”
18 Market Row, Brixton SW9 8LD
Fish, Wings & Tings || Brian Danclair
A long-time resident of South London, Brian Danclair’s opened his first restaurant in Brixton Village in 2012. Continuing in the spirit of his grandmother, Brian incorporates family and community into everything he does. Specialities on offer include Jerk chicken, a delicious selection of seafood and house-made curries.
Brixton Village and Market Row, 99 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton SW9 8PR
Kricket || Rik Campbell & Will Bowlby
Rik Campbell and chef Will Bowlby, founders of Indian inspired restaurant Kricket, have returned to where it all began. The space on Atlantic Road is a far cry from the original 20-seat shipping container which first opened up in Brixton in 2015. As well as the dishes on offer at Soho, in terms of the food and drink they’re very much treating Brixton like a Test Kitchen and Bar, experimenting with new recipes here first.
41-43 Atlantic Rd, Brixton SW9 8JL
Naughty Piglets || Aubry & Joe Sharratt
Naughty Piglets comes from husband and wife team, Aubry and Joe Sharratt. Led by the best available produce and changing on a regular basis, the Naughty Piglets menu features a selective range of sharing plates. Flavours might include creamy burrata with cherry tomatoes and basil, Sri Lankan quail with coriander and carrots, or monkfish with butter sauce and chanterelles. The wine list features a host of natural and organic bottles, along with carefully-sourced beers from independent breweries.
28 Brixton Water Ln, Brixton SW2 1PE
Franco Manca || Giuseppe Mascoli
The original branch of this now much-expanded pizza chain is still serving up reliable ‘sourdough pizzas’. Here, Neapolitan-style doughs are made with organic flours and then left to slow rise for 20 hours before being flash cooked to in a wood-burning oven. Toppings include creamy buffalo mozzarella, cured chorizo and wild mushrooms, and the chilli oil is delightful too.
3 & 3a Market Row & 4, Market Row SW9 8LD
Boqueria || Jaime Armenter & John Scott
Boqueria is entirely inspired by Barcelona’s iconic El Mercat de San Josep de la Boqueria, the famed market synonymous with Spain’s food and wine. With this in mind the Boqueria team seek to introduce diners to the most traditional flavours of Spain in a setting that really wouldn’t look out of place along the streets of Barca. As important to the Boqueria experience as food is drink. On the wine list is a small edit of Spanish wines while a specialty menu of sherries and cavas complements the food.
192 Acre Ln, Brixton SW2 5UL
Federation Coffee || Scott Martin
Managed by Scott Martin, Federation Coffee has garnered a reliable reputation over the years, proving to be a popular local pit stop. Along with hot beverages, the homey café offers a selection of freshly prepared baked goods, including muffins, biscuits and brownies, as well as a tempting brunch menu comprising tasty topping combinations on sourdough.
77-78, Brixton Village and Market Row Markets, Coldharbour Ln, Brixton SW9 8PS
Kuku Persian Kitchen
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfGXWGTF1Gi/?taken-by=kuku_brixton
Iranian cuisine has surged in mass popularity in London in recent years and it’s the fragrances of the Persian kitchen that inspire this cafe in Brixton’s indoor market. The counter changes daily but always expect to find bright and zesty herb-heavy salads, hearty stews, infused with dried limes and saffron, and aromatic cakes scented with rosewater and cardamom.
404 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton SW9 8LF
Mama’s Jerk || Adrian Luckie
Over the past six years Mama’s Jerk has become popular for fiery and succulent 24 hour marinated jerk chicken as well as a few innovative Jamaican Jerk spiced vegetarian and fish dishes in the form of wraps, salads and burgers. The food is prepared using authentic ingredients to create delicious Jerk flavours. Adrian Luckie reveals: “We create our own secret recipe Jerk sauce using fresh ingredients that adds an extra kick to our food.”
49 Brixton Station Rd, Brixton SW9 8PQ
Okan || Moto Priestman
Okan founder, Moto Priestman explains: “Osaka is where I grew up. An industrial, chaotic and colourful city filled with amazing food. Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake, often served in tiny shops. Each shop will have its own character … With Okan in Brixton I want to introduce a new experience of okonomiyaki, served with a wide variety of toppings. I hope you feel a back street of Osaka in Brixton.”
39 Atlantic Rd, Brixton SW9 8PR
Khamsa || J. Jamel
It is uncommon to find a restaurant focusing solely on Algerian cooking in London. At Khamsa, food comes packed with boldly spiced North African flavours. Start with a choice of seven salads to share, then move on to a creamy pot of braised chicken with sultanas, spiced with cumin and paprika, thickened with ground almonds. The menu also includes excellent sweetened pastries for dessert.
140 Acre Ln, Lambeth SW2 5UT
Feature image via Salon Brixton