It’s not exactly Mayfair but Elephant and Castle is on the up. They’re extending the Bakerloo Line so it won’t be a dead end, there are rumours of the shopping centre finally being redeveloped and there are flats going up at every turn.

So Paladar, a new Latin American restaurant, just a short stroll from that chaotic roundabout at E&C, is a great addition for all those new tenants. The dining room is reassuringly rough and ready; no posh design team has been in. Just the owners with a paint brush, some freestanding lamps and a couple of dark grey table clothes.

We start with green plantain crisps and a citrusy guacamole (£7). The citrus element is noteworthy – it zings far more than your usual guac. Chunks of crispy pork belly (£6.50) sit in a super sweet sriacha reduction. The blend of salt, sugar and fat here being a marvellous thing.

Sea bass ceviche (£10) is made even livelier with passion fruit. It’s sharp, tangy; a taste of summer. Seared prawns (£8.50) sit atop crisp blue corn tortillas and below a mango salsa. This is seriously tasty stuff.

It’s easy to see why grilled octopus with tempura breadfruit (£18.50) is their signature dish; the tentacles are cooked perfectly. Grilled chicken skewers (£8.50) are less successful. There’s flavour aplenty but the chick is a touch on the dry side.

Cuban confit pork and tortillas (£16.50) has a touch of the El Pastor about it. It’s a DIY job, we stuff the small tortillas with the soft, fatty pork, some habanero chilli and pineapple salsa and sit back in delight.

Heritage tomatoes (£6.50) are of the highest quality. They’re all soft and squishy, drenched in decent olive oil and sprinkled with mint.

For pud, we share blue corn churros (£6.70) which are harder than your usual doughnut-esque version. It means they are perfect for scooping up the coffee dulce de leche and the chocolate sauce.

Eating at Paladar felt like we’d stumbled across a hidden gem of a restaurant in an unknown area while on holiday. It’s not a polished multimillion pound opening but the food is vibrant and exciting and there’s charm in abundance.

Would we go back? Yes

Paladarlondon.com
We dined as guests of the restaurant