Formerly known as the Street Food Cafe, the Cargo Restaurant has emerged from the ashes following a fire that took out much of the kitchen. Some new equipment, a few coats of paint and a new menu later, the restaurant has revamped itself as a tapas bar.

The Venue
The restaurant is set up over two areas, indoors near the kitchen and outdoors on the patio. There’s plenty of seating outside (wooden four seat tables under huge umbrellas and larger circular tables out in the open) and a few huge, irregularly shaped chunky wood tables inside as well. Like the club area, the decor’s theme is industrial chic, with plenty of exposed brick and metal, plus the addition of rough wood tables, stools and benches. Huge windows let in plenty of light and let you sneak a peak at the diners on the patio, and overall the effect is cool but cosy.

The Atmosphere
Cargo Restaurant is currently popular with groups, and the enormous tables and booking policy make it ideal for more than a few people to sit together easily. During the day it’s not uncommon to spot lone diners having a leisurely lunch with a paper as well as officemates out for a beer or two. Everything feels very laid back, relaxed and casual – especially when the sun’s out – and the large, shared tables facilitate conversation.

The Food
There’s a decently sized tapas menu with a few salads, platters, sandwiches and burgers, but the main focus is on the small places. Priced at £1.25 to £5.25 each, they’re certainly easy on the wallet, and portions are decent for tapas, with about four pieces per plate. Calamares are served fried, cut into thin strips, and are crispy and well cooked, whilst the albodigas (meatballs) have a good, meaty texture and are covered in a sweet tomato sauce. Ham and cheese croquettes are crisp on the outside and gooey with cheese in the centre, but the ham cubes are tiny and there could be more of them. Other popular tapas choices include spinach croquettes, pan con tomate (bread with olive oil, garlic, sea salt and tomatoes) and the potato omelette. From the sandwiches selection, the bocadillo de chistorra is made with Spanish chorizo and roasted green peppers and accompanied by crisp and fluffy chips. Although the chorizo is cooked well, salty and a bit chewy, the meat is dwarfed by the massive, floury bun which makes it seem as though they’re skimping a bit. Were the bun a bit smaller, the sandwich would look much fuller.

The Drink
There are a few wines on offer (served by the bottle or by the glass – a tumbler instead of a wine glass) from a variety of different countries and starting at a very reasonable £13 per bottle. Champagne is on offer as well, at £7.50 for a glass of Moet Brut Imperial to £49.50 for a bottle of Moet Brut Rose. International beers include Amstel, Moretti, Tiger, Budvar, Cruzcampo and Estrella Damm and start at about £3.25 a bottle.

The Last Word
Cargo Restaurant feels more like a lunchtime or post-work stop-off than a dining destination, but it’s good for casual tapas in a laid back atmosphere. A bit extra in the food department would help cement its reputation apart from the club.

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