8 Lant Street,
London,
SE1 1QR
0871 971 6652
The ViewLondon Review
SE1 isn’t the first postcode you think of when South American food is mentioned, but then I don’t think any part of London has an overriding Latin influence. However, Borough Market certainly attracts the foodies, and as a result El Vergel isn’t in a bad part of town.
El Vergel is part café and takeaway, and part catering company. The café opens for breakfast and closes mid afternoon, so it’s perfect for a casual yet lingering lunch. The catering operation provides tasty Latin food for everything from weddings to fashion shows.
It’s situated on Lant Street, which runs west from Borough High Street down near Borough tube station. It’s quite a quiet street, which made the busy atmosphere all the more impressive.
The menu covers themes from all across South America. There are examples of Peruvian, Chilean and Brazilian food here, although they don’t rub in the ethnic-ness of it all. Instead, it’s grouped into sandwiches, tacos and the heartier specialities. These include baked cheese and meat dishes, fried pasties and tortillas.
I went for a more modest meal of filled taco. The soft corn tortillas were filled with refried beans, spring onion, feta cheese, coriander and guacamole. On a drizzly cold afternoon I could think of no better way to awaken the senses and disguise the fact that I was in South London.
The atmosphere is further enhanced by the shared table in the middle of the dining room, and plenty of Spanish conversation. And at just over a fiver for the tacos and a beer the prices are more in line with the southern hemisphere than London. All in all, it’s a brilliant venue for a relaxed lunch, or breakfast (if you’re an early riser).