Monday 1st August

Spuntino, Soho

This was our second visit to Spuntino.  It's a small bar and food joint on Rupert Street in Soho.  It's not long opened - about 4 months I think - and is decorated as if they rediscovered the original decor when they were stripping the place back (which I think may be what actually happened although I'm not sure).  Butcher's style tiles, metal panelling on the roof and old style appliances etc.  It looks really good.  The staff are very nice, and there seems to be a requirement of having many tattoos and a slight rockabilly look in order to work there. 

Everyone sits on high bar stools around the bar and the menus are on the tables as your place setting.  The moment you walk in you're offered a big bottle of tap water as you decide what to have, and a tin cup of chili popcorn.  The last time we were here we couldn't get enough of this stuff, but it was disappointing on our return, being both cold and overly oily.  A shame and we were worried that everything was going to be different.  We needn't have worried, it was all lovely.  I had the Mac & Cheese and the boy had the Soft shell crab.  My mac & cheese was  huge, really enough for two and you're probably supposed to share, but I ended up eating most of it (I tried to get the boy to eat more of it but he said I was being a feeder).  It was really nice.  The cheese sauce could have been cheesier and the pasta was a little over cooked but very satisfying none the less.  I particularly loved the breadcrumb top.  The soft shell crab was really nice, says the  boy and came with a Tabasco aioli and shaved fennel salad.  We shared the egg-plant chips which were as nice as last time.  I'm not sure how they do these, as the aubergine really keeps the shape of a chip but is really soft inside.  They come with a fennel yogurt.  Gorgeous, get these if you go! 

The peanut butter and jelly sandwich, plus our 2 cocktails, the amazing 'Dark & Stormy' and the light and floral 'Clover Club'.

Mac & Cheese

We finished off with a cocktail each, I had the 'Dark & Stormy' a rum and ginger ale drink which is really moreish and reminded me of those cola bottle sweets I used to love as a kid.  The boy had the Clover Club which he was disappointed with, as it was bright pink, in a small glass and quite girly (see pic above).  It was quite nice, but mine was definitely the winner.  We shared the peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dessert, which we also ordered last time (along with the strawberry and coconut mess which was excellent).  It was just as good.  It's two slices of peanut butter parfait with a raspberry jam/coulis in the middle and some beautiful crunch pieces of what seem to be crushed caramel, although reminds me of popping candy a bit.  This dessert's a winner.  I'd love to try the cheese cake on the menu next time.

It's cheap enough, but the half pints of Meantime pale ale is quite expensive at £2.50 a pop.  So in total the bill came to £50.62 including service charge for the two of us, so not too bad at all!

http://spuntino.co.uk/