Aside closed permanently in February 2019
Occupying a former community building in upwardly foodie Peckham, Aside makes its living by serving seasonal sharing plates of an evening, plus a shorter lunch offering and Sunday roasts – buzzy, packed houses midweek are a sure sign that the locals approve. Judging by our experience, the kitchen is big on seasonal riffs: a dish of burrata, fennel and peach is full of dreamy summer flavours, crab with cucumber and lemon comes packed with freshly picked white meat, while a heartier plate of pigeon with baby leeks, borettane onions and bacon vinaigrette had us greedily mopping up the juices with Aside’s springy rye bread. To follow, a rich chocolate mousse with raspberries provided a suitably decadent finish. Drinks, served from the central bar, include craft beers, weekly changing wines and some inventive cocktails – try the Victory Martini, with lemon-infused olive oil and green coffee vodka. It’s all served up with genuine enthusiasm in a contemporary Scandi-style space.