Uva

Bellenden Road has always been a Mecca for great food. Just down the road, you’ll see Artusi, Made of Dough and Begging Bowl - all big-hitters. Yet the vastly more affordable Uva has quietly slipped into the ranks, offering up petiscos (Portuguese tapas) to the people of Peckham.

Well-balanced espresso martinis start the proceedings, neither too sweet nor too bitter. From there, we opt to spice up our bread and oil with something fiery. A plump, juicy, sizzling chorizo arrives in a terracotta boat of flames, not unlike a Viking funeral. It’s so heavenly we almost order it again, but soon the jovial staff replace the ebbed flames with new delights.

Tentacles of perfectly chargrilled octopus follow, their salty char mediated by silky veg puree and zingy salsa verde. Here, each ingredient is allowed its time to shine. Piexinhos da Horta, the Portuguese ancestor of tempura, this week features seasonal asparagus. With a generous blob of black pepper aioli, it’s simplicity at its best.

Or perhaps second-best, we realise, as Uva’s signature dish arrives: Flock and Herd ribeye, served rare, on a scorching plinth for optional further cooking. As the tender meat’s juices mingle with the garlic butter for dipping, we decide this is simplicity at its best. Or maybe the expertly mixed, ultra-fresh caipirinha is…

For one last hit of authenticity, we end on ginginja. Rarely seen outside Portugal, this sour cherry liqueur is served in a shot glass of chocolate. You can sip then eat, shoot then eat or even do it all in one go - the choice is yours. Regardless, it’s a lovely note to finish on.

It’s so rare to find a hidden gem, yet Uva really does feel like one. It’s a haven of soft guitar music and even softer sea-green banquettes, where you can feast on petiscos until the sun goes down.

Adding to Peckham's rising culinary reputation, Uva is a Portuguese tapas bar, just a short walk from Peckham Rye station on the increasingly foodie Bellenden Road. Uva opened in 2021 and is part of the same family that owns Stella's Portuguese Grill in Twickenham - a beloved neighbourhood favourite over in west London. 

Inside you'll find a charming little dining room, cast in a spectrum of white and pastel green. The bar seating at the front window is a prime spot for watching Peckham life go by, and there's some counter seating at the tile-clad bar as well. Carry on through the restaurant and you'll find a second dining area with banquette seating and a view of the kitchen pass, before finally reaching the peaceful rear terrace, secluded from the humdrum of life out front.

Uva is a relaxed space, ideal for a catch-up over great food, or just drinks with friends. The tapas-style menu means you can tailor your dining experience to your mood, whether you feel like feasting through the evening or just snacking with some cocktails. As far as snacks go, you can start off with the likes of bread and oil, honeydew melon with 24-month-aged prosciutto and port glaze, marinated olives, or the signature flaming chorizo, served in a terracotta boat.

In the evening Uva switches things up with a menu of petiscos (small plates), split between meat, fish and vegetable dishes, with dishes changing weekly depending on what is in season and available. Currently, on the menu, you'll find dishes like deep-fried cuttlefish with lemon salsa and paprika aioli, crispy garlic and herb Piri Piri poussin with grilled lime, patatas bravas, and rice croquettas with chive and tomato mayo. Uva also boasts an extensive list of Portuguese wines, so you can taste wines from every region of Portugal.