4-5 London Road, London, SE1 6JZ
Harden's survey result
Summary
“It’s like a big party!”, say fans of this “fun” Latino haunt – a hidden gem off the beaten track near Elephant & Castle (on St George’s Circus). “I never expected such a lively place to have such high-quality cuisine, superb cocktails and an extraordinary South American wine list”: chef Jose Rubio-Guevara’s menus ‘mix-and-match’ culinary ideas from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
Summary
“Amazing artworks on the walls” and “great, unobtrusive music” set the tone for an enjoyable and “easygoing” meal at this “fun” Latino in the “increasingly Bohemian neighbourhood” of St George’s Circus (not far from Elephant & Castle), which offers “superb South American fusion food” and “lovely Argentinian wines”. Founder Charles Tyler was also behind Malay-Asian restaurant Champor-Champor near London Bridge.
Summary
“You go here to have an all-embracing ‘good time’” if you pop down to this “quirky and fun” destination, near Elephant & Castle. “It specialises in Latin American recipes from across the continent” using “genuine ingredients” to produce “unusual and delicious dishes”. “What also makes this restaurant stand out is the outstanding wine list and friendly and knowledgeable service”: “they always make it feel that there is a big party on!”
Summary
“The most incredible South American food” combined with “the atmosphere of a very sexy permanent street party” make this Elephant & Castle bar/restaurant (with walled garden) a stand-out local attraction. “It’s fun, fun, fun, and it never disappoints.” Food and wine come from “a variety of Latin American sources, not what Londoners are generally used to”, and include “plenty of vegan and veggie options”. Top Tip: “I’d go back for the plantain crisps”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Paladar?
Owner's description
Paladar says:
Paladar brings the taste of Latin America to the heart of London SE1. More than just a restaurant, Paladar’s philosophy is to showcase the best food, drinks, art and music from Latin America, making it a centre of excellence for the region in London.
Chef Jose Rubio-Guevara’s creative cuisine takes a deliciously eclectic ‘mix-and-match’ approach to Latin American food, drawing primary inspiration from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. Dishes are designed to be shared ‘tapas style’ although traditionalists can have a 3-course meal if preferred. The food at Paladar is also, naturally, 100% gluten-free.
The all-Latin American wine list has been carefully selected by Ecuadorian sommelier, Rafael Cabezas-Castro, and goes well beyond big Argentine Malbecs and Chilean Carmeneres: Discover less well-known grape varieties, such as Pais and Torrontes, along with wines from countries as diverse as Peru, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico.
An exciting selection of innovative cocktails and straight-up spirits are on offer from the long, sleek bar where French bar manager, Cedric Gautier, has gathered together an extraordinary collection of Latin American spirits. Think fine rums, cachacas, piscos, mezcals and tequilas - plus a bizarre clutch of gins from Argentina, Colombia and Peru!
Regularly changing art exhibitions offer Latin American artists the opportunity to display their works for sale on the walls, and this brings a fresh look to the interior of the restaurant every couple of months.
During the summer months, the courtyard garden to the rear of the property offers an oasis of calm and delightful al fresco dining opportunities (British weather permitting!) while the adjoining bodega doubles up as a semi-private dining area on the Chef’s Table, as well as offering all wines for sale at retail prices.
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £26.00 | £29.50 |  |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 88.00 | Always available | 9 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £10.70 | £20.60 | £11.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.80 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 15.00% |
Restaurant details
The chef
Chef Jose Rubio-Guevara
Jose Rubio-Guevara is the 34-year-old head chef of Paladar. It is his first head chef position in a hospitality career spanning seventeen years and encompassing both back- and front-of-house roles in Miami and London.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, but Colombian by nationality and at heart, Jose is a creative chef who experiments with Latin American flavours and techniques to create dishes which reflect the diversity and spirit of the region’s cuisine in a modern style – retaining the authenticity of flavours, but moving away from traditional restrictions, recipes and presentations.
Jose’s A la Carte Menu comprises six sections: Nibbles; The Sea; The Farm; The Land; Side Dishes and Sweet Endings. There are also two Tasting Menus (one specifically tailored to vegans), and a two-or-three course ‘Quick Lunch Menu’.
These menus are entirely gluten-free. Latin American cuisine typically uses corn rather than wheat, and in the course of developing his menu for Paladar Jose found that very few dishes contained gluten. By making further tweaks – substituting soy sauce and flour where used for gluten-free alternatives, for example – Jose was able to make the whole menu gluten-free.
Jose is now at the forefront of modern Colombian/Latin American cuisine here in the UK. His recipes have been featured in BBC Good Food Magazine, Restaurant Magazine, and he has participated in the Radio 4 Kitchen Cabinet programme. Jose, who lives locally to the restaurant in SE1, is a co-founder of Paladar, and along with the other members of the key team is a shareholder in Paladar.
Paladar Restaurant Diner Reviews
"The restuarant is pretty isolated, we ate on a Friday lunch and it was only 20% occupied. Eclectically decorated. The food was interesting, starters were very good but mains were a little ordinary and not a wide selection. I would venture more towards Borough market in future."
4-5 London Road, London, SE1 6JZ
Opening hours
| Monday | 5 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5 pm‑9:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5 pm‑9:45 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5 pm‑9:45 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:45 pm, 5 pm‑9:45 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm‑8 pm |
