Elliot's Cafe

It's good to know the chef. Really good. If you know someone that works in a restaurant, specifically the kitchen, and they offer to take you to where they work for dinner then I suggest you take them up on it. As often as the friendship allows.

It's Friday night and we venture to Borough Market and while the market is quiet and almost gloomy, Stoney St is a hub of activity. From office workers winding down from their weekly stresses to the party crowd getting ready for a big night on the town, Elliot's is the place to grab an excellent feed for those in the know. Ok so they just had an excellent write up in the Metro so it's no longer a secret but there's more to this joint that meets the eye.

Everything in the kitchen is sourced from the market, from the excellent aged beef courtesy of Ginger Pig, the seafood and game from Furness to the extra virgin olive oil and smoked anchovies from Brindisa.
Bread is baked on premises. Not just the excellent sourdough bread for the restaurant but burger buns, cinnamon rolls, rye crackers etc etc - the list is extensive. They make ice cream, really good ice cream. They even make their own ketchup. The coffee is from Stone Mile and the baristas are the real deal turning out works of art in every cup. The wine list is an eclectic mix of 'punching above their weight' labels and the beer, some of the best I've had.

So, the ingredients are all there... but what's it like on the plate?

Being new to the blogging game I completely forget i'm supposed to be documenting my meal so when the first course arrives I dive in, completely forgetting that chunky DSLR camera sitting beside my plate.  Chargrilled squid on a bed of braised leeks with butter and dill is not on the menu but don't be deterred, the squid with aioli and dukka looked equally impressive. The squid is as fresh as it gets, crunchy from the grill and super tender. Everything on the plate is there for a reason, it all just works perfectly.

whoops, sorry for ruining this before I snapped it

Three of the cutest baby pumpkins arrive, filled with raschera cheese and chestnut mushrooms, all glazed and crunchy on the top. The sweet earthiness of the pumpkin melding perfectly with the rich melting cheese and mushrooms.

Now we're being spoilt, the chef sends up a sharing plate of 3 large slabs of perfectly rare rib of beef (scotch fillet in Australia, not sure why they call it the rib here when the bone is removed). Baby heirloom carrots and brussel sprouts on the side are tossed with smoked bacon from Ginger Pig. The beef has that aged full flavour and is juicy and tender, vegetables have that perfect amount of crunch left in them and are enhanced nicely with the welcome addition of that bacon. Not forgetting the sauce, a beef reduction with fresh tarragon which one of my fellow diners decided was too good to waste and drank it straight from the jug when we were all done!

one photo wasn't enough

A side of pink fir potatoes with a creamy, cheesy sauce was just enough to push us over the edge of happiness. Green Salad so crisp and fresh with a subtle red wine vinaigrette.

Two scoops of homemade vanilla ice cream sounds humble enough but once you pour over an obscene amount of delicious Pedro Ximénez, then you have a real treat that puts a smile on your face and some rosiness in your cheeks.

Elliot's Cafe just seems to have the balance right. Unpretentious with great produce and a deft touch to not only the food but the service as well. They also do a MEAN burger at lunchtime.

Monday - Saturday

Breakfast 7:30 - 11:00, Lunch 12:00 - 3:00
Bar snack menu 3:00 - 6:00, Dinner 6:00 - 10:00

12 Stoney St, Borough Market, London SE1 9AD
info@elliotscafe.com
020 7403 7436