Review - Caravan London Bridge

You already know about their exceptional speciality coffee but what about their all-day dining? We head over for summer lunch and a spritz at Caravan Bankside.

Caravan Bankside is housed in a restored 19th-century grain store. The spacious, light-filled dining area is flanked by huge windows, giving it an airy, relaxed feel, ideal for work lunches, group celebrations or just a meal for two. A long bar runs down the opposite side of the room if you're planning to focus more on the cocktail list.

The versatile menu is inspired by the founders’ travels and features favourites from around the world. Nibbles for the table range from prawn crackers and edamame beans to padron peppers and their signature jalapeno cornbread with chipotle butter, coriander and lime. Larger dishes include sourdough pizzas, sald and grain-based bowls and standard mains such as chargrilled lamb chop, roasted cod and coconut red curry.

If you're still not ready to say goodbye to summer (nope, me neither), their dedicated spritz menu runs throughout August. With each spritz priced at £7 it's sunshine in a glass, and pairs perfectly with the menu's international flavours.

We started with that unmissable jalapeño cornbread, the chilli butter balanced by a tangle of fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime. Another recommended dish was the broken lamb meatballs with chermoula (a North African marinade of fresh herbs, lemon and cumin) on a bed of tahini labneh with aubergine and pickled red onion, garnished with fresh mint; it's a surprisingly filling dish, possibly because it is so rich and full of flavour. In contrast, the salt and pepper squid in a light tempura-style batter was so moreish I couldn't stop idly going back for just one more: drizzled with punchy sriracha then topped with a scattering of crispy garlic and fresh coriander with lime, it's as tasty but much lighter.

Larger plates include this flat-iron half chicken, its caramelised crust seasoned with Sichuan salt, served with a generous pile of slaw, a lime wedge and crispy curry leaves. Throughout the meal I was impressed with the quality of the ingredients, the careful layering of flavours and the balance on each plate: fried dishes always came with vibrantly fresh leaves, herbs, lime or pickles to cut through the richness and add another note.

We also loved this Dingley Dell pork schnitzel: tender pork in a golden, crispy coating, topped with a runny-yolked egg, pickles and a mustard dill cream. It comes with rosemary-salted french fries, which are fabulous swiped through the sauce.

I want to go back to try their slow-fermented sourdough pizzas. A neighboring table had ordered one with anchovies, chillies and capers, which looked amazing and made me think that if you threw on a few olives from the snacks section you'd basically have a puttanesca pizza, and I need that in my life.

In addition to their à la carte menu they have a great value prix fixe, or set menu: two courses for £25.00 or three for just £29.00. Start with their signature broken lamb meatballs, crisp chilli-salt tofu or charred hispi cabbage with miso before choosing between four mains including coconut red curry, chicken Caesar salad with soft-boiled egg, anchovies and bacon lardons, and that crispy pork schnitzel. More of a sweet tooth? Swap your starter for ice cream, sorbet or their twist on an espresso tiramisu, or have all three for less than £30.00.

Check out your nearest Caravan here. I'll be the one at the next table with the umami-bomb pizza.

Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David

Amanda David is a freelance food and drinks writer specialising in London and Margate’s restaurants, bars and events, and food-focused travel.

Follow Amanda on Substack and on Instagram: @LondonGAT

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