Mallow is a pretty amazing plant-based restaurant named after a pretty amazing plant.
The mallow is a hardy, scrappy botanical that can grow pretty much anywhere – it was even used by the ancient Egyptians, who mixed it with honey to make an early form or marshmallow. And all parts of it, from root to shoot, are edible. So when the people at Mildred’s – which was one of the true pioneers of the London vegetarian restaurant scene – decided to open an all-vegan spin off, that was a pretty decent fit for a name.
You’ll find their flagship, original venue in Borough Market, in a rather grand red brick building just next to the cathedral. Inside, you can see why they’ve had such a successful tenure as a brand – instead of leaning into the granola-crunching, Earth Mother, Bohemian style that’s so frequently yoked together with vegan places they’ve gone in the opposite direction, crafting something with a sleek and stylish edge brought out by dark wood flooring, cherry-red banquette seating and a gorgeously low-lit bar.
The inventive, varied and globe-trotting menu definitively proves that missing meat doesn’t mean missing out. There’s buttery urid dahl with achari chilli temper oil; black sesame toast with charcoal brioche and a cranberry sweet & sour dressing; root chop croquettes with lime pickle mayon & Szechuan ketchup; and porcini ragu lasagna that’s pan-finished with confit garlic cream & truffle oil.
That bar’s not standing idle either, pouring out cocktails like saffron infused daiquiris, Mildred’s gin martinis, and old fashioned’s with banana rum & pandan.
This is one Mallow that isn’t getting roasted.
NOTE: Mallow is open now, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. You can find out more and make a booking at the Mallow website.
Mallow | 1 Cathedral Street, SE1 9DE
Want a drink with that? Check out the best bars in London Bridge.