Every now and then, a restaurant comes along and warms your cockles.
Sometimes, that’s because it’s a seafood restaurant.
Other times, it’s because it has an endearing origin story – as is the case at Sinabro.
This Clapham restaurant is run by husband and wife team, Yoann and Sujin. He’s a French-born chef, who almost singlehandedly prepares each dish they serve. She left her job as a flight attendant to retrain at Le Cordon Bleu, and is now a connoisseur of wine. They met while working at the Michelin-starred La Table de Joël Robuchon in Paris, and have now decided to combine their mutual expertise in a passion project of their own, fusing British, French and Korean ingredients, and a knockout wine list.
A stone’s throw from Clapham Common, Sinabro is set in a casual, inviting space with low-hanging pendant bulbs, bifold doors onto the street, and an abstract piece of wall art that, on closer inspection, turns out to be made from dozens of food processor blades. The centrepiece, however, is the open kitchen, lined by a sixteen-seat oak dining counter, hand-carved by Yoann’s father.
Sitting up here allows you to be a kitchen voyeur for the night, with dishes prepared freshly before your eyes. Changing every two weeks, the menu is a culinary atlas, with dishes like pork belly, kimchi and crackling; pig trotter croquettes with ssamjang (Korean dipping sauce); and venison ravioli with sesame tying together the owners’ heritage. Elegantly presented, and often surprising, dishes like this demand a repeat visit.
Finish off with their famous pistachio rice pudding, served with a spoonful of mango sorbet.
Just to stop those cockles getting too warm.
NOTE: Sinabro is open for lunch Friday & Saturday, and dinner Tuesday-Saturday. You can find out more, and book, HERE.
Sinabro | 28 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1EE
Liked Sinabro? Search out Sollip next time you’re in London Bridge.