Chef Peter Lloyd has opened a brand new flagship web site for his Sticky Mango idea within the former residence of D&D’s Cantina del Ponte in London Bridge, making this his second Sticky Mango within the capital (with a 3rd opening in Islington). The Luxurious Editor was invited to expertise the brand new Tower Bridge restaurant and discover out why Sticky Mango has turn out to be such a successful components.
Sticky Mango opened in Waterloo in 2016 to basic acclaim. Its mission, as directed by Chef Peter Lloyd, was to showcase his fashionable interpretations of meals impressed by his in depth travels throughout Southeast Asia. To maintain up along with his ambition, to unfold his phrase to new clients, Lloyd has opened not one however two new eating places this 12 months; one in Islington and his flagship in Butler’s Wharf. The latter replaces the D&D Cantina del Ponte and sits simply metres down the way in which from business stalwarts Pont De La Tour and The Chop Home. However as if such illustrious firm wasn’t sufficient, it additionally shares with them one among London’s most iconic views; Tower Bridge.
The historic, romantic and, arguably fairly ‘bling’ bridge units the temper completely for an evening at Sticky Mango and affords a right away wow issue for each diner. As you enter, a quote from Anthony Bourdain is inscribed throughout the edge; ‘Your physique shouldn’t be a temple. It’s an amusement park…Benefit from the journey!’ Music pumps carried away voices however it’s the resin flooring which is instantly noticeable. It’s fairly a visit. It’s like an inventive rendition of oil on water. The gorgeous oil with rainbow colors, not the dreaded black stuff. It conveys movement and fluidity and magnificence. In different elements of the restaurant, clumps of gorgeous flowers sprout out of cork-like bushes, offering the area with bursts of color, and reminders of perfume and delicacy. On the again wall, shiny Asian flowers, virtually manga in design, float in an underwater seascape or bloom in an alluring junglescape.
We order Asian city-inspired cocktails: a Bangkok Margarita and a Tokyo Negroni. The previous is subtly infused with ginger and its rim is adorned with ginger salt. In addition to Campari, the latter comes with Roku Japanese Gin and Umeshu Plum Sake. Each supply unique however nonetheless delicate oriental twists on classics and hit the spot.
Small plates are all the time difficult as it’s a must to depend on your waiter to gauge the scale of your urge for food in contrast with the scale of their plates. Our waitress suggests three is an effective quantity. The Thai Inexperienced Papaya Salad is recent, comes with charred lengthy inexperienced beans, a beneficiant serving to of bean sprouts and a sprinkling of chopped cashews while the Thai Spiced Scallop is, because the identify suggests, one scallop. It’s lower into three items which assists the sharing and comes with an interesting coconut and cauliflower purée. The Black Pepper Prawns supply essentially the most uncommon and on this case, favorite small dish. Dehydrated pineapples pleasantly distinction the spicier prawns with extra candy-like bursts, thus offering an irresistibly candy however tangy fusion with an occasional snap of aniseed.
The Lobster Pad Thai is a big, vibrant plate that bursts forth with three completely different elements of a sunburnt shell. The primary lobster head is, actually, a shell, with nothing inside and for purely ornamental functions. The claw is a good dimension and has a powerful curve of tender meat inside while the tail additionally has a stable portion of chewier meat.
The Miso Glazed Black Cod is extra on the dainty aspect with two chunks of cod however its black sesame slickly mixes with pickled daikon and a cool cucumber salad positively leaves one wanting for extra. Now we have one aspect of Wok Fried Tender Stem Broccoli, served with water chestnuts and Shiitake mushrooms. It has a satisfying and deep-flavoured soy base and is devoured in its entirety.
If the dessert menu is nothing in need of tantalising, we discover it not possible to go to a restaurant known as Sticky Mango with out making an attempt the Sticky Mango. Because it seems, it’s a kind of dishes which is showy and theatrical and calls for a video to place in your SM channels. That mentioned, for those who don’t understand it’s coming, it’s virtually over earlier than it’s begun so be warned. The plate is overloaded by what seems to be like a curved spacecraft however, truly, is sweet floss. Our waiter pours a serving to of coconut cream sauce over it and hey presto, it vanishes and instead seems the mango sorbet and the black sticky rice pudding. It’s a enjoyable trick however doesn’t overbear the dish itself, the flavours and textures of which coalesce with mouth-watering delight.
My dessert is served on an elongated darkish plate with sprinklings of white powder. Its contents are onerous to guess and, frankly, look slightly scary however that makes all of them the extra particular. The Peanut Nougat Satay is sort of a marshmallow however with far more glamour, character and substance; the form of marshmallow you’d wish to take out on a chatty night. It’s heat and smooth on the within and crispy on the out. In itself, this might have been a rave desert however it’s accompanied by peanut butter mousse which melts within the mouth and with what seems to be wealthy, darkish chocolate mousse. There’s additionally a jet black, charcoal ice cream which serves as a palate cleanser between the above which, on this occasion, could be very a lot a case of go away the perfect till final…
