Food & Drink Review: Sabor

The other Saturday, ESSFAL – (Esta Senorita que se fue a Londres) decided to check out a venue which had been recommended by La Lady who did go to London - AKA, JJ. I had given her a brief – ‘I’m hitting the big’un this year (gulp, 40) and need a venue where we can wine, dine, then throw the tables back and get down and dance, and preferably with a Latin twist as is my spirit’. I am married to a Peruvian, and even for my 18th birthday party I did it a la Latino with a Mexican theme, so I guess I am a fake Latina but feel very much at home with the salsa beats, the spicy food and of course the uber friendly Latin gente.

So JJ said, how about Sabor amongst a few others..I checked them out online and fell in love with the look and feel of Sabor (means Taste) – the logo is one of the many masks that they have in a long line down the white minimalist walls I was pleased to discover when our cavalcade arrived – that is me, my husband and two kids under 5 years.

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, and we had fantastic service from the moment we opened the door til we left. The two members of staff on duty were highly attentive – Luis the barman was speaking sweet nothings to my kids - ’ay mi princesa, mi reina!’ -(oh my princess, my queen!) – to my 2.5 yr old daughter who lapped it up big time – Papi beware, it’s already begun! And the funky punky Brazilian waitress was so charming – we loved her tattoos - a distorted Betty Boo on her arm and emblazoned across her chest was the wording Estranha (Strange). She couldn’t have been more kind, smiling and helpful.

The venue is shaped as a long and thin room, with a big disco ball on the ceiling and of course those masks, dot lights, and all the tables are in different bright colours, it’s colourful, uncluttered and stylish. The music was amazing, and so often I had to ask them what was playing now!

Now to the food – I call it Latin Fusion, but on the website they call it Nuevo Latino Cuisine. It does say that the food is not a direct replica of the traditional dishes from South America but rather are inspired by the dishes. I died and went to heaven when I ordered burger and chips for the kids – it was no ordinary burger, it was full of coriander and flavour, topped with a generous slice of melted mozzarella cheese and the chips were huge fat plantain chips plus there was a generous blob of guacamole – sorry kids, move over, let your mum enjoy this one! I was waiting for my empanadas to arrive, which they duly did, washed down with the delicious Brazilian beer. It couldn’t get any better…My husband ordered for his starter his favourite dish – ceviche – this is a traditional dish from Peru (his mother is actually a famous TV chef) and he was slightly disappointed as it was too acidic and the portion was quite small. For my main course I ordered the Moqueca classic dish from coastal Brazil and as the waitress said, truly Brazilian – prepared by a Brazilian chef, served by a Brazilian waitress and of course accompanied by the Brazilian beer (that’s as far as the Brazilian got BTW!!!!). It was a delicious fish stew made as it says on the menu of red snapper, swordfish, prawns, mussels, tomatoes and coconut milk, seasoned with chili and coriander, served over rice. Again, my husband opted for a Peruvian dish, Aji de gallina..and did actually vote my fish stew to be the winner. I think the answer is, come here and if you’re native don’t order your country’s dishes, go forin to avoid disappointment. Now if you are a fake Latin, then it’s all amazing!!!

The mango and morada ice cream was handmade on site and was super delicioso. So yes, I have booked up the venue for the big’un and really can’t wait. And thank you JJ for your brilliant suggestion.

By Amanda Ruiz of Peruvian Knitwear


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  1. JJ, 1 year ago

    Yay!! Am so pleased you liked it :) xx

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