Mildreds on the Wharf — Restaurant in London

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mallow London, a new vegan restaurant nestled in the vibrant neighborhood of Canary Wharf, and I must say, it was an absolutely wonderful experience. This is a place that I highly recommend, not just for vegans, but also for meat eaters, as the food here will make you completely forget that it's vegan. The flavor combinations are curated to perfection, and the menu as a whole offers a unique culinary experience unlike any other in London.

From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the warm dim lighting that enveloped the space, creating an inviting and cozy atmosphere. The comfortable seating, a mix of booths and soft chairs, added to the overall relaxed ambiance. The calming ambient music playing in the background further enhanced the dining experience, allowing me to unwind and enjoy the company of my fellow diners.

What truly impressed me was the impeccable service provided by the staff. They were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Each dish was brought out at the perfect time, allowing us to savor and appreciate every bite. The overall feel of the venue was elegant yet unpretentious, which I found particularly appealing.

Now, let's dive into the highlights of the culinary journey I experienced at Mallow London. The shiitake miso croquettes with pickled shimeji, shiso, and yuzu mayonnaise were an absolute delight as a starter. The crispy exterior gave way to a savory, umami-filled center that left me craving more. The padron peppers with za'atar migas, whipped tahini, and sour cherry molasses were another standout, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

As for the son dumplings with kimchi and gochujang sesame sauce, they were a revelation. The dumplings were delicate and packed with a burst of tangy and spicy flavors, making them a true treat for the taste buds. Moving on to the mains, the beetroot tempeh smash burger with onion rings, cherry tomato relish, guajillo chili mayonnaise, slaw, and fries was a culinary masterpiece. The flavors melded together harmoniously, and the tempeh provided a satisfying meat-like texture.

One dish that truly stole the show was the whipped feta garden plate with cacao quinoa soil, kalamata cracker, and olive caviar. This inventive creation was a symphony of colors, textures, and flavors, showcasing the creativity of the chefs at Mallow London. It was a true feast for the senses, and a must-try for anyone who visits.

Now, let's talk about desserts. Mallow London specializes in creating sweet delights, and they truly excel in this realm. The passion fruit Sachertorte with chantilly and apricot passion mendiant was a revelation. The rich chocolate combined with the tangy passion fruit created a heavenly combination that left me wanting more.

No meal is complete without a drink, and Mallow London offers an impressive selection of cocktails and wines. My favorite cocktail was the raspberry basil margarita. It was fresh, fruity, and flavorsome, striking the perfect balance without being overly sweet. And of course, it had just the right amount of tequila, which is crucial when indulging in a cocktail that you're willing to splurge on. Among the wines, the Primitivo di Salento, Doppio Passo, stood out. It had delightful notes of pear, and its smooth and juicy character made it a delightful accompaniment to the meal.

Mallow London is an ideal place for both groups and romantic dates. The ambiance is perfect for an intimate evening and there's something for everyon on the menu....

Updated after lunch 8-3-2025 - I enjoyed the mushroom ravioli. I tried the Chick+n burger a friend had and the frito misto, all delicious. The frito misto was a bit much and should be suggested as a sharing plate and not an entree. I checked out your breakfast menu and will be back to try it because everything sounded great.

Updated after lunch 9-20-2023 - I am delighted to say that I was the first customer to enjoy the special, limited time only, NYC portobello mushroom French dip. It was amazing. Great flavor combination with the carmelized onions, horseradish mayo, pickles and au jus. The accompanying fries were extra crispy and perfectly seasoned. It should be added to the menu permanently. I hope to make it back for that delicious sandwich before Saturday.

It has been a cool experience to watch as the restaurant space has been built out over the past couple of months. I loved walking by to see the daily progress as the finishing touches were added to the windows, walls and outdoor dining space.

We had a really great experience with Charlie and Erica waiting on our table. The appetizer I chose, the shiitake miso croquettes, we were told, was the most popular, so by the time I ordered them they were out. I got the pea and mint tortelloni. The lemon pine nut cream with lemon oil was so delicious I wanted to eat it with a spoon. It was perfectly paired with the tortelloni. My husband ordered the son dumplings with the kimchi and gochujang sesame sauce. We love our sauces, or as I like to say, we are saucy people, which I know may mean something different, but in any case, the gochujang sauce was so good, I wanted to drink it, or at least save it to somehow eat it with the rest of our meal. Two thumbs up on the appetizers! By the way, the plating and presentation was outstanding. Everything looked pretty. My entree, the roast pepper sweet potato laksa with rice noodles and five spice tofu was beautifully presented. It was a huge and filling portion. I ordered it because we saw it served to another table and I was influenced by the presentation. It was not as sweet as I expected considering the sweet potato, but it was a bowl of very complex and delicious flavors. My husband ordered the beet root tempeh smash burger and he was most impressed by the onion ring garnish, so much so, he asked the manager to add it to the menu as a side. The burger, however, was not one of his favorites. He was a fan of the faux ribs at the Karyn's restaurants in Chicago, so he was comparing his Mallow experience to Karyn’s. He did say he would go back to Mallow to try more of the small plates and the chick’n parmesan burger.

The restaurant is open for breakfast at 8am, so I would like to drag him back to try breakfast. I am very happy to report it seems to be catching on and the tables are filled for...

Mallow deserves credit for putting in a lot of thought behind crafting a vegan & vegetarian menu that effortlessly combines elements from various cuisines, and yet provides each dish with a distinct identity. I believe they have a changing menu, but I'll comment on some of the items we had.

The crispy okra starter was fabulous, with an amazing mango-pepper sauce on the side.

One of our mains was a curiously designed thali with tamarind rice (called by various names, including 'pulihora') as the centrepiece. This was a happy surprise to me because I've only ever eaten tamarind rice in the comforts of home and would have never expected to see it on the menu of any restaurant, let alone a fine dining one. The other items on the thali were also good. I'm ready to bet though that the khakra - a slightly smoother and flakier version of a poppadom - was store bought (ie taken out from a packet and served straight on the plate). I'm happy to be proven wrong here though.

The jambalaya arancino was excellent and moreish.

The 'chick'n' burger from the kids' menu was a disappointment (I did taste) and was roundly rejected by our young companion. I don't think it sits well with the ethos of the place.

Of the desserts, I'd like to mention nankhatai, a luxurious biscuit from the Indian subcontinent, which when well made, is a thing of pure joy. The saffron almond nankhatai at Mallow's was certainly joyous, and a great finish to my lunch. This was yet another curious item, as it's usually only available at niche bakeries dotting the Indian end of Central Asian trade routes of antiquity. And in select ethnic supermarkets in globalised London. Kudos to the team if the nankhatai was prepared in-house.

Mallow might well be among the pioneering restaurants leading the pack in a genre-defying culinary movement which is pushing the envelope on what it...