Vermuteria — Restaurant in London

I have been taking a keen interest in the resurgence of vermouth since I first visited Turin in 2012 (and even there, in its birthplace, it is surprisingly hard to find a dedicated vermouth bar), so I was pleased to see London now has a place focusing on the Italian aperitif.

This particular Vermuteria does however do several other things, it is more of a cafe by day, and they serve tapas style food in the evenings - I was already slightly saddened by this fact, that they didn't have the courage to let the vermouth alone lead at least the drinks offering.

Although there is an impressive display of vintage vermouth bottles behind the bar, on the drinks menu itself the vermouth section was a bit buried - there's a two sided sheet of A4 for wines, then a two sided sheet of A5 with cocktails on one side, and a list of about 10 or so vermouths on the other side. For a place which, given the name, is presumably making vermouth its primary focus, this section of the menu needed work, in my opinion. There was just a name and a price for each vermouth, with producer and product names sometimes mixed a bit confusingly. For example "Punt e Mes" appears, then further down there's "Carpano Punt e Mes", which confused me as I happen to know Punt e Mes is a Carpano product. This turned out to be just plain wrong - they meant to say Carpano Classico in the latter case. Further down one item simply said "Americano", which is a style of vermouth made by several producers, so it wasn't clear what it actually was. There were no descriptions or tasting notes and the staff didn't really elaborate much when asked - it feels like they're really missing a trick here, given that this is surely their unique selling point.

The first half to two thirds of the vermouth list were names you might already be familiar with, which you can easily find in supermarkets etc in the UK - starting with very mass market products like Cinzano, Martini, moving through the Carpano range (the aforementioned Punt e Mes, Carpano Classico and Antica Formula), then brands like Cocchi, and towards the end some vermouths from Chinati Vergano. This tuned out to be the producer of the enigmatic "Americano", which I plumped for, having not had it before, and emboldened by the fact it was £12 for a 50ml measure, so presumed it to be something quite special. This is a well balanced vermouth, and thanks to the added bittering agents in the Americano style (the "amer" in Americano derives from the French word for bitter) it can very much stand alone as an aperitif. This was a very hefty markup though at £12 a glass - something like 5x or 6x based on the retail price for a bottle (around £30).

I had their Negroni "V" afterwards which was extremely gin forward, to the point that I almost wondered if they had forgotten the vermouth (billed as Antica Formula for this particular Negroni). Perhaps they used a different ratio to the standard 1:1:1. Surely in a vermouth bar the cocktails ought to be about showcasing the vermouth?

This seems to be the sad fate of vermouth, that is doomed to be taken for granted, downplayed, overlooked and unloved - even in places you would expect to be celebrating it. To some extent this was reminiscent of my visits to Turin - both here and there I wanted a more informed connoisseurial experience, with enthusiastic staff promoting the product, providing tasting notes and just generally engaging in a dialogue about the drink. Sadly I...

Nestled in the heart of London, Vermuteria is a hidden gem that captures the essence of a classic European vermouth bar with a modern twist. Located at 38/39 Stable St, London N1C 4DQ, United Kingdom, this charming establishment offers a unique dining experience that transports you to the vibrant streets of Barcelona or Madrid.

From the moment you step inside Vermuteria, you are greeted by an atmosphere that exudes warmth and sophistication. The stylish decor, with its vintage touches and cozy seating, creates a welcoming ambiance that is perfect for both intimate gatherings and lively socializing.

The star of the show at Vermuteria is undoubtedly the vermouth. Their extensive selection of artisanal vermouths sourced from across Europe is truly impressive. Whether you prefer a sweet or dry variety, the knowledgeable staff is always on hand to guide you through the options and help you find the perfect match for your palate. Sipping on a glass of their carefully crafted vermouth is a delightful experience that transports you to a world of refined flavors.

Complementing the vermouth is Vermuteria's delectable menu. With a focus on Mediterranean-inspired dishes, their offerings showcase the finest ingredients and culinary expertise. From flavorful tapas and charcuterie boards to mouthwatering paellas and hearty stews, every dish is a celebration of authentic flavors and impeccable presentation.

The service at Vermuteria is exceptional. The staff is attentive, friendly, and well-versed in the menu, ensuring that every visit is met with impeccable service. They are passionate about vermouth and take pride in sharing their knowledge and recommendations with diners.

In conclusion, Vermuteria is a hidden gem in London, offering an enchanting dining experience that combines the elegance of a vermouth bar with a modern Mediterranean twist. With its impressive selection of vermouths, exquisite cuisine, and impeccable service, it is a destination that guarantees a memorable culinary journey. Whether you're a vermouth enthusiast or simply seeking a taste of the Mediterranean, Vermuteria is...

We stopped for a drink and a snack on a Saturday evening - snacks and drinks are overpriced but okay, but the service seemed to be there only for pushing us out and was overall just so poorly executed. Many reviews state that so we feel stupid for not having checked first, you should just never step into a 3.7 stars place.

They made us seat at a dirty table with spilled liquids and didn’t care about cleaning it. Someone took our order, but after a while someone else showed up to take our order too. It was just the beginning of the disaster and a power race between two waitresses.

Drinks arrived fast, when mine was 3/4 over I had to fight to keep it as the two waitresses passed three times in 10 minutes asking if they could take the empty glass (which was not empty). When they passed for a fourth time 5 mins later I asked (exasperated, I might have been slightly rude) if I was allowed to keep my glass until it was clearly empty or I asked to take it away.

…this worked so well less than three minutes later the second waitress passed again, grabbed it and asked if she could take it away at which point I gave up. The Mrs downed her drink, we paid and left to never come back. Just go at a convenience store, buy a random bottle and a bag of crisps and you’ll have a better experience.

Ps: in case you’re wondering if we’re the kind of couple which gets a glass of water and expects to sit at a table for half a day - I don’t know when we got in but we paid and left at 19:07. The previous transaction on our cards is at 18:13 at a place which is 10 minutes out. Some quick math shows they wanted us out in about 30 mins, for an £36 order.

We left after 44 mins, making then earn about £0.80 per minute. The fun thing is if their service wasn’t so bad we would have stayed another hour for a second and third round + dinner at no less than £120 looking at their menu, which would have been £1.34 per minute - they are so bad they can’t even do math and some food spend...