address: 14D Market Row, London SW9 8LD

​phone number: 020 7459 4274

website: ttps://www.saraplondon.com/

Opening times:
Tuesday – Friday 18:00 – 23:00;
Saturday 12:00 – 16:00; 18:00 – 23:00
Sunday 12:00 – 16:00

This is a new addition to the market, where it replaces the much missed Yum-D. Budgie Montoya, the chef, was the winner of the Brixton Kitchen competition in the experienced category and will spend six months in Market Row. It is attracting attention so book, especially in the evening. The seats are niftily fitted under the tables but it will be a squeeze for the larger torso. It may also be noisy but we chose a Saturday lunchtime and it was virtually empty – not for long I am sure. Sarap means “delicious”.

This is Filipino cuisine from an Australian chef and has a range of ingredients that I have never come across before but Budgie was very helpful with the explanations. The menu offers small and large plates with a range of meat, fish and veg options but not so many you feel you need to take a crowd to get the feel of the dishes. We chose a small plate to share (Celeriac Kare Kare) and two large plates (Jackfruit and Potato Adobo and the Market Fish Escabeche). We also ordered jasmine rice for the fish dish.

The celeriac  was salt baked and comes with a peanut butter and annatto sauce. OK I will wiki it for you – annatto is a red-orange condiment from the Brazilian achiote tree – any wiser? We weren’t either, but we liked what was the best dish out of what we chose.

The fish esbaeche came with a sweet pepper sauce and some crunchy but unidentified fried vegetables, a bit like onion bhajis. The sauce was a good counterpoint to the fish and the crispy skin on the latter got high marks. Some sliced red chillies added some heat to the dish.

The Jackfruit and Potato Adobo was weird – is is a shredded green Jackfruit with potato cooked in soy, cane vinegar and garlic. The emphasis is on the vinegar as it is acidic. After the first couple of mouthfuls, I adjusted, but it may not be to everyone’s taste. It comes with some very large crisps which you can use to scoop up what is not the most attractive dish.

We also ordered a cassava tart – out for excitement. It was sweet enough to end the meal but I am glad we shared. I have never been successful with cassava and this would definitely be a potential way forward. it is served warm which is probably essential.

We washed everything down with a couple of bottles of pale ale. The bill came to £48.62 including a bargain 10% tip. We will be back.