This place is cool. Very busy but really well managed - need to try a few of the dishes and as service ain't the quickest, this works perfectly. Plates delivered as they're ready and all delicious. Great mix of meat and veg so should suit any requirements and leave all pleased with their selections.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Peckham isn't the first place that comes to mind when it comes to fine dining - well no for me anyway. In fact I don't come to Peckham for much at all with previous visit having been for the Kerb streetfood market popup and Forzawin. That may all change though now that I've discovered this gem known as Peckham Bazaar.
With its daily changing menu of Balkan inspired dishes cooked over charcoal, Peckham Bazaar is your prototypical destination restaurant in that there is literally nothing else to do around it to the point that arriving early is not advised unless you like standing around aimlessly. You are here for one reason and one only. So with all this pressure, the food has to be something special and thankfully I'm pleased to say it is.
On this night we started with the courgette fritters with kohlrabi & tarator and the grilled squid, orzo pasta, orange and white cabbage salad which were both fantastic and had a delicious smoky coating which can only be achieved with charcoal cooking.
For mains we turned to the specials board which I also recommend you do because what's on offer there is truly special even if on the face of it, it looks uninspiring (you see, Peckham Bazaar are very good at underselling their dishes so even something which sounds ordinary is probably amazing). The dish of braised lamb shoulder and leg was heavenly with meat literally falling off bone with little effort. What they don't advertise is that the dish is served with a tasty provolone cheese and chard gratin which, with the lamb, makes for a formidable dish.
Expanding our horizons, the grilled marinated quail served with game pilaff, harissa and green beans was also ordered and again was a winner. The bird was cooked to perfection, oozing flavour and juices, that I found it necessary to naw at the carcass until I had picked it clean; an embarrassing sight but one I doubt regret.
Full after mains, we thought dessert was unnecessary but made the mistake of looking at the menu where the baklava, yogurt and rosewater ice cream looked too good to pass on. This thought was confirmed with the first bite and the dish didn't last many more after that.
It's hard for me now to think of Peckham and not immediately associate it with the Peckham Bazaar. A fantastic place in the middle of suburb with a menu which is as unassuming as its surroundings yet with flavour that will rival anyone, anywhere. Definite yes.
Also follow me on Twitter @annixontong and @wetrykai and on Instagram @annixontong.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Despite having only eaten a couple of hours before, I was ready for another meal, and walked for about 10 minutes to a very quiet part of Peckham to reach Peckham Bazaar. People have been raving about it so I was only too happy to book when Lee & Jane suggested going there for supper. It wasn't busy when we arrived just after 6pm, but it was fully booked later on so make sure you reserve a table. It is open Thu-Fri 6-11pm and Sat-Sun 12.30-11pm.
There is nothing else anywhere near Peckham Bazaar so head towards the lights when you get to the top of Heaton Road. The first thing you will see is head chef John Gionleka cooking up a storm over an open fire on the terrace outside. It is incredible what he achieves in such a small space! It must be lovely to eat al fresco in the summer in front of the kitchen, but indoors is a delightful, cosy space - perfect for a chilly November evening.
Peckham Bazaar only took off a couple of months ago as John was previously running it as a daytime deli. There wasn't much passing trade so he concocted some more adventurous dishes and opened the restaurant as a popup - I believe it is now permanent, correct me if I am wrong! John is Albanian, and the food is described as Pan-Balkan. Rather than making difficult decisions, we decided to trust them and order pretty much everything on the menu with the Mediterranean Red Mullet from the specials board as there were 5 fish and 5 of us! To drink, we ordered a Bulgarian red wine and some bottles of Efes.
It worked well as a sharing meal, although it was hard to watch 4 other people taking my delicious food away. I felt that the starters were almost stronger than the mains, and not much smaller. The Fish Souvlaki was superb, as was the Kibbeh Nayyeh (lamb tartare). From our excellent 5 main courses, the Pheasant (with braised chestnut and quince, barberry and saffron pilaf) stood out for me, along with the Grilled Rabbit which was cooked to perfection. Every dish deserve its place on the menu, and I would order exactly the same way next time. The menu changes regularly so don't be disappointed if you can't get your fix of creamed borlotti beans - I'm sure everything will be mouth watering.
The staff were friendly and informative. They were amused that I tweeted a picture of their toilets before anything about the food - it was a funky design! The housing pattern on the walls of the main room was also eye catching. I can't recommend this place highly enough, it is truly one of London's hidden gems (a phrase that has been overused this year!) - book now! P.S. Cash only.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes