Portal, Clerkenwell - Review
Cat Byers |
This elegant Portuguese restaurant in Clerkenwell is probably the best place you've never heard of. Not convinced? Just ask regular visitor Jose Mourinho...
Despite being a beautiful coastal country in Western Europe (and tacked on to eternal tourist favourite Spain), Portugal somehow manages to get completely overlooked by, well, pretty much everyone. Spain has ten times more visitors annually; Italy six times more, and even Croatia, Ukraine and Hungary are more popular. To add insult to injury, their cuisine has been permanently tainted by Nandos, the grim chicken chain famous for its ‘Portuguese' Peri Peri chicken, despite actually being established in South Africa. Fortunately, the tide seems to be turning; the openings of Churchill's Port House, Canela and Fire & Feathers in the last few months suggest that they're finally inching towards the general acknowledgment . Leading this Portuguese culinary crusade is Portal, a family-run Portuguese fine dining restaurant, tapas bar and wine bar in Clerkenwell. Despite being open since 2005, it seems to have remained somewhat under the radar until now, which I suspect is a result of the regulars not wanting to share this gem with anyone else. No wonder – Portal serves some of the best food I've ever eaten in London, at a reasonable price, and in a beautiful setting. It's the stuff of urban legends.
Food: 5/5
Venue: 5/5
Cuisine: Portuguese
Dinner for two (excluding drinks): £65
Wine: £6 – £10.50 (175ml)
Portal Restaurant and Bar, 88 St John Street, EC1M 4EH
Tel: 020 7253 6950