Santo Remedio

Shoreditch Mexican

Octopus with Yerba Santa & Jalapeño Mojo de Ajo

London is seriously lacking good quality Mexican restaurants, with the rise of Peruvian cuisine in the capital in the last few years, I see no reason why Mexican cuisine can not have the same impact. I am a great admirer of Mexican street food, the richness of its cooking, combining with the freshness of its garnishes made it one of the most comforting food in the world. Newly launch in Shoreditch, Santo Remedio is a Mexican restaurant with an open kitchen and bar spreading across two floors, offering a small selection of traditional dishes with a light modern touch. We visited on its soft launch period and was given a 50% off discount.
 

Pork Carnitas Tacos

Pork ears tacos

We tasted two types of tacos, the classic pork carnitas version was off dry, lacking the boldness and sweetness that I was expecting from the coke. The pork ears taco on the other hand was sensational, it was as smooth and flavoursome as you can get from pork ears. The grilled octopus was delightfully tender and finely seasoned, the Jalapeño Mojo was rich and the settled spiciness really brought out the freshness of the dish. However, the garnish of roasted carrots was served almost iced cold, which was really confusing and it just didn't work at all. The Ox tongue with Pipián Rojo was another pleasant dish, cooked well with a hint of smokiness and earthiness.
 

Elote

Ox Tongue with Pipián Rojo

It is early days for the restaurant, some mirror issues, but at the same time, I can see some sheer quality in its cooking. I think one of the major error right now is the communication between the front of house and the kitchen, as some dishes were served at the perfect temperature while some were barely warm when they arrived on our table. Give it sometime and I can see Santo Remedio become on the hottest restaurant in the area. If you live in Hoxton or Old Street and a fan of Mexican food, it is hard to look beyond Santo Remedio, not to mention it has a great selection of Mexican beverages.

Food 2.5/5

What I paid: 
£14 per head 

Average cost without drinks and services:
£20

22 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DY

http://www.santoremedio.co.uk/