The top line: The second London restaurant from Spanish chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho, which once again sees her partner with JKS Restaurants. Legado, which means ‘legacy’, is described as a ‘profoundly personal expression of Spain and its rich regional food culture’ that moves beyond the familiar, using a wider selection of ingredients and placing an emphasis on more contemporary, lesser-known dishes. Housed next door to the recently opened second iteration of Singburi, the opening further bolsters Shoreditch’s credentials as one of the buzziest places to eat in London and, based on early reactions, further cements Barragán Mohacho as one of the capital’s most bankable chefs.
On the menu: Barragán Mohacho has placed a lot of attention on Legado’s ethos of whole animal butchery, which takes place in-house, with signature plates including a half suckling pig head, with jamon powder and lemon (£18.50); lamb neck empanadilla (£12); herb crusted rabbit shoulder (£13) and orzo with fried lamb sweetbreads and lovage (£24). The menu is extensive, split between eight sections and featuring more than 50 dishes in total. There’s a sense of elevation here, as well as an unfamiliarity that moves beyond the more classical rustic style of Sabor, Barragán Mohacho’s Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant. This can be seen, particularly, in the starter of Cantabrian anchovies, served here on brioche topped with smoked cheese (£15); the striking bowl of black fideua with rock shrimp and aioli (£16.50); and the gambas cristal with fried egg (£15). For Sabor fans, there are a couple of familiar signatures too, including the quarter Segovian suckling pig (£85); and traditional milk fed lamb (£85). The food menu is complemented by a 150-bin list of Spanish wines that feature numerous labels from both traditional and emerging regions.
The vibe: The dramatic double-height dining room holds 64 covers and features a huge, theatrical open kitchen complete with two hand-built, custom feature ovens, and a destination bar and delicatessen area. Design elements include exposed original London Stock brickwork and a contemporary palette of green, plaster pink, and terracotta.
And another thing: Fans of the growing small-serve cocktail movement will be intrigued to discover that Legado’s menu begins with a selection of three sip serves – a choice of five seasonally changing vegetable and fruit-based drinks that have been specifically designed to prepare the diner’s palate ahead of the meal.
Unit 1C Montacute Yards, London E1 6HU // legadorestaurants.com