Fresh off receiving the Spanish equivalent of a knighthood from King Felipe of Spain, the Extremadura-born London chef-restauranteur Jose Pizarro opens up Lolo, a new all-day casual dining concept in Bermondsey.
Pizarro’s fifth restaurant in London and his third in the south-east London neighbourhood, Lolo is inspired by the communal and convivial nature of Spanish dining (and especially Barcelona and Andalucia), and the interiors are warm and inviting, decked out in soft cream and pink tones. Like the chef’s eponymous tapas bar Jose, there’s a focus here on the finest produce, and simplicity and quality above all - many of Pizarro’s suppliers for Lolo are long-time friends in Spain and in the UK, which he says ‘reflects his love for both nations alike’.
The menu here is more casual than either Jose or Pizarro’s previous self-titled Bermondsey outpost Pizarro Restaurant, and the range of elevated sandwiches is surely a highlight. Choose from mouth-watering options like the Lolo de Ternera (beef, confit green peppers and melted cheese) or the Bikini (cheese, Iberian ham and truffle), or look elsewhere on the menu for salmon cured in sherry or salt cod with roasted fennel, chilli, and orange. Lolo will also be Pizarro’s first attempt at a breakfast restaurant - items include pastries, figs with honey ice-cream, and a range of devilled eggs (don’t miss the variant paired with ground sobrasada sausage).
By night, Lolo transforms from a breezy neighbourhood cafe into a more intimate and lowlit wine and cocktail bar experience. A list of Bloody Marys has been curated to pair with the food items, while an imaginative wine list explores bottles from across the Mediterranean region.