The Spirit of Southern Portugal in the Heart of London

Enjoy brightening summer nights at Casa do Frango

There really is nothing more summer-welcoming, than Portuguese cuisine. Fresh fish, bold punchy flavours and citrussy drinks are the perfect antidote to our grey English skies, but brightening evenings.

Casa do Frango has four locations to choose from: Shoreditch, Victoria, London Bridge and Piccadilly – so wherever you hail from, there’s a restaurant near you. We visited the Shoreditch destination on a particularly drizzly night, and even on entry, the warm, rustic interiors perked us up immediately.

Seated by the window in the buzzy restaurant, we relaxed and settled in for a night of Algarvian delights. Starting with the cocktail menu, we ordered classic Caipirinha’s which were punchy and fresh and perused the menu. We chose Casa do Frango as my guest is coeliac and we were seriously impressed with the number of gluten-free options, as well as the care and consideration that was evident whilst the team were taking our order.

The menu is large and varied, and designed to serve sharing family style. We were really impressed with the size of the dishes. It’s a great location for group events or birthdays, which was evidenced by the crowd, but even as a duo we did well with our plates.

We opted for Green Rice – a vegan version of the Casa Rice, served with peas, mushrooms, crispy kale and fresh mint, which was incredibly tasty. Alongside was a Charred Cauliflower which was marinated in honey, lemon and piri-piri, served with a lime and coriander yogurt and pistachios.

My friend comes here a lot, and suggested the Vegetable Feijoada which was a new menu item. This is a Portuguese mixed bean stew, served with grilled hispi cabbage, roasted sweet potato, red peppers and crispy artichokes. This for me was the best dish, the flavours were incredible and the vegetables so fresh.

We couldn’t miss ordering the classic Piri-Piri Chicken, which we actually had with lemon and garlic as a milder option. The chicken was sadly a little overcooked, but the flavours were on point. When it comes to side dishes, you have to try the deliciously naughty Garlic Mushrooms which are drenched in garlic and coriander – best to avoid on first dates, but otherwise, go to town!

We were full to the brim, but I couldn’t say no to the traditional Portuguese dessert of Pastel De Nata. Fans of this sweet know it’s a small and light option, filled with custards and made famous by the nuns and monks of Belém. It was flaky and delicious; no pudding regrets here.

Another great touch of authenticity, the entire wine list is collated with some of the best of Portugal’s wine, including their own Boa Pinga – the first wine from Casa do Frango.

Service was great and friendly, and the dishes were some of the most reasonably priced and sized that I’ve seen in London for a long time. Definitely add this to your list if you’re looking for a quality meal without breaking the bank!

Find out more at > www.casadofrango.co.uk