Today a new addition to London’s burgeoning Portuguese dining scene, Casa do Frango, opens on Southwark Street in London Bridge.
Bringing a type of Portuguese cooking yet to be authentically explored in London, Casa do Frango specialises in regional Algarvian-style piri piri chicken 'frango' cooked over wood charcoal using traditional techniques.
The grill is overseen by experienced Algarvian pitmaster, Lucidio da Fonseca Monteiro, who has moved to London for the project.
Cooking frango piri piri is deceptively simple. The nuances of this unpretentious style of grill cooking are important for drawing maximum flavour from the chicken.
Brushed with a special recipe immediately after coming off the grill, the chicken at Casa do Frango will be served tender. This unique seasoning adds a complex piquancy of heat and depth of flavour and is based on years of the dish’s tradition studied by the team.
The wood fired grill is the focus of the open plan kitchen. Alongside frango, the menu showcases exceptional regional charcuterie, cheeses, seafood, salads and desserts.
Starters to share include dishes such as Grilled Chorizo. Simple flavoursome salads include Salada Montanheira of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and peppers and sides like Arroz Africano a rice dish that highlights Portugal’s close ties to Africa.
A signature portion ‘dose de Frango’ chicken from the grill, an Octopus Rice, and Grilled Vegetables in Piri Piri option make up the mains.
For dessert, Portugal’s most famous sweet Pasteis de Nata is on the menu, with Almond Cake, and Chocolate Mousse options too.
The drinks menu offers wines in the country’s typical styles vinho verde, vinho branco, vinho tinto alongside a selection of natural wines, celebrating the growing reputation of the country’s winemakers.
The creative and operational trio behind Casa do Frango are Algarvian-English Marco Mendes, Jake Kasumov and Reza Merchant. Inspired by their time together in the South of Portugal, the three decided that the true flavour and spirit of Frango com piri piri needed to come to London.
As important as the food, is the atmosphere of the restaurant, which is encapsulated in the extraordinary 85-cover space in which Casa do Frango is set.
Inquisitive guests may even discover a hidden bar, a candlelit, more formal affair – officially opening later this year but the door will be unlocked from July, and when the barman is in, he’s certain to serve libations from his memory of classic and Portuguese twists.
Bringing an authentic Algarvian restaurant experience to London for the first time, Casa do Frango is now open. Open daily from 12pm until late.
