Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 5 and Version 4 of Bermondsey Bar And Kitchen, SE1 3UD

Cafe, bar, and restaurant in Bermondsey, near the southern entrance to London Bridge Station. It doesn't accept cash, only cards.

Described on its website as being located "in a former underground car park", it does indeed have a utilitarian look, with brickwork walls painted in a "distressed" style, an unfinished floor, and ducting stretching across the ceiling. Stylised "bare bulb" lighting hints that some or all of this is a refit rather than the original features.

Rectangular tables are arranged in tightly-packed long rows, each ready-laid with water glasses and cutlery and separated from its neighbour by just an inch or so. Seats are low-backed and comfortably padded in brown pleather. An open kitchen sits behind a sturdily-built wooden bar/service counter along one wall.

The menu is branded as "Donnelly's at Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen" and the website describes said Donnelly's presence as a "residency", but according to a member of staff in April 2019 the chef has no current intention to move on elsewhere.

Kake visited on a Monday morning in April 2019. There were about a dozen customers when I arrived around 10:45am, spread around the large space, and there was no problem finding me a table by the window. No music was playing, but there was plenty of conversation, amplified by the somewhat echoey space.

Scrambled eggs with grilled tomato and sriracha on sourdough toast (£6.50) photo was nicely-presented, topped with sprigs of watercress for extra colour. The toast was somewhat inconsistently toasted, being well-browned at one end and only gently warmed at the other, but the bread had a good flavour and crumb. The tomato had a nice char from the grill. The eggs themselves were also good; soft and not at all dry, with a well-judged amount of sriracha.

Earl Grey tea (£3) was good quality, with a pronounced floral scent, and served in a generously-sized pot which stayed warm.

Service was helpful but a little slow at times. A 12.5% service charge was auto-added to the bill.

Accessibility: A couple of steps to get in at both entrances, and another step to each toilet.

See also:

• Photos of the menu as of April 2019: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Culture Calling review
• Londonist review

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