New Mexican Restaurant Praised
Notorious Foodie praised a new Mexican restaurant from an established team for bold menu items including tostadas, ceviche, tacos, and woodfire grills using traditional recipes. The review highlights authentic preparation methods and diverse offerings. The restaurant appears to be generating buzz for combining traditional techniques with modern presentation.
The new venture is the much-anticipated follow-up from chef Santiago Lastra, whose first restaurant, KOL, holds the distinction of being the only Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant in the UK. Lastra's culinary background includes time at the world-renowned Mugaritz in Spain and a pivotal role in developing the Noma Mexico pop-up with René Redzepi. This new establishment, named Fonda, offers a more relaxed interpretation of the fine-dining experience at KOL. The name itself is a nod to the humble, family-run restaurants of Mexico, signaling a focus on comforting, traditional dishes inspired by Lastra's childhood. The kitchen is centered around a traditional clay griddle known as a comal, where tortillas and tostadas are toasted in-house. The menu is committed to using British ingredients to recreate authentic Mexican flavors, a philosophy Lastra also champions at KOL. Menu highlights that have garnered attention include the beer-battered Cornish cod Baja taco and a slow-cooked short rib with mole poblano. The restaurant also features a dedicated ceviche section, with offerings like Scottish sea trout with a butternut squash aguachile.
