Having fallen in love with Argentina when I was interning as a wine journalist in Mendoza in 2019, an affair since scuppered by the pandemic, my nostalgia grows for Saturday afternoons spent sipping Malbec watching a juicy bife sizzling away on the fire surrounded by friends and family. Finally, I have found a cure for my cravings and it lies just around the corner in foody South London…
Chimichurris restaurant in Southwark offers an authentic taste of Buenos Aires. The small and intimate restaurant is the joint venture of Nicolas Modad and Federico Fugazza. Head Chef Nicolas has a wealth of experience behind the grill after cooking the famous Cordero Patagonico (Patagonian barbequed lamb) at the Llao Llao Hotel in Argentine Patagonia. He has been working in London’s hipster food scene since 2012, where he began as Head Chef at the Spanish tapas restaurant Brindisa, then worked in Cuba for 8 months before Federico urged him to set up a restaurant in London together.
Nicolas and Federico first met at London’s food mecca Borough Market. Federico has been sourcing great ingredients from Argentina since 2007 when he founded Porteña (Argentine Street Food and Products). Federico’s eye for excellent products together with Nicolas’s mastery of the grill are what led to the birth of Chimichurris.
The small and intimate setting at Chimichurris make it the perfect place to sit back, relax, and step away from the chaos of central London. The restaurant’s approach is very Argentine: great food without the fuss. Chimichurris let their authentic South American ingredients speak for themselves.
The parrillada “el clasico” is a real showstopper dish that gives you a taste of the protagonists of an Argentine asado: chorizo, delicious morcilla sausage (similar to black pudding), sirloin and rib eye steak, and provoleta (grilled cheese similar to the Italian provolone). This sharing plate offers value for money for three meat-eaters with a good appetite! However, Chimis shows that there is more to Argentine food than meat. There are plenty of meat-free options including mixed vegetables on the grill, grilled octopus, and cod to keep the whole family happy.
Chimichurris has developed an extensive Argentine wine list to bring out the best in their authentic produce. The wine list includes wines by the bottle or the glass including some classic Mendoza Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignons which naturally marry themselves with the grilled beef. If you are looking to try something different, the single-varietal Cabernet Francs are an excellent choice for pairing with beef or lamb. If you are going for fish, I recommend the queen of the white wines in Argentina: Torrontes. This grape variety is native to Salta in northern Argentina and has a crispy, aromatic finish. Chimis has earnt its place on London’s growing Hispanic food map.
Find Chimichurri's on 132 Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 0DG
