Pedler: A daily-changing menu of sharing plates in Peckham

Pedler has been set up by a team who live in and love Peckham.  And that’s great, because before now, I’d never had reason to venture to Peckham, despite it’s proximity to Brixton via the number 37 bus route!


Pedler is relaxed and adorable – the interior is just-so, with carefully curated bits and bobs around the place, floral upholstered seating, an array of mismatched crockery and a stuffed deer’s head.  It’s shabby chic, but manages to stay on the right side of kitsch, and it’s exactly the kind of cosy place I wanted to hunker down in on a drizzly February evening!


The menu is ever-changing.  And by that I mean it’s completely, totally and entirely changed every single day – which means I can’t give you any recommendations on what to order!  But since everything we ate was great, I reckon you’re pretty safe.


Our waitress (Lisa from Peckham but with the greatest Philadelphia accent!) was an absolute dream – even though the menu changes every day, the Pedler managers ensure that all staff sample each and every dish on the menu before service starts, so they really can give you wonderful insight into the flavours and cooking methods.  It’s things like this – such dedication to detail – that make a huge difference to the overall dining experience.

Chef Gareth Crosby says, “My focus is to hand-pick the finest seasonal ingredients, guaranteeing quality and flavour for the daily changing menu, whilst creating the perfect food pairings for our sensational wine and cocktail list.”

And the cocktail list is sensational.  Pedler is now the home of Little Bird Gin, previously only served at Maltby Street Market, and all cocktails (~£7) feature this house spirit.  Penny’s Barrel Aged Negroni was served in a beautiful weighty, angular glass; my Shoot The Birdie, with peach bitters and maraschino, came in a goblet with a toy soldier on the side, and the Aviation reminded me of Parma Violet sweets, served in a crystal coupe.


The menu is – like every other trendy restaurant that has opened in recent months! – made up of sharing plates, ranging from £5 to £13.  Jerusalem Artichoke Arancini kicked us off, followed by Burnt Cauliflower with gruyere and onion rings – both fantastic.  Lobster Risotto was probably the only dish we ordered that I wouldn’t reorder – but the Kentish Lamb elicited quite the opposite reaction.  It was divine – perfectly cooked with roti and minty cabbage slaw, and so much flavour.



And finally Frizzle Chicken (the only dish that does repeatedly appear on the menu – it’s Pedler’s version of Peckham’s fried chicken) sat atop polenta and drizzled with a punchy Attitude sauce.

We were pretty stuffed after the mains, but a Valrhona Choccy Fondant sounded too good to miss, and arrived with a scoop of passion fruit sorbet and two spoons.

There have been a handful of new openings in Peckham of late, but Pedler is leading the pack and has certainly given me a reason to return soon.  I want to try the weekend brunch (which is not sharing plates, like the dinners – sharing your toast and eggs would be a bit weird!), which sounds pretty great, with something for all tastes.

Meal for two, with cocktails and service, around £90.
Pedler
58 Peckham Rye, Peckham, SE15 4JR