Fonda

RESTAURANT NOT FAMOUS ON INSTA BUT STILL GOOD?! Fonda is tucked away on Heddon Street just off Regent Street, sitting quietly amongst a handful of other spots, and it’s all the better for feeling like a little discovery. A friend pointed me in this direction rather than any social media buzz, and honestly that felt right for a place this good. Outside tables for warmer evenings, and once you step inside you’re greeted by a beautiful open kitchen to your right and a genuinely gorgeous bar. The colour palette is all burnt oranges and pale browns, deeply Mexican in its feel, and it reminded me of the more considered aesthetic moments in Breaking Bad. High praise in my book. Drinks come in beautiful glassware and are quietly confident, interesting takes on margaritas and carajillo that don’t shout about themselves but absolutely deliver. The food is elevated Mexican done properly, no heavy melted cheese or muddy flavours anywhere on the menu. The buttermilk chicken taco was a hit, the short rib was lovely and came with plenty of mini tacos to build your own, and the pickled vegetables are an absolute must. But the thing we kept coming back to was the trio of salsas. Left on the table after the chips were gone, they were extraordinary, lifting every single dish they touched. A simple thing done brilliantly. Our server was an Italian guy in his first week and he was an absolute natural, warm, attentive, and genuinely made the evening feel special. Lighting is dim, music is sexy, price is not cheap but completely worth it. Fonda is a proper gem. Go soon before everyone else catches on.

The restaurant itself is genuinely beautiful, a lovely candlelit setting with thoughtful details like decorative candles, and a salsa-style presentation that immediately sets the tone. The atmosphere feels warm and considered. Service was one of the best I’ve experienced in a long time: extremely attentive, polite, and knowledgeable without ever feeling intrusive. The menu also reads very well, with some genuinely exciting and creative dishes. We ordered a 700ml margarita, which was enjoyable and quite strong, though it lacked depth of flavour. To start, we shared the guacamole, which was absolutely delicious, and the fondue, pleasant overall, though the cheese was not that hot and therefore quite lumpy which was a shame. The ceviche was a standout for me: incredibly fresh, interesting, and vibrant, although the beetroot flavour was overpowering. Those who prefer a cleaner, more pronounced fish taste might find it disappointing. We skipped the tacos, intrigued instead by the mains — unfortunately, this is where things fell short. The beef short rib with mole was overwhelmed by the sauce, which dominated the dish entirely. The carnitas were bland, and the mushrooms were just not enjoyable, they were dry and the glaze was also quite overpowering. When we mentioned this, the waiter did say that all these dishes are quiet strong in flavour and heavy but then I don't see much other choices. On the sides, the fried beans were fine but served in a very small portion, while the green salad was uninspired; after mentioning this, it was kindly removed from the bill (however after the feedback it seemed interesting that the £7 dish got removed as "gesture of goodwill" which was pointed out again when we paid the bill) For dessert, we had the rice pudding and sorbet, both OK. The final bill came to around £140 per person. While this included a lot of food and drinks, the value didn’t quite align with the overall experience. 15% service charged is also just not quite acceptable to me. In summary, the setting, service, and starters are excellent, but the mains need refinement, and the pricing deserves reconsideration to truly justify the cost.

I went here for the first time earlier in the week, and it became my favourite high-quality Mexican cuisine restaurant. Completely unexpected - they mix local and fresh ingredients with authentic traditional recipes, the result is something really astounding. Because they are not trying to make Mexican food with ingredients brought from Mexico or cheap substitutes, but creating an option of using the best local ingredients, living up to expectations and methods of centuries old methods. This, matched with a world class cocktail list. I’m definitely coming back. Don’t miss their guacamole version, it is surprisingly good. Their michelada was a discovery, and the rest, just get a bunch of things and share.

Great Mexican food with a fine dining touch and an amazing experience overall. We've been to KOL and wanted to try here too. The indoor space is larger than it looks from outside. They also have very cosy-looking outdoor seating facing a courtyard among other adjacent restaurants. The entrance area is small, not leaving enough space for more than two people. If it's a busy time, you may end up waiting outside while reception is attending others inside. Our experience at the entrance wasn't great as there was another couple who insisted on waiting behind us, inside, making the space even smaller for everyone; staff should probably warn these types of people while they are attending others. Food was great, no complaints there. You may end up having tried more of their original recipes if you opt for multiple starter plates rather than two mains. This is what we did and tried eight different items from the menu. The highlights were baja fish taco, steak and grilled cheese costra, and fig and mezcal rice pudding. Service was good and quick, although it was Valentine's Day and lunchtime was quite busy inside the restaurant. We would definitely come again, at a less popular time, to try the other items on the menu.