Spectacular Flaming Grills Meets Argentinian Fine Dining: Our Review Of Sucre London

Picture the scene: it was the warmest day in London this year and everywhere, especially Soho, was buzzing. I couldn’t help but start dreaming of future travels, and Argentina has been on my list for some time. But first... let's save on airfare and get a taste of Latin American cuisine right here in the capital. Meet Sucre London: home to elegant, globe-trotting fare in unbelievably beautiful surrounds.

Keep reading to hear about pretty cocktails and one hell of a feast.

DesignMyNight Review Of Sucre Soho

Only a few steps away from Carnaby Street via Oxford Circus, Sucre restaurant is Soho’s hidden oasis inside a historic, 300+-year-old building that was formerly London College of Music’s main hall. Having opened in 2021, followed later by Sucre Dubai, founder Fernando Trocca has garnered a reputation for being a master of all things fire, promising authentic Argentinian meals with Mediterranean twists.

As for the interiors, boy, they’re as jaw-dropping as it gets. Designed by architect Noriyoshi Muramatsu, prepare for soaring ornate ceilings, exposed brick walls and embroidered patterned seats, plus pops of mustard, olive and pink. The colossal multi-tiered chandeliers are a real work of art too, made up of different cut-glass decanters. We also adored the engraved, off-white walls, reminding me of the salt flats in Argentina and nearby Bolivia. Our table was directly opposite the emerald-tiled kitchen, so we could watch the parrilla grill in action (how do the chefs stay so calm?).

Wow - the Sucre restaurant photos are extraordinary, aren't they?

We kicked things off with two lush cocktails on the Sucre menu. As a lover of all varieties of margarita, I made a beeline straight for the Peperita (£15), blending mijenta green pepper infused tequila, Ancho Reyes, agave and lime, finished with a delicious herby chilli rim. It had a real kick which I really enjoyed. My date was going alcohol-free, choosing an Apricot Spritz (£9) because of how refreshing it sounded. This bubbly, sunset-coloured sip mixed Lyre's Italian orange with lemonade and went down a treat.

A nice tribute to South America's popular street food, the contents in our cheddar and caramelised onion empanada (£8.50) oozed out with every bite; showing an enviable cheese-pull. The pastry was light, cleverly holding in the rich, chilli and tangy filling. Vegetarians, don’t skip on the intricately presented Jerusalem artichoke (£14), cooked in three different ways for a delightful mix of textures (especially alongside the vegetable crisps). My favourite was the creamy purée, but the charred segments were a joy too, plus the poached pear provided acidity.

At our Sucre restaurant review, we were lucky enough to be treated to some new dishes, and hope to see them on the menu soon. The beef tongue (approx £18) pushed my date’s boundaries, and after being advised not to be intimidated, he devoured the thinly sliced, lean poached offal. Slices of carrot were mixed with coriander seeds, drenched in a sharp pickle and olive oil sauce; could he be a convert? It’s looking that way. Next up, sea bream (£35); just imagine a whole flaky fish, benefitting from a crispy skin created by cooking over coals, finished with a chef's blow torch. The garlic-heavy Bilbaina sauce paired with olive oil, something we’ve never tried before, is a must-try especially with a generous squeeze of lemon juice. 

The Sucre London reviews are in, and needless to say, we can't get enough.

From the crunchy, buttery broccolini (£8) to the chilli-flecked cavolo nero (£7), a slew of gorgeous plates kept on flying out of the kitchen. Thought you knew cauliflower (£22)? Think again, as this was my standout of the night. There were three different (and very refined) elements: fried with paprika, grilled then topped with chimichurri, and finally, nutty tahini steaks. Each floret was a powerhouse of flavour – the magician that crafted this should take a bow.

As we sat back to admire the chefs in action, watching in awe as they kept the fires burning, we sipped more mouthwatering drinks. The El Camino (£14); a smoky, mezcal twist on the negroni, was so skilfully balanced that it didn’t make steam blow out of my ears in a cartoon-like way, while my partner’s Gino (£10) had a great tang from the Everleaf Marine alcohol-free spirit, lime juice and elderflower cordial. It wasn’t too sweet either, which was impressive when the other ingredients included apple juice. We were then asked whether we’d like a breather before dessert, something we felt was a nice touch. Now, I’m not exaggerating when I say the dulce de leche fondant (£13) was so good and technically brilliant that it nearly brought a tear to my eye. The gooey inner layer was spot on, revealing a river of decadent sauce, plus the salty hazelnuts and silky mascarpone contrasted nicely. But don’t forget to order the Basque cheesecake (£13) too, a huge, fluffy and cloud-like pud paired with poached strawberry to cut through the creaminess perfectly.  

Sucre London: Overall

Well, this visit to Sucre has certainly set hearts ablaze and reignited our love for trying new cuisines, helped by some seriously gorgeous decor and fabulous service. You can’t deny the innovative craftsmanship on display here; we acknowledge how hard it is to perfect cooking over theatrical flames and keep everything delicate, so hats off to the chefs for such well-executed dishes.     

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