Kudu is a cosy family-run South African restaurant in Peckham. I’ve been very keen to visit Kudu for a while now. South African cuisine? Yes, I’m intrigued. Michelin Bib Gourmand award? Oh, absolutely! Shiima wasn’t as keen as I was though, so Kudu stayed in middle of our go to list. Then last week I saw an Instagram picture of the beef onglet and I made a reservation straight away. 

Peckham might not be the first location you’d expect Kudu to be, but then the location adds a somewhat unpretentious vibe to the restaurant before you step in. Inside Kudu is causally designed and darkly lit, which allows for a very relaxing environment.

We sat at the counter looking into the open kitchen and we think that’s the best spot because it’s right in the middle of restaurant and you get to watch the chefs cook and interact. The service is both friendly and professional. Now the food…

Looking through the menu, it’s evident the cuisine in Kudu is South African with a modern European twist. So we weren’t lost with regards to what to order because we had a fair idea about most of the dishes. 

Snacks

• 

• 

Lovely soft bread that’s delicious by itself but incredible when dipped in the seafood butter, which was just amazingly rich. The baby shrimps were really good too. 

We absolutely loved these. The texture of the duck hearts is similar to grilled aubergine, so smooth and soft. The seasoning was fantastic. Deep and perfectly spicy enough for the both of us.

Small plates

Wasn’t a fan of the Cornish crab. It was very fresh and well prepared, but there wasn’t much else to it beside the taste of fresh crab.

We were kindly offered ricotta tortellini instead of the pigs head tortellini on the menu because Shiima doesn’t eat pork and we were very grateful. Especially because the tortellini was delicious, particularly with the rich sauce. The pasta was thin and tasty and the ricotta filling was simple yet delicious. 

Medium Plates

Awesome flavours through every element of the dish. The Guinea fowl was perfectly tender with a crisp skin, the caramelised lettuce was unexpectedly decent, and the mushrooms were fantastic. 

Before I begin talking about the mouthwatering onglet, we need to talk about the garnish. All of it was delicious, but the potato mousse is one of the best things we’ve eaten in a while. It was incredibly creamy and so well seasoned. The beef onglet was buttery and perfectly cooked… a tad charred on the outside and melt in the mouth soft. 

Dessert

This was solid. The ganache was rich with chocolate and just salty enough. I really enjoyed the sesame ice cream, but Shiima wasn’t much of a fan. On the other hand, she really enjoyed the sesame brittle and I didn’t like it. 

Verdict

We really enjoyed Kudu. The vibe in the restaurant is cosy and friendly, and the food is really good. We recommend for casual dates, a unique meal with friends or colleagues (up to 10 people), and foodies. Kudu is moderately expensive. 

Cuisine: South African; European
Dress Code: Casual
Shiima’s Star Dish: Peri Peri Duck Hearts
Amen’s Star Dish: Onglet, Potato Mousse
Price: £40-£50pp
Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Kudu
119 Queen’s Road
Peckham SE15 2EZ
Reserve at Resy,
Or call 020 3950 0226