New taco and tequila restaurant Cartel opens in Battersea
The 120-cover, 250 capacity site offers over 70 tequilas, and makes its own tortillas using the traditional Mexican nixtamalization process with masa harina (corn flour), which has been popping up all over London in the past few months.
Head chef Gareth Rowntree has created a new taco menu, inspired by the cuisine’s traditional street food style. Options include pulled chicken cooked in Mezcal and lemon, and slow-cooked beef brisket with chorizo, radish and coriander.
Vegetarians and vegan choices include tofu, black bean and roasted tomato in chipotle sauce.
The menu also features a range of quesadillas with chorizo and potato, or pulled pork and red onion, plus a must-try homemade guacamole with handmade tortilla chips and three types of house salsa.
Bartender Josh Rooms, formerly of El Camion, has designed a cocktail list centred on tequila and Mezcal, including Arette: a tequila made in one of Mexico’s oldest distilleries using 100% agave, cultivated in fields on the outskirts of the town of Tequila.
(Photo: Cartel)
Cartel is also planning to host a ‘Mezcaleria’ in late June, showcasing over 100 mezcal varieties.
Open from 5pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, and 5pm-2am Friday and Saturday, the site is aiming to attract an evening and late-night crowd.
There will also be live music and DJs until late, from Thursday to Saturday.
