SAF has now sadly closed its doors. This restaurant is permanently closed.
But demand changes what a smart business dishes up, and Saf recently updated their entire menu to suit a more universal vegan palate (which is very friendly if you’re gluten free).
Everything else changed. Mains like the sausage and mash, all day breakfast, and burger will satiate the comfort foodie’s appetite, while fusion takes on foods from further afield (banh mi with tempeh and ramen, for instance) are available for the slightly more adventurous. Those who follow a strictly raw diet haven’t been left out completely as the cashew cheese selection and raw pad thai (which is excellent) are still being served.
The wine and cocktail list has been pared down considerably, but I’m happy enough with what’s available. I’d rather a limited selection of drinks done right than an elaborate list of bullshit.
Oh, and at the weekend, a nut roast is available (I haven’t tried it, but please let me know if you do).
Now onto the menu items I have tried:
- Bangers & Mash. Home style comfort food at its best. The sausages are Vegusto, I think.
- Sauerkraut Dumplings. I like the idea, but the flavour of the kraut is lost in the bold sauce. I’d swap the sauce for something lighter, or fill the dumplings with something less, um, big, than sauerkraut.
- Vietnamese Banh Mi. Not at all traditional, but absolutely delicious. The mayo is generous and the serving is unique (in halves, one with herbs, the other with pickled carrot and daikon).
- London’s Best Vegan Burger. Get it with the cashew cheese. The best thing about this burger is that it tastes like it and its toppings have come off an actual grill.
- Tempranillo Wine. I can’t be seen in public without wine. I have a reputation to uphold, you know.
I know I haven’t said much about the individual dishes. Admittedly this is mostly due to tiny samplings of dishes ordered by dining companions when they weren’t (or were) looking, so obviously I need to go back to order everything for myself. I had an entire banh mi, however, and I’d order it a million times again.
I should note the salad dressing is ace, which makes a change from that which is served with most other salads in this country: air.
I’m pretty excited about this new menu. I loved the old restaurant in Old St. and even had my 18th birthday party there but have been a little disappointed with the standard of the food at the High St. Ken restaurant. Hopefully they’ll win me back!
A lot of people have said the same… hopefully the new menu will impress! I’m glad to see they’re willing to try new ideas to make their restaurant concept work, which gives me hope.
Can’t believe Saf isn’t all raw anymore, but the new menu sounds great! I have to admit, I LOVED my raw meal at the Shoreditch restaurant (back when it existed), but I think this is a good change.
I really enjoyed a meal I had at Saf Kensington 2-3 years ago, but I much prefer it as it is now. We’ll go when you’re baaaack!