Aquum, Clapham

What
Aquum has re-launched as a late night drinking, dining and dancing destination.

Where
68-70 Clapham High St,
London
SW4 7UL

Experience
It was my first visit to Aquum which has been completely refurbished into a modern, vibrant restaurant – turned late night bar. It was the type of place you could imagine ordering shots and dancing until the early hours. I was joined by an old friend Lucinda who within minutes was speaking to a handsome man at the bar. I left her to it while I pondered over the menu.

My first drink of the evening was a Greek Negroni. A thirst quenching blend of Campari, Bombay Sapphire, sweet vermouth, and made Greek by the addition of Skinos Mastic liqueur. The liqueur made the usually bitter cocktail sweet enough to be palatable for the rest of the evening, so I ordered another.

The food menu offered contemporary Greek dishes which features sharing plates, fresh salads and grilled meats. Lucinda and I sampled a few sharing dips with sourdough bread. If you are familiar with the florescent pink dip found in your local supermarket labelled ‘taramasalta’, forget that. Aquum’s dip is made from natural cod roe, olive oil, sweet onion and lemon. It’s rich, salty and smooth – we mopped it all up. Octopus is a firm favourite of mine, and Aquum’s Chargrilled Octopus with fava beans, Kalamata olives and crunchy capers did not disappoint.

We sipped one final drink before going our separate ways and leaving the handsome man at the bar behind. This time it was a deconstructed Kir Noir, mixed with Pinot Noir syrup, cherry syrup and Mercier Champagne. It was like dessert for grown-ups. We did not get to dance the evening away this visit, but it was a school night.

Cost
Taramasalata £4
Chargrilled Octopus £12
Greek Negroni £9
Kir Noir £10