Review of LIMIN Southbank

There’s no doubt that people here in London love meeting up with friends to chew the fat over good food, good drinks and good vibes all round. Here in Blighty we might call this “hanging out”, but to our Trinidadian friends, this is LIMIN, to “hang out” is to “lime”

Trinidadian-born Sham Mahabir first introduced Limin to the eager tastebuds of visitors to Spitalfields market, an instant hit, it wasn’t too long before Sham found a more permanent location in Gabriels Wharf, Southbank. The perfect location to include indoor and outdoor beach club vibes. The menu features flavours drawn from various Caribbean islands including the multiculturally influenced flavours of Trinidad & Tobago.

 A Caribbean restaurant in the depths of the British winter has a certain yin and yang dynamic, and Limin is leaning into this with an apres-ski style lodge, serving up Caribbean twists on old classics. There's a croque-monsieur with scotch bonnet spiced ham, and fish and chips with a coconut curry twist.

Inside expect a warm and cosy dining experience, the restaurant is decked out with twinkling fairy lights, fir trees and cosy blankets and don't forget to look out for the photobooth to create a few cherished memories.

First up: the doubles—a beloved Trinidadian street food classic. This dish features curried chana (chickpeas) served on soft, pillowy bara (a type of flatbread) and topped with tangy, spicy sauces.

Having savored doubles roadside in Trinidad, with sauce dripping onto my shoes, enjoying it in a restaurant setting felt almost refined. Yet, it was every bit as joyous. We gleefully cleaned the plate, savoring the carnival spirit of the island. Bursting with flavor and utterly delicious, it’s undoubtedly a must-try on the menu!

Auntie’s chicken curry is wonderfully authentic. On the bone, tender and cooked in Limin’s own secret spice mix, and mopping it up with the layered and buttery Sham’s Roti is a real treat.

We sampled the Shamburger, a kind of pulled jerk chicken burger with melted cheese, gherkins and a jerk gravy, and I swear to St. Nick himself that it absolutely works. It was so good I could have ordered another!

There is a lack of really good vegan desserts in restaurants, but LIMIN really came through with their Choco-Nut Dream vegan dessert, which is an absolute triumph with a rich Belgian chocolate and coconut filling inside a crisp date and nut crust. It’s quite spectacular.

We would wholeheartedly recommend calling your friends, getting a date in the diary and organising a “lime” at LIMIN. If you can do that over the festive period, we would also recommend the rum punch. It’s a cockle-warming winner. Book a table now at www.limin.co.uk

Address: 56 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PP

Written by Rick Hartley

Photography by Nyla Sammons