Sebb’s

Descending the industrial metal stairs to Sebb’s dark, atmospheric basement might evoke the 80s underground hangouts of a mis-spent youth, while the interior is all arched brick tunnels with diner-style booths and neon/crimson accents. The name is an acronym for its commercial address on Miller Street (Sixty Eight Basement Bar) and this edgy younger sibling of Margo upstairs is the latest addition to Scoop restaurants’ on-trend stable of informal small plate offerings – this time with the addition of fire.

The open kitchen offers a gallop through a dizzying array of global street-food influences. Luckily, the pace and range is backed up by culinary skill, quality ingredients and full-on flavour. Kick off in the Med with rolled lahmacun flatbreads or well-spiced lamb skewers atop garlicky labneh. Hop over to Jamaica with nicely caramelised jerk pork belly on seasoned hispi cabbage and apple or take in the unusual but tasty Indian-Yemeni mash-up of tandoori chalk stream trout with pokey zhoug and soothing hibiscus raita. After such a varied smörgåsbord of delights, dessert is a simple affair – either barbecued plums with coconut yoghurt or the house tiramasu. 

Cocktails (towards the sweeter end) appear to be the draw for most punters, though craft beers are also quaffed and there's an interesting collection of draught wines by the glass or 500ml carafe, including an excellent skin-contact rosé from Puglia. Personable young staff dart back and forth, and the conversational buzz is amplified by the vaulted ceiling (a bit like the whispering gallery at St Paul's Cathedral), while a cunningly integrated DJ booth brings vinyl sounds to the mix as food service gives way to late-night drinks. It’s certainly fun, fresh, flavoursome and frenetic – although that might not suit everyone.