'I tried an Afro Fusion fine dining spot where the entire experience is comforting and personal'

Cally Munchy is an Afro Fusion hidden gem, nestled away in the African Centre in Southwark. From the outside, it looks as if it could be closed.

Don’t be fooled; as you step closer you are swept out of the chaos of London and met with a gorgeous smell of spices - not the kind that punches you in the face but a warm and delicate combination that gently lingers in the air, inviting you in.

Although quiet for a Friday lunch service, being immediately greeted with a smile from the chef and front-of-house saved me from being put off. As they prep food in the open kitchen, I’m already made to feel very welcome.

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The space is calming and relaxing; from the terracotta walls to interiors of pistachio greens and deep blues to an afrobeat soundtrack humming in the background, I am transported out of the city. I got the chance to try some of the options on the lunch menu which is offered between 12pm and 3pm from Wednesday to Saturday.

There’s a mix of salad boxes, small rice boxes and large rice boxes ranging from £5.75 to £18 depending on size and choice from cauliflower, crispy chicken, suya steak and granat chicken. Each of the boxes comes with fresh salad, salsa and plantain.

I went for the Suya steak rice box, as recommended to me by the front-of-house staff, and it did not disappoint. On a bed of jollof rice was soft plantain and a spiced salsa.

The soft and light rice with a homemade chilli sauce on the side added extra heat. The star of the show was, of course, the Suya beef; thin slices of medium rare steak that practically melted in my mouth. It's the type of meal where you dread the moment you finish it and that’s only after two bites in.

I then tried the chin chin - a West African snack that was moreish to say the least. Resembling small doughnut balls covered in cinnamon sugar, they were fluffy, warm and carefully balanced the flavour without being too sweet.

Once I finished eating and paid for my meal, the chef and front-of-house asked me, as they had asked a previous customer, what I thought of the food. Not in the way that people ask to check off a box but in a way that felt very genuine. My answer lit up their faces.

It all felt very personal - everything about the restaurant, from the way the food is presented to the way staff interact with each customer. Everything felt very careful and intentional and full of passion. Having the chance to share my experience with the people who made it all happen was the cherry on top.

The menu extends its variety for the dinner service which means another visit is due very soon. If you are in need of some new flavours and some comforting meals, Cally Munchy should be added to your list.

You can find Cally Munchy at 66 Great Suffolk St, London SE1 0BL.

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