Magdalen

Please contact the restaurant directly if you wish to make a booking for more than 6 people.

The story behind London’s critically-acclaimed Magdalen is one of friends and family pulling together to make a gastronomic dream a reality. Starting life in 2007, Magdalen’s premises are tucked away on Southwark’s Tooley Street, around the corner from its namesake Magdalen Street. It’s here where French cuisine meets old English classics, attracting rave reviews from the very beginning. The key is robust food that the brains and bellies behind Magdalen actually love to eat; fresh, seasonal produce from British and European markets, prepared simply and beautifully presented.

Magdalen’s four owner operators are a tightly-knit crew – husband and wife James and Emma, their friend David, and James’ father Roger. The younger three of the team met while cheffing at Chiswick’s La Trompette. Honing their collective skills at other renowned establishments such as Putney Bridge’s The Fat Duck and the Mandarin Oriental, they began to foster a dream in which they struck out on their own, bringing together traditional French and British cuisine in a restaurant modest in size, adventurous in the kitchen, but with a strong enough foundation in time-honoured culinary traditions that it could last the distance. Magdalen certainly has. For nigh on ten years, this cosy eatery down Southwark’s Tooley Street, right by London Bridge station, has maintained a loyal following.

The menus at Magdalen emphasise charcuterie, robust sauces, and simple, perfect puddings. Attuned to the seasons, James, Emma, and David source produce from favoured suppliers found at markets in Britain and on the continent. Eschewing the tired ceremony that many restaurants of the same pedigree feel obliged to uphold, Magdalen is all about enjoying food with real gusto. A typical summer dish might be a whole baked fish or grilled veal chop; and when winter blows in, venison pie or a whole roast pheasant. Magdalen’s menus are aimed at groups who intend to share, and to this end they make a big deal about hosting private dining parties at their Tooley Street, Southwark premises. Upstairs, Magdalen can accommodate up to 60 people, or the whole venue, convenient to London Bridge, can be hired out for even larger celebrations. Once again, these feasts feature the gutsy food that Magdalen has become synonymous with, subject to the seasons and seasonal availability. Magdalen is a dream come true for London dining.