The story
Levan channels the bistronomy spirit of Paris, Copenhagen, and Berlin with modern European dishes on Peckham's Blenheim Grove. Naples-born Rani Raimondi leads the kitchen after succeeding Philip Limpl. His seasonal cooking balances refinement with the relaxed vibe of this neighbourhood spot. Signature plates include the yellow courgette vol-au-vent with Vin Jaune and smoked yolk.
The menu rotates with the seasons, offering a set lunch for £20 over two courses or £25 for three. Locals frequently order Sunday steak frites alongside the shifting daily specials. This modern European sensibility encourages sharing through plates like comté fries with saffron aioli. Hearty mains like the quail cotoletta feature Cantal cheese, jambon blanc, and remoulade.
Deep-blue walls, mahogany-topped tables, and concrete flooring define the dining space near Peckham Rye station. Guests may choose between the cosy room or comfortable stools at the kitchen counter. An open-plan kitchen displays the preparation while a cool soundtrack sets the mood. The Good Food Guide recognition highlights how this venue maintains high standards.
Pairings emphasize a love affair with French wine, focusing heavily on the Jura region. Rare bottles like Château-Chalon vin jaune appear alongside organic and biodynamic selections. The adjacent Bar Levan sells these low-intervention wines, plus ales aged in wine barrels. Sweet endings round out the meal with chocolate ganache, tonka beans, and cherry yogurt.
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*Chef Philip Limpl has returned to Austria and been replaced by Naples-born Rani Raimondi.* From the moment we walked in on a cold January day, we were greeted with warm smiles and immediately felt at ease with the casual vibe that emanates from this neighbourhood gem – a tribute to New York DJ Larry Levan. Inside, the dining space is fitted out with deep-blue walls, mahogany-topped tables, concrete flooring, dark blue banquettes and an open-plan kitchen. And, of course, there's a cool soundtrack. As for the cooking, expect Austrian chef Philip Limpl's ‘bistronomy’-inspired sharing plates of seasonal, contemporary food. We kicked things off with a hillock of chickpea fries topped with Comté cheese plus some saffron aïoli on the side, followed by beef tartare innovatively paired with persimmon and green peppercorns. Smoked chalk stream trout, which arrived with crushed potatoes, charred tenderstem broccoli and verjus, was light and tasty – another success. To conclude, a chocolate and sticky caramel torte worked surprisingly well with a wild mushroom ice cream (made from fungal ‘scrappings’ to avoid waste). If you have a fondness for natural wines, then you've come to the right place: there's a wine bar and shop next door, while the comprehensive inventory of organic, low-intervention and biodynamic bottles from across Europe starts from £32. The Jura (a region that often gets overlooked) receives special attention – look for the ‘vin jaune’ jewel, Château-Chalon 1993.
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