A staple across multiple chef residencies at Naughty Piglets. The filling rotates — past versions have included ham, cheese, and mushroom — but the format stays the same: golden, crunchy exterior with a molten centre. At around 2 pounds each they're a low-commitment way to start. Yelp reviewers flag these as a consistent highlight regardless of which chef is in residence.
Tips from diners
Order two per person minimum. They're small and cheap and the best thing to eat while you wait for your wine recommendation.
Burrata appears frequently across chef residencies. It's a crowd-pleaser that different chefs interpret in their own way — some serve it with roasted peppers, others with tomatoes or grilled stone fruit. Yelp reviewers mention it across multiple visits as a reliable order. The quality of the cheese itself is consistently good.
Tips from diners
Order this alongside one or two other starters and a natural wine — the sharing format is how the restaurant is designed to be enjoyed.
Devon crab appears regularly across chef residencies, prepared differently each time. Past versions have featured it with cured egg yolk, herb salads, or simply dressed. Yelp reviews highlight crab as one of the dishes mentioned across multiple visits. The quality of the raw ingredient is the constant — whatever the resident chef does with it tends to work.
Tips from diners
Check their Instagram before you go — the menu changes with each guest chef so the crab isn't always available. When it is, order it.
When scallops appear on the menu (which is often, given the emphasis on seasonal British produce), they're typically Orkney-sourced and seared. Past preparations have included lardo and pumpkin, brown butter, and herb dressings. At around 16 pounds this is one of the pricier items on the small plates menu but consistently praised when available.
Tips from diners
Ask Margaux or the team to pair a wine with this — the scallops are a great match for the Burgundy-style natural whites she stocks.
Pork belly has appeared across several residencies in different forms — slow-roasted, braised, or BBQ-glazed. The preparation changes but the dish tends to be one of the more substantial items on the sharing menu. Reviewers who visited during different residencies consistently mention pork dishes as highlights, which tracks with the restaurant's name.
Tips from diners
This is one of the heartier dishes on the menu. If you're ordering three or four small plates, skip this or share it — the portions are generous for the price.
Founded by Margaux Aubry and Joe Sharratt in 2015 on Brixton Water Lane, between Brixton and Herne Hill. Originally a neighbourhood bistro with a fixed kitchen team, Naughty Piglets has evolved into a natural wine bar hosting guest chef residencies that rotate every few weeks. Margaux, from Lyon, curates the wine cellar — one of the best natural wine selections in south London. Joe has since moved to his own pub (The Bear in Camberwell), and the kitchen is now a revolving door of creative chefs bringing their own menus. The front tables with dangling warm-lit bulbs are the best seats.
Tell the staff what you normally drink and let them choose your wine. Margaux's cellar is the real draw here — she stocks bottles from small European producers you won't find elsewhere in south London.
Ask for a table at the front near the window. The warm-lit bulbs and energy from the open kitchen make it the best spot. The basement seating is moodier but feels disconnected from the buzz upstairs.
The menu changes completely every few weeks when a new guest chef arrives. Check their Instagram or website before booking to see who's cooking and what style of food to expect.
Thursday to Saturday lunch service is quieter and more relaxed than evening service. Easier to get a good table and the staff have more time to talk you through the wines.
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