Cantaloupe in Shoreditch, London

Fluid Eating's Review of Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe was the first bar in the Shoreditch area when it opened in 1995. It is run by the people behind London’s Bunker, Alphabet, Vivo and The Fire Station. Despite its location, it isn’t overrun by Agyness Deyn haircuts, skinny jeans and Stabilo Boss highlighter pen make up. It is unintimidating and doesn’t try too hard.

With its deep red walls and low lighting, Cantaloupe is a great place to take a date. The music levels won’t have you shouting in their ear and the two-seater leather sofas mean you can move strategically closer if it’s all going well. Pretty orange lilies decorate the restaurant’s picnic benches balancing out the masculine metal ornaments and flat screen TVs. Arty-farty photo collages of South America cover selected walls reminding diners and drinkers of the inspiration behind the place.

The menu confirms Cantaloupe’s Latin American providence. Bar snacks in the form of Latin American street food and tapas are available for those not up to a big meal, while steaks, Moqueca (a Brazilian casserole) and Carbonada Criolla (an Argentinian casserole) all feature on the restaurant menu. After much debate - the chargrilled sea trout with new potatoes, chorizo, capers and wild mushrooms nearly had me - I started with beef empaniditas (two triangular beef pastry cases) before taking on a rather sizeable, perfectly rare and extremely tender sirloin steak, as was recommended by our very friendly waiter, who seemed to know his stuff. My mate Liz chose the veggie empaniditas before getting stuck into Piquillo peppers stuffed with rice, mushrooms and Manchego cheese, proving that those not tempted by the meat and fish on the menu are still looked after.

We noted a helpfully signposted wine list containing numerous bottles from Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Our meal was accompanied by a sturdy bottle of Malbec, which stood up to the strong flavours of my steak. As well as a wide selection of beers (including Warsteiner, Amstel and Budvar) and spirits (all premium), a range of cocktails is also available. Liz raved about her Mojito which ‘had a kick and wasn’t too sweet’ while my Passion Fruit Collins tasted healthy enough to constitute one of my five a day.

Neither of us really needed a pudding but after a half-hour break (and some encouragement from our waiter), the menu got the better of us. Liz chose dark Peruvian chocolate mousse and pistachio ice cream, which was such a good combo that she said she’d like to have it at her wedding breakfast (she hasn’t found the groom yet). My cheesecake was a perfect size and came with a generous teaspoon of dulce de leche leaving me sleepily content.

Cantaloupe ticks a lot of boxes. It’s perfect for post-work beers, dates, birthday bashes and cocktails with friends – it even has a quiz night on Tuesdays. Don’t forget its food though as you’d be hard pushed to find a better, authentic and reasonably priced Latin American menu this side of the Atlantic.

Lucy Edge

Cantaloupe’s bar design is the perfect setting for an after work drink or a night out with friends. The dim lighting allows the other senses to take in the atmosphere and to unwind. The rustic wooden tables and bar gives the Cantaloupe design a vintage feel matching the bar’s history and its continuous popularity throughout the years. Nevertheless, Cantaloupe’s collection of music and people bring a new twist to the old classic style bar.

Cantaloupe Bar Hours:
Mon–Fri: 11am-Midnight
Sat: Noon-Midnight
Sun: Noon-11:30pm

Cantaloupe Restaurant Hours:
Mon–Fri: Noon-3pm & 6pm-11pm
Sat: 7pm-11pm
Sun: Sunday Brunch Only from Noon to 4pm (Updated 22/07/2008)

Cantaloupe Food & Drink Menus

Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at Cantaloupe. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's offerings and assciated prices.

Cantaloupe Food menu

Cantaloupe has a selection of delicious choice bar snacks and dishes. Throughout the many years of Cantaloupe’s existence, the most sought after food are the Tapas. These dishes are exclusively selected from travels around the Mediterranean and Latin America to assure the customer the most authentic cuisine. All produce is naturally and ethically sourced in the most eco-friendly way to create an array of succulent tastes. With an extensive bocaditos y entradas (snacks and sides) menu, fine vegetarian dishes and broad range of platters Cantaloupe offers choices to satisfy any mood, craving or culinary desire.

Item	Price
Main Courses	£13.00
Moqueca - Brazilian casserole of king prawns, calamari, mussels, chicken, peppers, tomatoes & cashew nuts with Moros y Cristianos
Grill	£13.00
Bife de ancho - Rib-eye steak -
Bar Snacks	£10.00
Spanish cuts and cheese plate for two - jamon Serrano, chorizo Gran Vella, boquerones, Garrotxa, manchego, Idiazabal, caperberries and flatbread
Bar Snacks	£4.00
Roasted root vegetables and sweet potato soup

Cantaloupe Drink menu

Cantaloupe has an exquisite selection of drinks including fine wines, beers and cocktails. Cantaloupe’s reputation for the cool variety of wines is strongly upheld ranging from fruity to classy. The extensive wine list includes smooth Reds, crisp Whites and delicate Rose wine. A mix of refined cocktails is featured on Cantaloupe’s drink menu. Each drink is created with high quality and taste. Cocktails at the bar cost between £6.50 & £7.50

Item	Description	Price
Cocktails	Kir Royale Champagne and crème de cassis.	£5.50
Bottled Beer	Budvar.	£3.50
Red Wine (glass)	Cuvee de la Saint.	£3.00
White Wine (glass)	Colombard, Cotes de Gascogne, Ducourneau 02.	£3.20

Cantaloupe Map

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“I like the variety of Cantaloupe. I like the big tables. I like the sound track. I like the creative thinking regarding the decor. I like the sexy people. I like that it's in Shoreditch. I like that all the cool people who work in Liverpool Street like it too. A decent range in drinks too.” Rating: — Leigh, Tooting (24 Jan 2010)

“speechless i dream of the steak, da foods second to none... Cantaloupe staff are cool happy people... look forward to eating there again.” Rating: — Londoner, London (01 Aug 2009)

“Been coming to this Shoreditch bar for years and when it first opened it was certainly one of the coolest bars in London. But alone with the whole area of Shoreditch, that edge has gone slightly, not to stay it's gone down hill, just it's not the same! Not sure how to put it but if you've been a regular to Shoreditch over the years you know what i mean....” Rating: — ditch, London (15 Jul 2009)

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