Fonda is a contemporary Mexican restaurant at 12 Heddon Street in London, led by chef patron Santiago Lastra. Inspired by the informal family run fondas found across Mexico, it combines that convivial spirit with British produce, a modern two floor dining room and food designed to be shared.
A traditional comal is central to the kitchen, producing fresh tortillas for tacos, tostadas and quesadillas. Baja fish tacos, buttermilk fried chicken tacos, steak and grilled cheese costras, crab tostadas and truffle quesadillas show how the menu moves between recognisable formats and inventive seasonal combinations.
Larger plates include beef short rib with mole, halibut cooked al pastor, grilled wild mushrooms and pork shoulder carnitas for two. Crudo, ceviche and snacks such as roasted pumpkin seed mole add contrasting flavours and textures, while refried beans and pickled vegetables round out a shared meal.
Churros with chocolate and caramel, rice pudding, chocolate sorbet and Santiago’s cheesecake complete the menu. Margaritas, a Champagne paloma and thoughtful non alcoholic drinks support the food, and guests with allergies should speak with the team because nuts and other allergens feature in several dishes and shared preparation areas.
Address: 12 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BZ, England
Fonda Mayfair Menu
Sunday Specials
Cochinita Pibil
Serves 2-3. One of the great dishes of the Yucatán Peninsula. Blythburgh pork from Suffolk, marinated in achiote and citrus, wrapped in banana leaf and cooked overnight. Served in the middle of the table with corn tortillas, pickled onions, avocado and Habanero salsa
Bloody Maria
Lost Explorer Espadín mezcal, tomato, jalapeño brine, chilli salt
Snacks
Aguachile oyster, apple
Roasted pumpkin seed mole (V)
Mexican fresh cheese, salsa
Crudos, Ceviches
Seabass ceviche, salsa verde
Yellowfin tuna crudo
Heritage tomato ceviche (V)
King prawn cocktail
Tacos, Tostadas, Quesadillas
Baja fish tacos (N)
Buttermilk fried chicken tacos
Wild mushroom tacos (V)
Steak and grilled cheese costras
Beetroot and burrata tostadas (V)
Crab tostadas
Truffle quesadillas (V, N)
Fonda Signatures
served with tortillas
Bone-in short rib, mole (N)
Slow cooked lamb birria
Whole wild bream, fried Progreso-style
Roasted cauliflower, salsa roja (V, N)
Pork shoulder carnitas (for 2)
Sides
Refried beans, fresh cheese (V)
Pickled carrot and red cabbage (V)
Mexican red rice (V)
Avocado (V)
Salsas
Roja, Verde, Macha
Desserts
Chocolate sorbet, pasilla (V)
Fig and mezcal rice pudding (V)
Churros, chocolate and caramel (V)
Santiago’s cheesecake (V)
Lunch Chef’s Selection
Shared price 45 per person. Includes: Roasted pumpkin seed mole, Mexican fresh cheese, salsa, Baja fish taco, Pork shoulder carnitas, corn tortillas, Refried beans, fresh cheese, Fig and mezcal rice pudding. Supplement: truffle quesadilla (+8pp).
Roasted pumpkin seed mole
Mexican fresh cheese, salsa
Baja fish taco
Pork shoulder carnitas, corn tortillas
Refried beans, fresh cheese
Fig and mezcal rice pudding
Lunch Chef’s Selection – Vegetarian
Shared price 45 per person. Includes: Roasted pumpkin seed mole, Beetroot and burrata tostada, Battered squash Baja taco, Grilled wild mushrooms, pasilla glaze served with corn tortillas, Refried beans, fresh cheese, Fig and mezcal rice pudding. Supplement: Truffle quesadilla +8pp.
Roasted pumpkin seed mole
Beetroot and burrata tostada
Battered squash Baja taco (N)
Grilled wild mushrooms, pasilla glaze
served with corn tortillas
Refried beans, fresh cheese
Fig and mezcal rice pudding
A La Carte – Snacks
Roasted pumpkin seed mole (V)
Aguachile oyster, apple
Sweetcorn esquites (V)
A La Carte – Crudos, Ceviches
Yellowtail crudo
Seabass ceviche
salsa verde
Tomato and cherry ceviche (V)
A La Carte – Tacos, Tostadas, Quesadillas
two per portion
Tuna tostadas (N)
Baja fish tacos (N)
Wild mushroom tacos (V)
Beef fillet and grilled cheese costras
Buttermilk fried chicken tacos
Beetroot and burrata tostadas (V)
Truffle quesadillas (V, N)
A La Carte – Trio of Salsas
Roja, Verde, Macha
A La Carte – Fonda Signatures
served with tortillas
Bone-in short rib, mole (N)
Slow-cooked lamb birria
Yucatán-style butterflied bream
Roasted cauliflower, salsa roja (V, N)
Pork shoulder carnitas
A La Carte – Sides
Refried beans, fresh cheese (V)
Mexican red rice (V)
Pickled carrot and red cabbage (V)
A La Carte – Desserts
Churros, chocolate and caramel (V)
Santiago’s cheesecake (V)
Chocolate sorbet, pasilla (V)
Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding (V)
Chef’s Selection
65pp. Includes: Roasted pumpkin seed mole, Sweetcorn esquites, Yellowtail crudo, Baja fish taco, Beetroot and burrata tostada, Pork shoulder carnitas with corn tortillas, Refried beans, fresh cheese, Pickled carrot and red cabbage, Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding. Supplement: Truffle quesadilla (+8pp).
Roasted pumpkin seed mole
Sweetcorn esquites
Yellowtail crudo
Baja fish taco
Beetroot and burrata tostada
Pork shoulder carnitas
with corn tortillas
Refried beans, fresh cheese
Pickled carrot and red cabbage
Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding
Lunch Chef’s Selection
45pp. Includes: Roasted pumpkin seed mole, Sweetcorn esquites, Baja fish taco, Pork shoulder carnitas with corn tortillas, Refried beans, fresh cheese, Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding. Supplement: truffle quesadilla (+8pp).
Roasted pumpkin seed mole
Sweetcorn esquites
Baja fish taco
Pork shoulder carnitas
corn tortillas
Refried beans, fresh cheese
Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding
Lunch Chef’s Selection – Vegetarian
45pp. Includes: Sweetcorn esquites, Beetroot and burrata tostada, Battered squash Baja taco, Grilled wild mushrooms, pasilla glaze served with corn tortillas, Refried beans, fresh cheese, Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding. Supplement: Truffle quesadilla +8pp.
Sweetcorn esquites
Beetroot and burrata tostada
Battered squash Baja taco (N)
Grilled wild mushrooms, pasilla glaze
served with corn tortillas
Refried beans, fresh cheese
Strawberry and mezcal rice pudding
Cocktails
Gooseberry spritz (non-alc)
Fonda margarita
Champagne paloma
A La Carte – Cocktails
Fonda margarita
Champagne paloma
Gooseberry spritz (non-alc)
Drinks – Cocktails
Classic
Volcan blanco, triple sec, lime
Habanero
Volcan blanco, triple sec, lime, habanero
Fonda Signature Margarita
Volcan blanco tequila, verjus, rhubarb liqueur, chinotto. Also available in a 700ml bottle.
Fonda x Pensador espadín mezcal
verjus, rhubarb liqueur, chinotto
Drinks – Wine
Rathfinny Classic Cuvee Brut, NV
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier – Sussex, England; Balanced, red apple, biscuit
Moët & Chandon, Grand Vintage, 2016
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier – Champagne, France
Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, NV
Chardonnay – Champagne, France
Krug Grande Cuvée, 173ème Édition, NV
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier – Champagne, France
Drinks – Agave
A highly complex alcoholic spirit made from the fermented and then distilled juice of any cooked agave heart or ‘piña’. Mezcal made from the agave azul in the state of Jalisco and some neighbouring districts is referred to as tequila.
Volcan de mi Tierra Blanco
Huaxtla, Los Valles – Jalisco
Ocho Blanco
Arandas, Los Altos Sur – Jalisco
Tapatio Blanco
The Highlands – Jalisco
Desdeya Uno blanco
Arandas, Los Altos Sur – Jalisco
Drinks – Spirits
D’Aristi Xtabentún
Yucatán – Mexico
Sapling Gin
Clapham, London – England
El Destilado Rum
Santa Maria Tealixtac, Oaxaca – Mexico
Eminente Claro Rum
Villa Clara – Cuba
Drinks – Beer
Chela Lager
Fonda x Braybrooke Lager, Leicestershire, 0.38l
Mondo, Dennis Hopp’r
IPA, Battersea, London, 0.33l
Partizan Pale Ale
Pale Ale, Leicestershire, 0.33l
Five Point Porter
Porter, Hackney, 0.33l
Drinks – Tea
The Rare Tea Company is based in London and sources and supplies the world’s best loose leaf tea – direct from farmers and their tea gardens.