When I heard that a new chilli restaurant was opening in the
Bearpit, I knew this was somewhere I was going to try very hard to love. I
think it’s the attraction of a restaurant that is confident enough to serve one
thing. Mathilda’s Chilli Bar serves chilli. Admittedly it comes in two
varieties, but that’s about it. Like chilli? Go to Mathilda’s. Don’t like
chilli? Don’t. It’s as simple as that.
And speaking of simplicity, Mathilda’s is definitely setting
out its stall in terms of décor. Black walls, white tiling and tea-lights in
treacle tins are about as decorated as it gets (if you discount the row of tiny
cacti and Tabasco sauce bottles above the kitchen). The effect is striking.
