Latest reviews in Central Croydon, London, United Kingdom

Black Sheep - by Cate_Brisby

Cate_Brisby — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:18:40 +0000

Review by Cate_Brisby

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8670 9990

Website: http://www.barbarblacksheep.com/

Gorgeous cocktailsGorgeous cocktails

Numidie - by Cate_Brisby

Cate_Brisby — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:18:12 +0000

Review by Cate_Brisby

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8766 6166

Website: http://www.numidie.co.uk/

Tags: friendly, mediterranean, intimate

Had a really good meal there earlier this year. One thing I would say though was that the food wasn't quite as warm as I'd have liked but it was still extremely good.Had a really good meal there earlier this year. One thing I would say though was that the food wasn't quite as warm as I'd have liked but it was still extremely good.

South East Thai Restaurant - by Cate_Brisby

Cate_Brisby — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:15:36 +0000

Review by Cate_Brisby

Rating: 5.00I went here after reading a favourable online review. The surroundings aren't amazing, but they're clean and tidy. The food and service, however, were superb. The service was extremely polite and the food was delicious and served very quickly. Really light and really fresh flavours. Extremely good value for money.I went here after reading a favourable online review. The surroundings aren't amazing, but they're clean and tidy. The food and service, however, were superb. The service was extremely polite and the food was delicious and served very quickly. Really light and really fresh flavours. Extremely good value for money.

The Mansion - big change by goldenhead

goldenhead — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:52:24 +0000

Review by goldenhead

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8761 9016

Website: http://www.themansiondulwich.co.uk/

Tags: beer garden, gastro pub, friendly

Went there for dinner last Thursday and was excellent. A new chef and manager have taken over, very simple food but cooked incredibly well and very friendly service. Would defiantly recommend.Went there for dinner last Thursday and was excellent. A new chef and manager have taken over, very simple food but cooked incredibly well and very friendly service. Would defiantly recommend.

Lorenzo - Lorenzo by Snowy

Snowy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:29:22 +0000

Review by Snowy

Rating: 4.00

Tags: italian, good value, friendly

We went here for lunch and it was recommended by a friend as they do a cheap lunch which is great value for a fiver. The lunch includes one dish and either garlic bread or salad. We hoped to take my mum and dad there as well but went another time on a Sunday and the lunch special oddly isn't offered then. The staff were friendly and helpful and we enjoyed watching a waiter taking a pint of lager to a table and jokingly placing it down in front of the a boy before moving it to his dad. The boys face was a complete picture! Would go back a lot.We went here for lunch and it was recommended by a friend as they do a cheap lunch which is great value for a fiver. The lunch includes one dish and either garlic bread or salad. We hoped to take my mum and dad there as well but went another time on a Sunday and the lunch special oddly isn't offered then. The staff were friendly and helpful and we enjoyed watching a waiter taking a pint of lager to a table and jokingly placing it down in front of the a boy before moving it to his dad. The boys face was a complete picture! Would go back a lot.

Gipsy Rose Cafe - Greasy Spoon forever by hither

hither — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:15:01 +0000

Review by hither

Rating: 4.00

Tags: quick bite, good brew, crowded

This is an absolute cornerstone of the local little parade of shops, and always full to bursting with tradesmen stopping off for breakfast or lunch (sadly it isn't open for dinner).

There is, however, still room for the likes of us - and since the smoking ban we have been more likely to take advantage) and we have been in quite often for breakfast. This is pretty standard greasy spoon fare: eggs done fried or scrambled, bacon, sausage, beans, and chips with everything.

At lunchtime you can have good old favourites like liver and bacon or lamb chops, followed by treacle sponge and custard.

The staff/owners are friendly and efficient, which is exactly what you want.

It's a perfect example of the genre!This is an absolute cornerstone of the local little parade of shops, and always full to bursting with tradesmen stopping off for breakfast or lunch (sadly it isn't open for dinner).

There is, however, still room for the likes of us - and since the smoking ban we have been more likely to take advantage) and we have been in quite often for breakfast. This is pretty standard greasy spoon fare: eggs done fried or scrambled, bacon, sausage, beans, and chips with everything.

At lunchtime you can have good old favourites like liver and bacon or lamb chops, followed by treacle sponge and custard.

The staff/owners are friendly and efficient, which is exactly what you want.

It's a perfect example of the genre!

Mango Steen - Long may it last by hither

hither — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:05:22 +0000

Review by hither

Rating: 5.00I confess that we haven't been in here particularly recently, and now I am starting to feel guilty about that. This is a great little restaurant and it would be such a shame if it closed through lack of business.

On the occasions we have been to this restaurant, we have been very impressed by the high standard of both the food and the service. The staff are all extremely friendly and very accomodating,and the food is really delicious.

The food is apparently vietnamese which seems pretty similar to thai, and very tasty too!

Do go along to this lovely little restaurant and help to keep some variety in Gipsy Hill.I confess that we haven't been in here particularly recently, and now I am starting to feel guilty about that. This is a great little restaurant and it would be such a shame if it closed through lack of business.

On the occasions we have been to this restaurant, we have been very impressed by the high standard of both the food and the service. The staff are all extremely friendly and very accomodating,and the food is really delicious.

The food is apparently vietnamese which seems pretty similar to thai, and very tasty too!

Do go along to this lovely little restaurant and help to keep some variety in Gipsy Hill.

Passage To India - Our very decent local takeaway by hither

hither — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:53:14 +0000

Review by hither

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 86707602

This is our local takeaway (and to our shame we often have them deliver even though we live about two minutes' walk away).

The food is generally pretty good, and the menu is very extensive - pretty much every indian dish you have heard of is included. They have some specialities which are particularly lovely.

We have never eaten in, and aren't very tempted to because it always seems to be practially empty so I don't imagine there would be much atmosphere. However, they do have a buffet on a Sunday which we keep meaning to try out - it sounds like pretty good value.

Having said all that, I must admit that when it comes to indian food, I think they are all pretty good so maybe I am not the best judge!This is our local takeaway (and to our shame we often have them deliver even though we live about two minutes' walk away).

The food is generally pretty good, and the menu is very extensive - pretty much every indian dish you have heard of is included. They have some specialities which are particularly lovely.

We have never eaten in, and aren't very tempted to because it always seems to be practially empty so I don't imagine there would be much atmosphere. However, they do have a buffet on a Sunday which we keep meaning to try out - it sounds like pretty good value.

Having said all that, I must admit that when it comes to indian food, I think they are all pretty good so maybe I am not the best judge!

Il Ponte - Not it's finest hour by mental42

mental42 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:02:37 +0000

Review by mental42

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8761 3371

Website: http://www.sinclairnet.co.uk/ilponte

Visited this restaurant for the 4th time with my wife, two kids and another couple. The meal was to celebrate my son's confirmation and having been to the restaurant 3 times previously we felt confident of a good meal. Well we were disappointed!!

The service was poor all the way through our 2 hour stay is the first thing to state. There appeared to be a large family gathering to mark the first birthday of a young boy I believe.

The effect of this on not just us but also the other clientele, of which there were surprisingly many for a Sunday evening (RECESSION!!) was that we were made to wait for our orders to be taken, our drinks to be brought out in good time and at one stage my son being told quite sternly to hold on while the understaffed waiting staff served the larger gathering.

The food we received was fair but certainly not worthy of the high price attached to it and the pressure put on us to buy even more starters than we felt we needed was unnecessary and set a poor tone. Had the standard of the food been better it may have justified the insistence of what I assume was the manager.

As I said, we were with friends but if they were not present we would have refused to pay the extortionate 12.5% service charge because if anything we deserved a 12.5% reduction to what was a disappointing meal overall.

We won't go back and I won't recommend this restaurant to anybody who asks in future which is a shame.

It is a nice venue and you do feel comfortable but ultimately you have to enjoy your meal and within reason feel you are getting decent value for money.

On this last on what will be our last occasion at this restaurant that was certainly not the case.

For the money you are likely to spend it needs to be a lot better for it's future customers. Visited this restaurant for the 4th time with my wife, two kids and another couple. The meal was to celebrate my son's confirmation and having been to the restaurant 3 times previously we felt confident of a good meal. Well we were disappointed!!

The service was poor all the way through our 2 hour stay is the first thing to state. There appeared to be a large family gathering to mark the first birthday of a young boy I believe.

The effect of this on not just us but also the other clientele, of which there were surprisingly many for a Sunday evening (RECESSION!!) was that we were made to wait for our orders to be taken, our drinks to be brought out in good time and at one stage my son being told quite sternly to hold on while the understaffed waiting staff served the larger gathering.

The food we received was fair but certainly not worthy of the high price attached to it and the pressure put on us to buy even more starters than we felt we needed was unnecessary and set a poor tone. Had the standard of the food been better it may have justified the insistence of what I assume was the manager.

As I said, we were with friends but if they were not present we would have refused to pay the extortionate 12.5% service charge because if anything we deserved a 12.5% reduction to what was a disappointing meal overall.

We won't go back and I won't recommend this restaurant to anybody who asks in future which is a shame.

It is a nice venue and you do feel comfortable but ultimately you have to enjoy your meal and within reason feel you are getting decent value for money.

On this last on what will be our last occasion at this restaurant that was certainly not the case.

For the money you are likely to spend it needs to be a lot better for it's future customers.

Los Toreros - wrong name by Ferran

Ferran — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:45:56 +0000

Review by Ferran

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 8771 0087

Tags: live music, friendly, tapas

Observing their logo of a picture with a bull and matador the name of this place looks wrong ,as a matador in spanish is spelled "torero" with one R and not double, unless the owner consumed too much Rioja at the moment of ordering the name to be printed or either he or she is not a genuine spaniard. In this case is written in plural so the bullfighters should be "Los toreros". I better have a double amontillado now before I get gored. Adios. Observing their logo of a picture with a bull and matador the name of this place looks wrong ,as a matador in spanish is spelled "torero" with one R and not double, unless the owner consumed too much Rioja at the moment of ordering the name to be printed or either he or she is not a genuine spaniard. In this case is written in plural so the bullfighters should be "Los toreros". I better have a double amontillado now before I get gored. Adios.

Royal Albert - Good old fashioned pub by calamitycaz

calamitycaz — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:31:58 +0000

Review by calamitycaz

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8655 7900

Tags: traditional pub, standard pub food, beer garden

Traditional pub, with a reasonably priced Sunday roast (rare in CP). Very friendly helpful family run place. Nice to sit outside, but a bit dark inside. Traditional pub, with a reasonably priced Sunday roast (rare in CP). Very friendly helpful family run place. Nice to sit outside, but a bit dark inside.

White Hart - Best pub in the Palace! by calamitycaz

calamitycaz — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:24:53 +0000

Review by calamitycaz

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8768 1000

Tags: beer garden, excellent pub food

I think this is the best pub in the Palace... it's got a great feel to it, up-market and well decked out but not too trendy. A range of board games to play and a gorgeous funky beer garden outside which rocks in Summer. Great range of beers and wines. Friendly service (usually!) Good food too (sometimes a bit small "gastro" portions though but last time they'd got better). They also often have a BBQ going in the Summer... marvellous!
I think this is the best pub in the Palace... it's got a great feel to it, up-market and well decked out but not too trendy. A range of board games to play and a gorgeous funky beer garden outside which rocks in Summer. Great range of beers and wines. Friendly service (usually!) Good food too (sometimes a bit small "gastro" portions though but last time they'd got better). They also often have a BBQ going in the Summer... marvellous!

Gurkha Cottage - Go Gurkha go! by calamitycaz

calamitycaz — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:20:41 +0000

Review by calamitycaz

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8771 7372

This is without a doubt the best curry in Crystal Palace. Lovely, polite, friendly staff, excellent service, free welcome sherry shots, very reasonable... And they do a take-away too. . Go try it! :o)This is without a doubt the best curry in Crystal Palace. Lovely, polite, friendly staff, excellent service, free welcome sherry shots, very reasonable... And they do a take-away too. . Go try it! :o)

Domali Cafe - Best white hot chocolate anywhere ever! by calamitycaz

calamitycaz — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:51:41 +0000

Review by calamitycaz

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8768 0096

Website: http://www.domali.co.uk/

Tags: quick bite, cultured, crowded

Domali is a little gem of a place - a charming arty rustic veggie restaurant/cafe. It has a great atmosphere - very relaxing and chilled without being too "quiet". Best coffee/choc ever, good beer & wine, good food = mainly veggie chunky chips, salads, fish. It also has yummy desserts and cakes - you have to try the rich chocolate torte.
Most importantly of all, is it serves lovely coffee, and HOT WHITE CHOCOLATE which is DIVINE!! So go there immediately and order one!
There's a lovely sunny garden at the back which is great in summer.
The service is a bit "hit and miss" so don't go there if you're in a hurry!!Domali is a little gem of a place - a charming arty rustic veggie restaurant/cafe. It has a great atmosphere - very relaxing and chilled without being too "quiet". Best coffee/choc ever, good beer & wine, good food = mainly veggie chunky chips, salads, fish. It also has yummy desserts and cakes - you have to try the rich chocolate torte.
Most importantly of all, is it serves lovely coffee, and HOT WHITE CHOCOLATE which is DIVINE!! So go there immediately and order one!
There's a lovely sunny garden at the back which is great in summer.
The service is a bit "hit and miss" so don't go there if you're in a hurry!!

Westow House - Lovely place, food should be better by ONscotland

ONscotland — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:58:14 +0000

Review by ONscotland

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8670 0654

Website: http://www.antic-ltd.com/westow.htm

Tags: relaxed, young and fun, friendly

The Westow House is a recent addition to Crystal Palace / Upper Norwood (formerly the pub was called The Bluebottle), and after a recent refurb is a delightful place to spend some time. If you like chandaliers and drapes. Which I do!

Just don't eat the food - it's not great. Chips tasted like I made them (and I don't mean home-made, just badly made) and service can be a bit hit, miss and apologetic.

But if it's a drink or few you're after, I can think of worse places to go...The Westow House is a recent addition to Crystal Palace / Upper Norwood (formerly the pub was called The Bluebottle), and after a recent refurb is a delightful place to spend some time. If you like chandaliers and drapes. Which I do!

Just don't eat the food - it's not great. Chips tasted like I made them (and I don't mean home-made, just badly made) and service can be a bit hit, miss and apologetic.

But if it's a drink or few you're after, I can think of worse places to go...

Tamnag Thai - A hidden gem by Dragonfly

Dragonfly — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:01:58 +0000

Review by Dragonfly

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8761 5959

Website: http://www.tamnagthai.com/

Tags: thai, crowded, good value

I went to Tamnag Thai last night and ate one of the best Thai meals I have ever had. It can even rival the best Thai restaurants in Thailand. The food was served quickly and presented beautifully (many dishes are decorated with carved vegetables). The staff were very attentive. Six of us shared a platter of mixed starters and giant grilled king prawns, both of which were delicious. For the main course I had the Chilli Crispy Duck with noodles and lemon grass with rice. WOW! It was delicious and perfectly cooked! I can't think of a bad word to say about it. It was a perfect evening! I couldn't believe how busy it was, even on a monday night. It was one of our friends birthdays so I went to the bar and spoke to Sam (one of the waiters) and he organised a surprise desert for us. It was very touching and it really completed an already perfect evening. Just before we left, the waitress presented a hand painted silk parasol as a birthday present to our friend.

We had a wonderful night and will definitely come back.

Thank you Tamnag Thai!I went to Tamnag Thai last night and ate one of the best Thai meals I have ever had. It can even rival the best Thai restaurants in Thailand. The food was served quickly and presented beautifully (many dishes are decorated with carved vegetables). The staff were very attentive. Six of us shared a platter of mixed starters and giant grilled king prawns, both of which were delicious. For the main course I had the Chilli Crispy Duck with noodles and lemon grass with rice. WOW! It was delicious and perfectly cooked! I can't think of a bad word to say about it. It was a perfect evening! I couldn't believe how busy it was, even on a monday night. It was one of our friends birthdays so I went to the bar and spoke to Sam (one of the waiters) and he organised a surprise desert for us. It was very touching and it really completed an already perfect evening. Just before we left, the waitress presented a hand painted silk parasol as a birthday present to our friend.

We had a wonderful night and will definitely come back.

Thank you Tamnag Thai!

The Alma - A nice pub by ONscotland

ONscotland — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:30:25 +0000

Review by ONscotland

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8653 3223

Tags: live music, independent pub, pool

Friendly staff, a mock-coal fire and comfy seats.
What more do you need?
Well, some snacks might be nice, rather than just a selection of crips and Cheesey Moments. ;)
That said, it's a nice place for a pint.Friendly staff, a mock-coal fire and comfy seats.
What more do you need?
Well, some snacks might be nice, rather than just a selection of crips and Cheesey Moments. ;)
That said, it's a nice place for a pint.