Latest reviews for Restaurants in Clapham South, London, United Kingdom

Donna Margherita - antonio carraturo by antonio

antonio — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:34:34 +0000

Review by antonio

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7228 2660

Website: http://www.donna-margherita.com/index1.html

Tags: italian, good value, family & home feel

Without any doubt the best pizza and pasta in town! I was there last Saturday with my wife, and we had a great time, the food was excellent, the service very friendly (with a big smile for a change) and the ambience warm and very Neapolitan, as I like it. We had a testy selection of starters from the buffet and to follow I tried the pizza bella donna and my wife the risotto pumpkin & mussels. We hand up sharing everything because was just too good! If you want to try something special this is the place to go, we will go back very soon. Well done to the Donna Margherita team!!Without any doubt the best pizza and pasta in town! I was there last Saturday with my wife, and we had a great time, the food was excellent, the service very friendly (with a big smile for a change) and the ambience warm and very Neapolitan, as I like it. We had a testy selection of starters from the buffet and to follow I tried the pizza bella donna and my wife the risotto pumpkin & mussels. We hand up sharing everything because was just too good! If you want to try something special this is the place to go, we will go back very soon. Well done to the Donna Margherita team!!

Lola Rojo - Great modern tapas by AntoniaL

AntoniaL — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:01:18 +0000

Review by AntoniaL

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7350 2262

Tags: spanish, lively, tapas

I love this thoroughly modern tapas restaurant! I've been three times since first discovering it this summer and seem to have had a very different experience to the previous reviewer.

This is not the place to come if you're looking for traditional tapas or an inexpensive meal. It is a place to linger over imaginative and beautiful plates of the finest Spanish ingredients. Don't expect to get a bargain - such ingredients don't come cheap and nor does a location like the Northcote Road.

The stylish white and red interior is clean, fresh and modern (...a little sterile perhaps for the depths of winter?) and there is a great seating area outside for the warmer months where you can enjoy a glass of perfectly chilled manzanilla sherry and graze on olives and croquettas whilst people-watching.

The menu (which changes with the seasons, I think) features classic tapas often with a modern twist - think 'Manchego lollipops', slow-cooked suckling pig with thyme sorbet (sublime).

The wine list is perfectly formed with a good choice by the glass. It is also reasonably priced. There is an excellent choice of Spanish dessert wines too, many of which are well-worth discovering. The only down side is the pudding menu - the three that I've tried have been uniformly dreadful. But then you don't really go to a Spanish restaurant for the desserts. Next time I'll know better and skip pudding in favour of a glass of sweet and sticky Pedro Ximenez sherry!

I'm lucky enough to have enjoyed good but brisk service each time I've been. It does get very busy though - you'd be advised to book at the weekend.I love this thoroughly modern tapas restaurant! I've been three times since first discovering it this summer and seem to have had a very different experience to the previous reviewer.

This is not the place to come if you're looking for traditional tapas or an inexpensive meal. It is a place to linger over imaginative and beautiful plates of the finest Spanish ingredients. Don't expect to get a bargain - such ingredients don't come cheap and nor does a location like the Northcote Road.

The stylish white and red interior is clean, fresh and modern (...a little sterile perhaps for the depths of winter?) and there is a great seating area outside for the warmer months where you can enjoy a glass of perfectly chilled manzanilla sherry and graze on olives and croquettas whilst people-watching.

The menu (which changes with the seasons, I think) features classic tapas often with a modern twist - think 'Manchego lollipops', slow-cooked suckling pig with thyme sorbet (sublime).

The wine list is perfectly formed with a good choice by the glass. It is also reasonably priced. There is an excellent choice of Spanish dessert wines too, many of which are well-worth discovering. The only down side is the pudding menu - the three that I've tried have been uniformly dreadful. But then you don't really go to a Spanish restaurant for the desserts. Next time I'll know better and skip pudding in favour of a glass of sweet and sticky Pedro Ximenez sherry!

I'm lucky enough to have enjoyed good but brisk service each time I've been. It does get very busy though - you'd be advised to book at the weekend.

Newtons Restaurant & Bar - Great Restaurant by Ancol

Ancol — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:22:46 +0000

Review by Ancol

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8673 0977

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

Tags: italian, european, lively

We love this local restaurant. Friendly, efficient service, greta atmosphere and a warming fire. The food choice ranges from steak to fresh fish to fantastic Thai green chicken curry. And the desserts are worth a visit on their own.... Plum and almond tart, yum! The wine list offers affordable choice too. No wonder we keep coming back. John R.We love this local restaurant. Friendly, efficient service, greta atmosphere and a warming fire. The food choice ranges from steak to fresh fish to fantastic Thai green chicken curry. And the desserts are worth a visit on their own.... Plum and almond tart, yum! The wine list offers affordable choice too. No wonder we keep coming back. John R.

Thai Garden Restaurant - Thai Garden = Thai Heaven by Foodies

Foodies — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:56:15 +0000

Review by Foodies

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7738 0380

Tags: thai, lively, takeaway

This is the best Thai in Clapham Junction. The staff are friendly & attentive. The food is clean, fragrant & fresh just they way Thai should be.
Very well priced. Great atmosphere. I would go back again and again.This is the best Thai in Clapham Junction. The staff are friendly & attentive. The food is clean, fragrant & fresh just they way Thai should be.
Very well priced. Great atmosphere. I would go back again and again.

Hop & Spice - hop and sexy by herb

herb — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:14:29 +0000

Review by herb

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8675 3121

Website: http://www.hopandspice.com/

Tags: good value, lively, romantic

hop and spice was a good place for a business meeting - to impress without being over the top. The bread, delicious butter, olives and almonds were a nice touch as I was starving but the curry and lamb was quite a small portion and the lamb a bit tough unfortunately. The service was top-notch and having just returned from a holiday in France I found it less surprising than my guest that we were chatting in French at one point to the waiter!

hop and spice was a good place for a business meeting - to impress without being over the top. The bread, delicious butter, olives and almonds were a nice touch as I was starving but the curry and lamb was quite a small portion and the lamb a bit tough unfortunately. The service was top-notch and having just returned from a holiday in France I found it less surprising than my guest that we were chatting in French at one point to the waiter!

Nanglo - by larakiara

larakiara — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:56:43 +0000

Review by larakiara

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 8673 4160

Tags: indian

Last time I visited this restaurant it took us two hours in total to eat a one course meal with poppadums. They were short of staff and hardly apologized for it. We were seated on a dirty table, which took ten minutes to be cleared. It took 30 minutes to get our drinks and after one hour and 30 minutes we received our main meal, which was bog standard at best. We literally had to ask to be served, rather than the 'waiters' waiting upon us. I know it may have only been a one-off but from this experience we will never visit again.

Last time I visited this restaurant it took us two hours in total to eat a one course meal with poppadums. They were short of staff and hardly apologized for it. We were seated on a dirty table, which took ten minutes to be cleared. It took 30 minutes to get our drinks and after one hour and 30 minutes we received our main meal, which was bog standard at best. We literally had to ask to be served, rather than the 'waiters' waiting upon us. I know it may have only been a one-off but from this experience we will never visit again.

Lavender Spice - by Squiddy

Squiddy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:45:43 +0000

Review by Squiddy

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7207 3925

Tags: indian, takeaway, breakfast

Good value, uncomplicated typical British-Indian restaurant. Very good for takeaways. Excels in creamy curries, but watch out for the butter chicken, as it just a bit too creamy and sweet for my taste.Good value, uncomplicated typical British-Indian restaurant. Very good for takeaways. Excels in creamy curries, but watch out for the butter chicken, as it just a bit too creamy and sweet for my taste.

Banana Leaf Canteen - by Squiddy

Squiddy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:42:41 +0000

Review by Squiddy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7228 2828

Tags: crowded, good value, lively

Yes, it's crowded and you'll probably have to queue, but there's a reason for that. The food is excellent.

The restaurant is similar to Wagamama's and the nearby Pepper Tree with its shared tables and lively atmosphere, but the food is better than either. It a mixture of Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian with a contemporary twist. Everything I've eaten there has been delicious, and having lived in Malaysia for many years I am familiar with the milieu.

As another reviewer has said, it's not the place for an intimate romantic meal for two, but there's a convivial atmosphere and the food is very good for the money.

Service is pretty good too.Yes, it's crowded and you'll probably have to queue, but there's a reason for that. The food is excellent.

The restaurant is similar to Wagamama's and the nearby Pepper Tree with its shared tables and lively atmosphere, but the food is better than either. It a mixture of Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian with a contemporary twist. Everything I've eaten there has been delicious, and having lived in Malaysia for many years I am familiar with the milieu.

As another reviewer has said, it's not the place for an intimate romantic meal for two, but there's a convivial atmosphere and the food is very good for the money.

Service is pretty good too.

Pizza On The Green - Great authentic pizzas, always at 'half price!' by andyLDN

andyLDN — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:08:15 +0000

Review by andyLDN

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8673 3227

Tags: italian, pizzeria, lively

This is a pleasant local Italian restaurant popular with those living in Clapham South.

The restaurant serves the usual mix of pizza and pasta dishes as well as starters and deserts, which are made from scratch by Italian chefs. The main appeal of this restaurant is that main courses are always half the price that is printed in the menu. This means that you pay no more that Â£5 for a large pizza for one measuring about 30cm in diameter. This offer is on all the time at any time of the day.

The decor inside is of a basic cafe style, with a mismatch of different framed photos, the odd forgivable football scarf and televisions which show news / sporting events. There is also a terrace at the front where you can sit when the weather is fine, although it can get a bit noisy.

The restaurant is very popular and always busy, but despite this, I have always been seated pretty quickly and the service is brisk, but friendly.

Overall, its great if you're in the area.This is a pleasant local Italian restaurant popular with those living in Clapham South.

The restaurant serves the usual mix of pizza and pasta dishes as well as starters and deserts, which are made from scratch by Italian chefs. The main appeal of this restaurant is that main courses are always half the price that is printed in the menu. This means that you pay no more that Â£5 for a large pizza for one measuring about 30cm in diameter. This offer is on all the time at any time of the day.

The decor inside is of a basic cafe style, with a mismatch of different framed photos, the odd forgivable football scarf and televisions which show news / sporting events. There is also a terrace at the front where you can sit when the weather is fine, although it can get a bit noisy.

The restaurant is very popular and always busy, but despite this, I have always been seated pretty quickly and the service is brisk, but friendly.

Overall, its great if you're in the area.

Cinnamon Cay - Wild and wacky by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:14:57 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7801 0932

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

Tags: international, lively, terrace

I had crocodile croquettas on my last visit to Cinnamon Cay, which should indicate the kind of thing you can expect to find on their menu. A smart, decent local restaurant, Cinnamon Cay still manages to serve very middle-of-the-road food despite the international and exotic ingredients. Scallops were dull and overly salty, a tuna steak overcooked, and springbok a bit chewy, although maybe this is normal, I have no idea. Worth it for the novelty factor, perhaps, but you won't be left with a burning desire to return.

Crocodile, by the way, tastes like tuna.I had crocodile croquettas on my last visit to Cinnamon Cay, which should indicate the kind of thing you can expect to find on their menu. A smart, decent local restaurant, Cinnamon Cay still manages to serve very middle-of-the-road food despite the international and exotic ingredients. Scallops were dull and overly salty, a tuna steak overcooked, and springbok a bit chewy, although maybe this is normal, I have no idea. Worth it for the novelty factor, perhaps, but you won't be left with a burning desire to return.

Crocodile, by the way, tastes like tuna.

Firezza - Pizzas for Poshies by Dan_Card

Dan_Card — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:49:07 +0000

Review by Dan_Card

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7223 5535

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

Tags: italian, takeaway, pizzeria

The ultimate tastey pizza for complete takeaway snobs. Firezza make theirs by the metre, and are very adventurous in their toppings. My favourite is the goat's cheese pizza with caramelised onions - lip smackingly good.

Apparently the ingredients are authentically Italian and even their mozarella is flown in every Tuesday. Ok, so not great if you're a tree hugging hippy who watches the CO2 footprints, but if you're a complete and utter foodie, you'll be hard pushed to find ANY takeaway pizza in the city that rivals Firezza in terms of quality, authenticity and taste. The ultimate tastey pizza for complete takeaway snobs. Firezza make theirs by the metre, and are very adventurous in their toppings. My favourite is the goat's cheese pizza with caramelised onions - lip smackingly good.

Apparently the ingredients are authentically Italian and even their mozarella is flown in every Tuesday. Ok, so not great if you're a tree hugging hippy who watches the CO2 footprints, but if you're a complete and utter foodie, you'll be hard pushed to find ANY takeaway pizza in the city that rivals Firezza in terms of quality, authenticity and taste.

Sadya - A local curry house to go back to by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:33:05 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8673 5393

Tags: indian, smoking, takeaway

Went to Sadya with my dad last night as it is 50% off with the Tastelondon card and only round the corner so we thought we'd give it a go rather than venturing out to the usual suspects in Tooting. Sadya is a small homely restaurant specialising in Southern Indian cuisine so it was a nice change from the bog stanadard jalfrezis and tandooris. The menu was varied and there were lots of dishes which we could have ordered. Dad had the lentil soup and we also ordered a rice pancake with a prawn filling. Both were delicious and had interesting flavours. For the main we had the masala chicken, the grilled king fish plus a side order of okra. Portions were good. Food was fresh and surprisingly not greasy. Everything was made with care and tasted like home cooking. The lady serving was lovely and explained the dishes. It wasn't busy but when we where nearly leaving a large group came in and it took ages getting the bill. Anyway we were very stuffed and for Â£26 with the discount, for 2 large cobras, 2 rice, 2 starters, 2 mains +vegetable and chappathi we were more than happy. Looks like this one will be our local, can't wait to try other dishes.Went to Sadya with my dad last night as it is 50% off with the Tastelondon card and only round the corner so we thought we'd give it a go rather than venturing out to the usual suspects in Tooting. Sadya is a small homely restaurant specialising in Southern Indian cuisine so it was a nice change from the bog stanadard jalfrezis and tandooris. The menu was varied and there were lots of dishes which we could have ordered. Dad had the lentil soup and we also ordered a rice pancake with a prawn filling. Both were delicious and had interesting flavours. For the main we had the masala chicken, the grilled king fish plus a side order of okra. Portions were good. Food was fresh and surprisingly not greasy. Everything was made with care and tasted like home cooking. The lady serving was lovely and explained the dishes. It wasn't busy but when we where nearly leaving a large group came in and it took ages getting the bill. Anyway we were very stuffed and for Â£26 with the discount, for 2 large cobras, 2 rice, 2 starters, 2 mains +vegetable and chappathi we were more than happy. Looks like this one will be our local, can't wait to try other dishes.

Brasserie James - Coffee by ghe

ghe — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:15:04 +0000

Review by ghe

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8772 0057

Website: http://www.brasseriejames.com/

Tags: brasserie, french, expensive

I have just had a cup of coffee (Americano with hot milk) at Brasserie James. The coffee was very good and served by a charming and genuinely cheerful female member of staff. I didn't look at the menu to check the price before I ordered and I am glad in a way that I didn't. The bill came and it was Â£2.81 (including service)! That has to be one of the most expensive coffees I have bought in a very long time. I am sorry but this is Clapham South, not Covent Garden and I fail to see why they should be charging such a high price for a cup of coffee. I appreciate that it is a brasserie and they are not relying on coffee drinkers but nevertheless, I am sure they could benefit from passing trade (prices permitting)- if just from people like me who pop in for a quick coffee mid-afternoon. I'll give it two stars for good coffee and friendly service. Incidentally, there is a very nice restaurant/bar in Vernon Place, just off Bloomsbury Square called Traffic which charges just Â£1.80 for a cup of coffee (including service) and that is in central London.I have just had a cup of coffee (Americano with hot milk) at Brasserie James. The coffee was very good and served by a charming and genuinely cheerful female member of staff. I didn't look at the menu to check the price before I ordered and I am glad in a way that I didn't. The bill came and it was Â£2.81 (including service)! That has to be one of the most expensive coffees I have bought in a very long time. I am sorry but this is Clapham South, not Covent Garden and I fail to see why they should be charging such a high price for a cup of coffee. I appreciate that it is a brasserie and they are not relying on coffee drinkers but nevertheless, I am sure they could benefit from passing trade (prices permitting)- if just from people like me who pop in for a quick coffee mid-afternoon. I'll give it two stars for good coffee and friendly service. Incidentally, there is a very nice restaurant/bar in Vernon Place, just off Bloomsbury Square called Traffic which charges just Â£1.80 for a cup of coffee (including service) and that is in central London.

The Paddyfield - Yum! by sketchy1

sketchy1 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:20:11 +0000

Review by sketchy1

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8772 1145

Tags: lively, quick bite, vietnamese

I go far too many times to Paddyfields. The place is small, and finding an open table is sometimes fustrating, but it is worth the wait. The Thai food is amazing - the curry is my bestI go far too many times to Paddyfields. The place is small, and finding an open table is sometimes fustrating, but it is worth the wait. The Thai food is amazing - the curry is my best

The Exhibit - Tres romantic by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:17 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8772 6556

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

Tags: good value, british, lively

Came here last week and was pleasantly surprised. Have been to the bar on the ground floor quite a few times but never the restaurant which is on the 1st floor overlooking Sainsbury's car park. I always thought it was a bit of a strange location but actually the restaurant with its exposed brick and long wall of windows felt really airy and light. And the view wasn't that bad- felt nice to be so high up. The menu is quite like a brasserie menu, small but caters for all. Gi went for the sea bass which she said was lovely and I went for the feather steak which is served rare. I would probably go for the sirloin next time - as the feather wasn't as tender as i would have liked. Sorbet ice cream was divine though. Service was great and i liked the candles which gave the restaurant a romatic glow. Definitely will come back to try the rest of the menu - especially as i've got 50% off with the tp card!Came here last week and was pleasantly surprised. Have been to the bar on the ground floor quite a few times but never the restaurant which is on the 1st floor overlooking Sainsbury's car park. I always thought it was a bit of a strange location but actually the restaurant with its exposed brick and long wall of windows felt really airy and light. And the view wasn't that bad- felt nice to be so high up. The menu is quite like a brasserie menu, small but caters for all. Gi went for the sea bass which she said was lovely and I went for the feather steak which is served rare. I would probably go for the sirloin next time - as the feather wasn't as tender as i would have liked. Sorbet ice cream was divine though. Service was great and i liked the candles which gave the restaurant a romatic glow. Definitely will come back to try the rest of the menu - especially as i've got 50% off with the tp card!

The Glow Lounge - Perfect Chill Out Lounge by Browners

Browners — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:07:59 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8673 4471

Website: http://www.theglowlounge.com

Tags: cool, relaxed, friendly

In need of a coffee and a chance to get out of the wind we nipped into Glow near Clapham South station. On a Sunday morning it was buzzing with 20 somethings catching up with their social lives - Macbooks out, Newspapers spread, gossip even more so.

Whilst Cowie was chatting on the phone I decided to nip inside and take a seat at their bar. Whilst enjoying a very robust coffee I was impressed by the quality of their backbar and the amount of Courvoisier they sell. The Australian girl behind the bar was good fun. Constantly making smoothies from sachets of frozen fruit she kept on giving me little samples! They were so busy she had to multi task by managing the bar, taking orders, blending smoothies, entertaining me and phoning up all her contacts to see if they would be willing to come in immediately to help out with the Sunday rush.

I absorbed the Observer supplements, another coffee and some sample smoothies and left thinking that Glow is awesome. The breakfasts and brunches look brilliant, the staff are really friendly and efficient. They've got wifi and the right newspaper. The perfect place on a Sunday? Or any day of the week perhaps.In need of a coffee and a chance to get out of the wind we nipped into Glow near Clapham South station. On a Sunday morning it was buzzing with 20 somethings catching up with their social lives - Macbooks out, Newspapers spread, gossip even more so.

Whilst Cowie was chatting on the phone I decided to nip inside and take a seat at their bar. Whilst enjoying a very robust coffee I was impressed by the quality of their backbar and the amount of Courvoisier they sell. The Australian girl behind the bar was good fun. Constantly making smoothies from sachets of frozen fruit she kept on giving me little samples! They were so busy she had to multi task by managing the bar, taking orders, blending smoothies, entertaining me and phoning up all her contacts to see if they would be willing to come in immediately to help out with the Sunday rush.

I absorbed the Observer supplements, another coffee and some sample smoothies and left thinking that Glow is awesome. The breakfasts and brunches look brilliant, the staff are really friendly and efficient. They've got wifi and the right newspaper. The perfect place on a Sunday? Or any day of the week perhaps.

Jasmin Restaurant - Bloomin' marvellous little find by Litro_K

Litro_K — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:08:36 +0000

Review by Litro_K

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7228 0336

Tags: chinese, takeaway, cheap eat

I really enjoyed this place. We stumbled across it last Saturday as we got off the 37 bus, starving and looking for something quick and cheap on Battersea Rise. It wasn't at all busy, and there was only one other family in there. We (and by we I mean the entire restaurant) were all served by one friendly man, in double-quick time, and had a fantastic set menu lunch which included a starter and a main course, plus prawn crackers, for just Â£6.50 per person. The portions were really generous, and the quality of the food excellent, with many choices. We were totally surprised to have had such a cheap and tasty lunch in what is quite a posh area, and left delighted.I really enjoyed this place. We stumbled across it last Saturday as we got off the 37 bus, starving and looking for something quick and cheap on Battersea Rise. It wasn't at all busy, and there was only one other family in there. We (and by we I mean the entire restaurant) were all served by one friendly man, in double-quick time, and had a fantastic set menu lunch which included a starter and a main course, plus prawn crackers, for just Â£6.50 per person. The portions were really generous, and the quality of the food excellent, with many choices. We were totally surprised to have had such a cheap and tasty lunch in what is quite a posh area, and left delighted.

Tagine - Fine experience! by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:11:43 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8675 7604

Tags: lively, good value, north african

I love this place!
Cosy, friendly, it looks and smells exotic and exciting.
The menu is interesting and varied, even for a vegetarian (not me I hasten to add, but the person I went with!)
Having little experience of Moroccan food, I relied on the advice of our waitress who proved to be knowledgeable, charming and very happy to offer her advice (probably used to morons like me, bless her.)
The meze was an excellent way to start. Gives you a little taste of a lot! In truth I could have eaten that all evening!
I had a lamb tagine with almonds and prunes and my partner a stuffed pepper. Both dishes were fragrant, generous and delicious and well complimented by the (presumably) fresh baked flat breads.
Neither of us could face desert, though had we been a little earlier we would have happily spent a couple of hours outside with shisha and tea before tackling the desert menu (or just more of the meze dishes!)
My one criticism of the place is that the service was a little leisurely. Or maybe "unobservant" is a better way of putting it.
Top tips: nip into Threshers, next door, and pick up a couple of bottles of something red and Spanish on your way; start with as many meze dishes as you reckon you can force down (bearing in mind your main course will feed you well!) I love this place!
Cosy, friendly, it looks and smells exotic and exciting.
The menu is interesting and varied, even for a vegetarian (not me I hasten to add, but the person I went with!)
Having little experience of Moroccan food, I relied on the advice of our waitress who proved to be knowledgeable, charming and very happy to offer her advice (probably used to morons like me, bless her.)
The meze was an excellent way to start. Gives you a little taste of a lot! In truth I could have eaten that all evening!
I had a lamb tagine with almonds and prunes and my partner a stuffed pepper. Both dishes were fragrant, generous and delicious and well complimented by the (presumably) fresh baked flat breads.
Neither of us could face desert, though had we been a little earlier we would have happily spent a couple of hours outside with shisha and tea before tackling the desert menu (or just more of the meze dishes!)
My one criticism of the place is that the service was a little leisurely. Or maybe "unobservant" is a better way of putting it.
Top tips: nip into Threshers, next door, and pick up a couple of bottles of something red and Spanish on your way; start with as many meze dishes as you reckon you can force down (bearing in mind your main course will feed you well!)

Wok Wok - Woktastic by Browners

Browners — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:27:05 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7228 7887

Tags: lively, chinese, thai

Wok Wok on Battersea Rise is a complete winner. We live just around the corner and have never once been let down by them in terms of delivery time or quality of food.

Their red thai beef, chicken and duck are all very good indeed. And I can highly recommend their beef in black bean sauce.

It's cheap, cheerful and remarkably tasty.Wok Wok on Battersea Rise is a complete winner. We live just around the corner and have never once been let down by them in terms of delivery time or quality of food.

Their red thai beef, chicken and duck are all very good indeed. And I can highly recommend their beef in black bean sauce.

It's cheap, cheerful and remarkably tasty.

La Pampa Grill - Grumpy Argie Steaks by Browners

Browners — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:33:50 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7924 1167

Tags: argentinian, vegetarian dishes, lively argeninian steak

7 of us met up at La Pampa for a steak fest in honour of Wakers' birthday. Excited by the pospect of tucking into untold amounts of steak we settled in and didn't have many problems working out what to have...

3 bottles of deep purple Malbec and a variety of steaks to feed 7 please. Will and I wisely chose rare rump steaks. Opting for taste and size over tenderness. The others all chose fillets... some with eggs and some without.

The waiters took our orders very efficiently but with a not so much as a smile. Maybe they were just being Argentinian? Our steaks arrived moments later and all hell broke loose. I was presented with a medium well done fillet steak... wrong. Eventually it got sorted out but they had only achieved a 30% success rate in terms of getting the orders right, which is surprising considering we'd all ordered steak!

My rare rump steak tasted delicious despite being on the dry side of medium and one of my eggs had spent so long under the pass that it had cooked to the consistency of a hard boiled egg. The meat was tasty and had been well seasoned. But it was the chips and sauteed potatoes that won the day. Fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, just like God intended.

This time last year I went to see Suz, my sister, in Argentina for a pilgrimage to gorge on the world's best beef. Each mouthful was to die for. Rich, tasty, thick cuts of beef are grilled to perfection from every part of the animal. I've never eaten meat like it. It's stunning. Which is why I came back from Buenos Aires around a stone heavier after spending just under a week there!

Argentinian beef isn't hung. Because the beasts wonder around, stress free, on the Pampas and don't get fed anything apart from grass the meat is already really tender and doesn't need to be aged. In many ways it has the texture of veal and is never chewy. This therefore makes me wonder... if the Argentines eat their beef fresh and unhung, does that mean that transporting it half way across the globe acts like hanging it? Then add onto this the fact that the transportation isn't particularly great for the environment and you start to wonder what all the fuss is about.

Certainly the meat at La Pampa is nothing in comparison to steaks in Buenos Aires and it also isn't up to the quality of the steak you get at the likes of Hawksmoor near Liverpool Street. So shouldn't we be supporting british farmers and opt instead for incredibly good British beef. Afterall, the Argentinian cattle are mainly descendents of a couple of Hereford beasts, so they're pretty much ex-pat British cows anyway!

We had a great time at La Pampa, despite the surly service and erratic cooking of the meat. The wine was great and the atmosphere was fun and enegetic. And more to the point how could we not have a good time celebrating Wakers' birthday. The groups thoughts on the evening were... grumpy service and "is it wrong to go for a kebab" because they had chosen the tiny fillet steaks.

Happy Birthay Wakers.7 of us met up at La Pampa for a steak fest in honour of Wakers' birthday. Excited by the pospect of tucking into untold amounts of steak we settled in and didn't have many problems working out what to have...

3 bottles of deep purple Malbec and a variety of steaks to feed 7 please. Will and I wisely chose rare rump steaks. Opting for taste and size over tenderness. The others all chose fillets... some with eggs and some without.

The waiters took our orders very efficiently but with a not so much as a smile. Maybe they were just being Argentinian? Our steaks arrived moments later and all hell broke loose. I was presented with a medium well done fillet steak... wrong. Eventually it got sorted out but they had only achieved a 30% success rate in terms of getting the orders right, which is surprising considering we'd all ordered steak!

My rare rump steak tasted delicious despite being on the dry side of medium and one of my eggs had spent so long under the pass that it had cooked to the consistency of a hard boiled egg. The meat was tasty and had been well seasoned. But it was the chips and sauteed potatoes that won the day. Fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, just like God intended.

This time last year I went to see Suz, my sister, in Argentina for a pilgrimage to gorge on the world's best beef. Each mouthful was to die for. Rich, tasty, thick cuts of beef are grilled to perfection from every part of the animal. I've never eaten meat like it. It's stunning. Which is why I came back from Buenos Aires around a stone heavier after spending just under a week there!

Argentinian beef isn't hung. Because the beasts wonder around, stress free, on the Pampas and don't get fed anything apart from grass the meat is already really tender and doesn't need to be aged. In many ways it has the texture of veal and is never chewy. This therefore makes me wonder... if the Argentines eat their beef fresh and unhung, does that mean that transporting it half way across the globe acts like hanging it? Then add onto this the fact that the transportation isn't particularly great for the environment and you start to wonder what all the fuss is about.

Certainly the meat at La Pampa is nothing in comparison to steaks in Buenos Aires and it also isn't up to the quality of the steak you get at the likes of Hawksmoor near Liverpool Street. So shouldn't we be supporting british farmers and opt instead for incredibly good British beef. Afterall, the Argentinian cattle are mainly descendents of a couple of Hereford beasts, so they're pretty much ex-pat British cows anyway!

We had a great time at La Pampa, despite the surly service and erratic cooking of the meat. The wine was great and the atmosphere was fun and enegetic. And more to the point how could we not have a good time celebrating Wakers' birthday. The groups thoughts on the evening were... grumpy service and "is it wrong to go for a kebab" because they had chosen the tiny fillet steaks.

Happy Birthay Wakers.