Latest reviews for Restaurants in Clapham, 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!!

Le QuecumBar & Brasserie - Great experience, though the food falls short... by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:51:08 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7787 2227

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

Tags: live music, lively, romantic

If Iâ¬"m brutally honest, and letâ¬"s face it â¬ I tend to be, one does not go to Le Quecumbar for fine dining, not even for authentic French cuisine. One goes to experience Le Quecumbar. And it is an utterly unique experience. The closest I have ever come to it was actually in a brasserie in France, on a balmy summer night listening to Romane, probably the greatest living gypsy guitarist, strumming away in the corner surrounded by doting fans, tourists and protÃ©gÃ©es.

Now, I have a vested interest. I love gypsy swing. (for those who donâ¬"t know, think Django Rheinhart. [For the plebs among you, think Jonny Depp in Chocolate, if you must.])
Le Quecumbar is a fine, fine jazz venue, and the only one in the UK dedicated largely to the performance and promotion of gypsy swing and traditional Romany music. Because of this, Le Quecumbar hosts some of the greatest gypsy swing musicians in the world and I would strongly recommend that any one with a passing interest to go and enjoy!

So, on to the review!

As I said, this is principally a music venue and for most gigs you will need to buy tickets in advance. Le Que operates a rather curious â¬Sminimum Â£15 per head spendâ¬ policy, though frankly Iâ¬"ve never found to be a problem. The beer isnâ¬"t cheap, and once youâ¬"ve had a gin and a bottle of wine youâ¬"re over that any way.

The menu is disappointing. I think it has recently been changed as not so long ago I remember seeing quite a selection of traditional French dishes on the menu. On my last visit however there was no coq-au-vin (which used to be excellent), no cheese board (we did negotiate one, but it boasted a pretty poor supermarket selection), a few too many burgers and BBQ ribs for my liking. So note: Do Not Go Expecting a French Dinner.

I started with escargots, which were delicious if a little mean and a little dear. I followed with a very rich, if slightly salty, beef bourguignon. These two dishes, good though they were, were more or less the only references to traditional French cuisine and satisfied rather than impressed me.

They do, however, boast a stonkingly good wine list! There is enough middle range, reasonably priced wine there to keep the session drinkers and large parties happy but you can quite easily push the boat out and enjoy some very fine drinking indeed. With familiar disregard to the â¬SFrenchnessâ¬ of the Le Que, the wine list does not limit itself to serving exclusively French plonk, for which I applaud it! Iâ¬"ve been to too many French restaurants which ruin themselves by arrogantly and mistakenly restrict themselves to serving only French wine. (Insert your preferred racial slur here.)

For all that the food was not amazing (it was good, mind you, just not amazing) dinner at Le Que, especially when there is a band playing, is a wonderful, wonderful experience. The staff really are top drawer. I mean, Proper Good! Sharp, attentive, discrete, knowledgeable and passionate about the place. And the Proprietaire is one of the best hostesses I have come across. Charming, glamorous, attentive and sociable, she makes a point of greeting all the diners during the evening. Admittedly many of them she knows, as itâ¬"s the kind of place where you get a lot of returning customers, but even if youâ¬"re a stranger youâ¬"ll be attended to in your turn.

So, I would reluctantly recommend that you go there for dinner. Therefore I am docking one star. However, if you want a night out with some wonderful music, a good meal, some great wine andll the glitz, glamour, and ambience of 1930s Paris then I challenge you to find a better place outside of France itself!

In the mean time I am going to order another bottle of this excellent Bordeaux and continue to pray for the arrival of a modern, French chefâ¬¦
If Iâ¬"m brutally honest, and letâ¬"s face it â¬ I tend to be, one does not go to Le Quecumbar for fine dining, not even for authentic French cuisine. One goes to experience Le Quecumbar. And it is an utterly unique experience. The closest I have ever come to it was actually in a brasserie in France, on a balmy summer night listening to Romane, probably the greatest living gypsy guitarist, strumming away in the corner surrounded by doting fans, tourists and protÃ©gÃ©es.

Now, I have a vested interest. I love gypsy swing. (for those who donâ¬"t know, think Django Rheinhart. [For the plebs among you, think Jonny Depp in Chocolate, if you must.])
Le Quecumbar is a fine, fine jazz venue, and the only one in the UK dedicated largely to the performance and promotion of gypsy swing and traditional Romany music. Because of this, Le Quecumbar hosts some of the greatest gypsy swing musicians in the world and I would strongly recommend that any one with a passing interest to go and enjoy!

So, on to the review!

As I said, this is principally a music venue and for most gigs you will need to buy tickets in advance. Le Que operates a rather curious â¬Sminimum Â£15 per head spendâ¬ policy, though frankly Iâ¬"ve never found to be a problem. The beer isnâ¬"t cheap, and once youâ¬"ve had a gin and a bottle of wine youâ¬"re over that any way.

The menu is disappointing. I think it has recently been changed as not so long ago I remember seeing quite a selection of traditional French dishes on the menu. On my last visit however there was no coq-au-vin (which used to be excellent), no cheese board (we did negotiate one, but it boasted a pretty poor supermarket selection), a few too many burgers and BBQ ribs for my liking. So note: Do Not Go Expecting a French Dinner.

I started with escargots, which were delicious if a little mean and a little dear. I followed with a very rich, if slightly salty, beef bourguignon. These two dishes, good though they were, were more or less the only references to traditional French cuisine and satisfied rather than impressed me.

They do, however, boast a stonkingly good wine list! There is enough middle range, reasonably priced wine there to keep the session drinkers and large parties happy but you can quite easily push the boat out and enjoy some very fine drinking indeed. With familiar disregard to the â¬SFrenchnessâ¬ of the Le Que, the wine list does not limit itself to serving exclusively French plonk, for which I applaud it! Iâ¬"ve been to too many French restaurants which ruin themselves by arrogantly and mistakenly restrict themselves to serving only French wine. (Insert your preferred racial slur here.)

For all that the food was not amazing (it was good, mind you, just not amazing) dinner at Le Que, especially when there is a band playing, is a wonderful, wonderful experience. The staff really are top drawer. I mean, Proper Good! Sharp, attentive, discrete, knowledgeable and passionate about the place. And the Proprietaire is one of the best hostesses I have come across. Charming, glamorous, attentive and sociable, she makes a point of greeting all the diners during the evening. Admittedly many of them she knows, as itâ¬"s the kind of place where you get a lot of returning customers, but even if youâ¬"re a stranger youâ¬"ll be attended to in your turn.

So, I would reluctantly recommend that you go there for dinner. Therefore I am docking one star. However, if you want a night out with some wonderful music, a good meal, some great wine and all the glitz, glamour, and ambience of 1930s Paris then I challenge you to find a better place outside of France itself!

In the mean time I am going to order another bottle of this excellent Bordeaux and continue to pray for the arrival of a modern, French chefâ¬¦

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.

Tsunami - Seriously good by bron99

bron99 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:30:06 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7978 1610

Tags: japanese, good value, trendy

Tsunami is a kind of perfect neighbourhood restaurant - it is all that Clapha aspires to be. It is big, light, airy and comfortable with great decor that feels utterly original, rather than a sad attempt at style. The food is seriously good - you can have a quick bite, sharing a few plates and some warm sakÃ© or you can settle in for a couple of hours of blissfully good food. And on weekends you can get a bowl of soba noodle soup topped with tempura prawns and vegetables for Â£6,50 - the ultimate Sunday lunch. Service is knowledgeable and friendly - who could ask for more?Tsunami is a kind of perfect neighbourhood restaurant - it is all that Clapha aspires to be. It is big, light, airy and comfortable with great decor that feels utterly original, rather than a sad attempt at style. The food is seriously good - you can have a quick bite, sharing a few plates and some warm sakÃ© or you can settle in for a couple of hours of blissfully good food. And on weekends you can get a bowl of soba noodle soup topped with tempura prawns and vegetables for Â£6,50 - the ultimate Sunday lunch. Service is knowledgeable and friendly - who could ask for more?

Trinity - Holy Trinity by Browners

Browners — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:07:11 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7622 1199

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

Tags: expensive, romantic, french

Cowie has been revising like a geeky dervish for the last few months in preparation for her surveying exams. It's important stuff and quite stressful. So I wanted to do something local and relaxing with a touch of glamour. One of our first London dining experiences was at Polygon through TopTable. We had a wonderful meal. Canon of perfectly rare lamb and a luxurious fillet of beer if I remember rightly. But then Polygon disappeared and we almost shed a tear.

Trinity emerged in it's place with a flurry of great reviews and a menu that just begs to be guzzled up. I've been cycling past it on a daily basis and have to really concentrate to stop myself from lurching through their front door wearing my lycra and hi-vis jacket!

We were treated to a near perfect meal. The service was the best we've ever had. Everything was just right. We were given the best table in the restaurant. They remembered it was Cowie's birthday. They filled our glasses at the right time with just the right amount of wine. They didn't rush us. They even laughed at my attempt at banter! Legends!

We knew instantly what each other would choose. It's always the same and is a brilliant part of our relationship. Cowie chose the crab and tuna salad followed by a wonderful looking piece of monkfish. It was perfectly cooked. So often monkfish is over cooked, too meaty or dry. This was the spot on.

If Cowie's choices were delicate, feminine, light and the essence of Cowie. Mine were very me. Rich, meaty, a biz grizzly and sensuously deep. My starter of pigs head was sensational. Better than at Wild Honey. It oozed flavour. Not to mention a drop or two of fat!

My main course of hare two ways was almost as good. The slow-cooked, pulled leg meat was strewn in a semi circle over the top of the plate, interwoven with silky mash and brussels sprouts. And a circle of saddle meat anchored the rest of the dish. My only criticism would be to question whether the thin sheath of fat that coated the saddle shout have been seared off...

All of this wonderful food was accompanied by a classy chardonnay from the Langeudoc/Roussillon area of France. Think of a really good St. Aubin, but with a bit more to it.

Things at this point were stunning. But we were slightly underwhelmed by dessert. The lemon cheesecake arrived in a kilner jar an hour too early. That hadn't had a chance to cook it! They left the construction work up to us. Now call me old fashioned, but don't we go to restaurants to be cooked for? I'm all for a bit of interactivity... but only when it tastes good. A good baked lemon cheesecake is a thing of heart stopping beauty. This one tasted like it had come from a down-market supermarket. I don't want to be too rude because they had gone to the effort of writing "Happy Birthday" in toffee on Cowie's plate!

My Valhrona chocolate pudding was fantastic. But enough for an entire family! I tired to only eat on person's worth... but landed up eating my own body weight in rich, warm chocolate!

We're delighted to have finally made Trinity's acquaintance and are already planning our next visit. It would have got 5 stars but for the whoopy with dessert.Cowie has been revising like a geeky dervish for the last few months in preparation for her surveying exams. It's important stuff and quite stressful. So I wanted to do something local and relaxing with a touch of glamour. One of our first London dining experiences was at Polygon through TopTable. We had a wonderful meal. Canon of perfectly rare lamb and a luxurious fillet of beer if I remember rightly. But then Polygon disappeared and we almost shed a tear.

Trinity emerged in it's place with a flurry of great reviews and a menu that just begs to be guzzled up. I've been cycling past it on a daily basis and have to really concentrate to stop myself from lurching through their front door wearing my lycra and hi-vis jacket!

We were treated to a near perfect meal. The service was the best we've ever had. Everything was just right. We were given the best table in the restaurant. They remembered it was Cowie's birthday. They filled our glasses at the right time with just the right amount of wine. They didn't rush us. They even laughed at my attempt at banter! Legends!

We knew instantly what each other would choose. It's always the same and is a brilliant part of our relationship. Cowie chose the crab and tuna salad followed by a wonderful looking piece of monkfish. It was perfectly cooked. So often monkfish is over cooked, too meaty or dry. This was the spot on.

If Cowie's choices were delicate, feminine, light and the essence of Cowie. Mine were very me. Rich, meaty, a biz grizzly and sensuously deep. My starter of pigs head was sensational. Better than at Wild Honey. It oozed flavour. Not to mention a drop or two of fat!

My main course of hare two ways was almost as good. The slow-cooked, pulled leg meat was strewn in a semi circle over the top of the plate, interwoven with silky mash and brussels sprouts. And a circle of saddle meat anchored the rest of the dish. My only criticism would be to question whether the thin sheath of fat that coated the saddle shout have been seared off...

All of this wonderful food was accompanied by a classy chardonnay from the Langeudoc/Roussillon area of France. Think of a really good St. Aubin, but with a bit more to it.

Things at this point were stunning. But we were slightly underwhelmed by dessert. The lemon cheesecake arrived in a kilner jar an hour too early. That hadn't had a chance to cook it! They left the construction work up to us. Now call me old fashioned, but don't we go to restaurants to be cooked for? I'm all for a bit of interactivity... but only when it tastes good. A good baked lemon cheesecake is a thing of heart stopping beauty. This one tasted like it had come from a down-market supermarket. I don't want to be too rude because they had gone to the effort of writing "Happy Birthday" in toffee on Cowie's plate!

My Valhrona chocolate pudding was fantastic. But enough for an entire family! I tired to only eat on person's worth... but landed up eating my own body weight in rich, warm chocolate!

We're delighted to have finally made Trinity's acquaintance and are already planning our next visit. It would have got 5 stars but for the whoopy with dessert.

Cafe Sol Dos - Worst Resturant Ever!!!!! by bob2

bob2 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:14:54 +0000

Review by bob2

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7498 8558

Tags: mexican, clapham, busy

This was my first experence here and my god how bad was it food was average at best and was rushed in and out in 40 mins thats starter main and drinks!
Plus before the food was was finished they was taking the plate and before the money was put on the plate thy were taking it never will i go back and i would advise anybody to stay away.This was my first experence here and my god how bad was it food was average at best and was rushed in and out in 40 mins thats starter main and drinks!
Plus before the food was was finished they was taking the plate and before the money was put on the plate thy were taking it never will i go back and i would advise anybody to stay away.

Eco - It used to be so good by bron99

bron99 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:23:49 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7978 1108

Website: http://www.ecorestaurants.com

Tags: italian, quick bite, cheap eat

I have been eating pizza at Eco for maybe 20 years - a long time, certainly. And until recently I never ate less than decently and more often than not ate really well. Sometimes their pizzas were brilliant - a real joy sufficient to bring a contented smile to everyone. Then the last time I went, for lunch Sunday, it was no longer so. Oddly, it was half empty - Sunday used to be a bunfight to get a table. We ordered a piccante and a mozzarella di buffalo and they were, well, adequate. But the cheese was that nasty plastic stuff and the tomato sauce was thin in both taste and consistency. The quality of the rest of the ingredients was also lower than it used to be. I'm really sad about this - it used to be so good.I have been eating pizza at Eco for maybe 20 years - a long time, certainly. And until recently I never ate less than decently and more often than not ate really well. Sometimes their pizzas were brilliant - a real joy sufficient to bring a contented smile to everyone. Then the last time I went, for lunch Sunday, it was no longer so. Oddly, it was half empty - Sunday used to be a bunfight to get a table. We ordered a piccante and a mozzarella di buffalo and they were, well, adequate. But the cheese was that nasty plastic stuff and the tomato sauce was thin in both taste and consistency. The quality of the rest of the ingredients was also lower than it used to be. I'm really sad about this - it used to be so good.

Bodean's BBQ - It's good by bron99

bron99 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:29:11 +0000

Review by bron99

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7622 4248

Website: http://www.bodeansbbq.com

Tags: american, bbq, busy

Ended up here Saturday afternoon as Eco - the pizza place across the road - was having a power cut. Seriously enjoyed the ribs which was a surprise - was thinking they might be a bit horrible based on the burger/chain/american prejudice that normally steers me away from such places. The beer was utterly tasteless, but the beef ribs were meaty, juicy and very flavoursome. I'd go again.Ended up here Saturday afternoon as Eco - the pizza place across the road - was having a power cut. Seriously enjoyed the ribs which was a surprise - was thinking they might be a bit horrible based on the burger/chain/american prejudice that normally steers me away from such places. The beer was utterly tasteless, but the beef ribs were meaty, juicy and very flavoursome. I'd go again.

Sappho Meze - by Squiddy

Squiddy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:07:51 +0000

Review by Squiddy

Rating: 5.00This place is a gem! Essential to book ahead for this busy Greek diner as there are only about 8 tables.

On entering, you are shown to your table by the jovial and friendly proprietor (and waiter and chef, apparently). For a fixed price of around Â£11, you are given around 20 small dishes ranging from macaroni cheese to houmous, salads, roast chicken and lamb. Vegetarians are equally well catered for (or so my vegetarian friend tells me). Wine is sold by the bottle - you have a choice of white or red, obscure, but perfectly matched to the food.

The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great and the service is excellent too. Without a doubt my favourite restaurant in the Clapham area.This place is a gem! Essential to book ahead for this busy Greek diner as there are only about 8 tables.

On entering, you are shown to your table by the jovial and friendly proprietor (and waiter and chef, apparently). For a fixed price of around Â£11, you are given around 20 small dishes ranging from macaroni cheese to houmous, salads, roast chicken and lamb. Vegetarians are equally well catered for (or so my vegetarian friend tells me). Wine is sold by the bottle - you have a choice of white or red, obscure, but perfectly matched to the food.

The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great and the service is excellent too. Without a doubt my favourite restaurant in the Clapham area.

The Pepper Tree - by Squiddy

Squiddy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:55:34 +0000

Review by Squiddy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7622 1758

Tags: thai, lively, crowded

For sociable Thai canteen-style dining. Can be crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings - be prepared to queue.

Once inside, you sit at the shared benches. Service is good, without frills. Main courses are about Â£6 each, with rice an additional Â£2 or so. There is a small selection of wines and the usual beers and soft drinks to go with your meal.

The food is very good, pretty authentic Thai style. Especially good are the red curries (look out for the duck red curry special - great!) and the pad thai noodles.

Thoroughly recommended if you're in the Clapham Common area and need a quick and reasonably priced bite to eat. Good for lunch at weekends too, when it is less crowded as it can be noisy in the evening, if that is not your thing.For sociable Thai canteen-style dining. Can be crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings - be prepared to queue.

Once inside, you sit at the shared benches. Service is good, without frills. Main courses are about Â£6 each, with rice an additional Â£2 or so. There is a small selection of wines and the usual beers and soft drinks to go with your meal.

The food is very good, pretty authentic Thai style. Especially good are the red curries (look out for the duck red curry special - great!) and the pad thai noodles.

Thoroughly recommended if you're in the Clapham Common area and need a quick and reasonably priced bite to eat. Good for lunch at weekends too, when it is less crowded as it can be noisy in the evening, if that is not your thing.

Yun Hua - Fabulous! by qc2

qc2 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:06:12 +0000

Review by qc2

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7622 2322

Tags: chinese, good value, vegetarian dishes

Chinese food the way it should be! No fusion - no badly made supposedly Thai or Japanese dishes. Just Chinese food and done very well!

Food tastes great and not loaded with salt + MSG like most places. Service is excellent and delivery service is usually on time.

You have to try their curry, Singapore Noodles and Singapore Fried Rice... it's amazing!Chinese food the way it should be! No fusion - no badly made supposedly Thai or Japanese dishes. Just Chinese food and done very well!

Food tastes great and not loaded with salt + MSG like most places. Service is excellent and delivery service is usually on time.

You have to try their curry, Singapore Noodles and Singapore Fried Rice... it's amazing!

Indian Flavours - Still Crazy For Indian Flavours. by Martin64

Martin64 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:12:37 +0000

Review by Martin64

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7627 2225

Tags: indian, vegetarian, good value

Been eating in Indian Flavours from the early days, nice too see the assistant chef has progressed to head chef. Most of the worker have been there for a long time. It shows consistency and loyalty, that's good for business and the customers. The food is still fantastic.Been eating in Indian Flavours from the early days, nice too see the assistant chef has progressed to head chef. Most of the worker have been there for a long time. It shows consistency and loyalty, that's good for business and the customers. The food is still fantastic.

Bierodrome - Great food, good atmospher by adawkins

adawkins — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:14:38 +0000

Review by adawkins

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7720 1118

Website: http://www.belgo-restaurants.com

Tags: lively, free wifi, good value

A fantastic spot just on Clapham High Street (it's only a few minutes walk from Clapham North). There is outdoor seating on the high street where you can sit and people watch all afternoon!
Inside you can choose to sit in the restaurant side or the bar side; there is an excellent selection of beers on offer (the name kind of gives it away!!) and I would recommend the raspberry flavoured one.
We chose to eat in the restaurant and were quickly seated by the friendly staff, despite it being a busy Saturday evening. Our waitress was extremely helpful and gave us some tips on what to order... boyfriend went for the steak which was cooked to perfection while I opted for the Mussels.. cooked in a garlicky sauce they were very impressive! I got a huge portion and some bread to soak up the sauce..
A great place for great food at a very reasonable price.A fantastic spot just on Clapham High Street (it's only a few minutes walk from Clapham North). There is outdoor seating on the high street where you can sit and people watch all afternoon!
Inside you can choose to sit in the restaurant side or the bar side; there is an excellent selection of beers on offer (the name kind of gives it away!!) and I would recommend the raspberry flavoured one.
We chose to eat in the restaurant and were quickly seated by the friendly staff, despite it being a busy Saturday evening. Our waitress was extremely helpful and gave us some tips on what to order... boyfriend went for the steak which was cooked to perfection while I opted for the Mussels.. cooked in a garlicky sauce they were very impressive! I got a huge portion and some bread to soak up the sauce..
A great place for great food at a very reasonable price.

The Village Tandoori - Very good by bobidiot

bobidiot — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:54:23 +0000

Review by bobidiot

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8675 2077

Tags: indian, vegetarian dishes

These guys know how to cook. Whatever you want, they will cook it to perfection, even if it deviates from their menu. The chef even came out to check everything was to our liking, and boy, it was! I wish I was a millionaire as I would privately hire these chefs, they are that good. Anyway, I shall stop dribbling now. The restaurant itself was very nice, good decorations and lighting and atmosphere. Was very happy with the service too and the prices were totally fine. Top marks to this place, and I would be happy to eat there every night of the week. Ten out of ten.These guys know how to cook. Whatever you want, they will cook it to perfection, even if it deviates from their menu. The chef even came out to check everything was to our liking, and boy, it was! I wish I was a millionaire as I would privately hire these chefs, they are that good. Anyway, I shall stop dribbling now. The restaurant itself was very nice, good decorations and lighting and atmosphere. Was very happy with the service too and the prices were totally fine. Top marks to this place, and I would be happy to eat there every night of the week. Ten out of ten.

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.

Soho Spice - CLOSED - Delicious by Rhydster

Rhydster — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:42:29 +0000

Review by Rhydster

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7434 0808

Tags: indian, lively, food

The good: as an excellent Indian restaurant, Soho Spice has serves deliciously spiced courses, with fantastic breads of great variety. The table service is good and their Asian and Arabic music provides a great ambience.

Late on there is a bar with live entertainment to make it a late night after a great meal.

Its medium sized that allows you to have a more private feel if you have a group. I was most impressed for a birthday meal arranged here, providing you with a menu electronically to pre select your meal if your guests should so choose, to speed up the serving and ensure they have everything you'll request.

The bad: slightly overpriced compared few Indian restaurants around East London of similar quality.
The good: as an excellent Indian restaurant, Soho Spice has serves deliciously spiced courses, with fantastic breads of great variety. The table service is good and their Asian and Arabic music provides a great ambience.

Late on there is a bar with live entertainment to make it a late night after a great meal.

Its medium sized that allows you to have a more private feel if you have a group. I was most impressed for a birthday meal arranged here, providing you with a menu electronically to pre select your meal if your guests should so choose, to speed up the serving and ensure they have everything you'll request.

The bad: slightly overpriced compared few Indian restaurants around East London of similar quality.

Clapham Tandoori - Poor by nickw85

nickw85 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:17:41 +0000

Review by nickw85

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7498 8489

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

Tags: indian, restaurant, pretentious

We went there last night for the Wednesday banquet. Â£14 for a starter, main, rice/naan and a side dish. Not a bad price on the face of it.

However we were charged over Â£12 for popadums, which we were led to believe were complimentary, (only 5 of us eating) and Â£4.5 for one still water!!

Worst of all the waiter was very unsubtly shaking up bottles of beer that were going out on a delivery order which he seemed to find hilarious. I nearly walked out after I saw that, not exactly what you would call professional service.

Average food with hidden prices and unprofessional serviceWe went there last night for the Wednesday banquet. Â£14 for a starter, main, rice/naan and a side dish. Not a bad price on the face of it.

However we were charged over Â£12 for popadums, which we were led to believe were complimentary, (only 5 of us eating) and Â£4.5 for one still water!!

Worst of all the waiter was very unsubtly shaking up bottles of beer that were going out on a delivery order which he seemed to find hilarious. I nearly walked out after I saw that, not exactly what you would call professional service.

Average food with hidden prices and unprofessional service

The Fish Club - Would rather go to my favourite chippy by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:26:12 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7720 5853

Website: http://www.thefishclub.com

Tags: british, lively, cheap eat

Fish club is one of those new ethically minded fish restaurants and not your average chippy. The restaurant is basic with hard wooden benches and a fish counter up front. The menu was also basic - different types of fish from coley to sea bass. I was trying to be healthy as i had already eaten thai at lunch so I ordered mackerel and mash (I was trying to kid myself that mash was healthier than chips) My friend ordered the haddock and chips. As soon as the dishes arrived I got food envy - I should have had haddock and chips. My lonely mackerel looked pitifully lonely on the plate - grumbling to myself i ate it. It was okay but couldn't believe I was eating a Â£8 mackerel when you could buy it for about 80p in Sainsburys. My mate's haddock was perfect but wasn't that impressed with the chips. I think we'll stick to our favorite chippy next time - Masters Super Fish in Waterloo. Fish club is one of those new ethically minded fish restaurants and not your average chippy. The restaurant is basic with hard wooden benches and a fish counter up front. The menu was also basic - different types of fish from coley to sea bass. I was trying to be healthy as i had already eaten thai at lunch so I ordered mackerel and mash (I was trying to kid myself that mash was healthier than chips) My friend ordered the haddock and chips. As soon as the dishes arrived I got food envy - I should have had haddock and chips. My lonely mackerel looked pitifully lonely on the plate - grumbling to myself i ate it. It was okay but couldn't believe I was eating a Â£8 mackerel when you could buy it for about 80p in Sainsburys. My mate's haddock was perfect but wasn't that impressed with the chips. I think we'll stick to our favorite chippy next time - Masters Super Fish in Waterloo.

Mooli - Rushed services and poor food by whitfield_a

whitfield_a — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:07:30 +0000

Review by whitfield_a

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7627 1166

Website: http://www.moolirestaurant.com/

Tags: italian, expensive, crowded

I originally went a year or so ago and found it okay, but gave it another chance on Saturday and was incredibly disappointed.

The tables are so crammed in that we were first offered a table in the isle - although on asking a friendly member of staff did offer us another table with minimum hassle.

My major dislike was the way we were rushed through what turned out to be quite an expensive poor quality meal. We were offered water before we'd even sat down (although the first hot day in a while I wasn't that parched!), then our first course coming out far too early for it to have been cooked fresh in any way. I had a crab pasta in a crab shell. The sauce tasted synthetic and the spaghetti was stuck together. No sooner had we finished then main course arrived. I was disappointed with a lack of proper seasoning - and I don't mean not enough salt, I mean the kind of blandness you would prepare for a baby. My main came with Asparagus - which is currently in season - so I have no idea why mine was from a tin - if it wasn't then it was far too overcooked. An accompanying tomato sauce tasted like they'd just opened a tin of tomatoes.

The staff showed absolutely no interest in how we found the food. We felt rushed and left only an hour after seating. Food came to Â£50 for two courses for two of us. A small portion of old broccoli cost Â£3.50. We did not leave a tip.

This seems to be the way many restaurants in Clapham are going - they don't need to be anything particularly good to draw in the custom and charge high prices. I won't be giving them another chance this time. Disappointing.I originally went a year or so ago and found it okay, but gave it another chance on Saturday and was incredibly disappointed.

The tables are so crammed in that we were first offered a table in the isle - although on asking a friendly member of staff did offer us another table with minimum hassle.

My major dislike was the way we were rushed through what turned out to be quite an expensive poor quality meal. We were offered water before we'd even sat down (although the first hot day in a while I wasn't that parched!), then our first course coming out far too early for it to have been cooked fresh in any way. I had a crab pasta in a crab shell. The sauce tasted synthetic and the spaghetti was stuck together. No sooner had we finished then main course arrived. I was disappointed with a lack of proper seasoning - and I don't mean not enough salt, I mean the kind of blandness you would prepare for a baby. My main came with Asparagus - which is currently in season - so I have no idea why mine was from a tin - if it wasn't then it was far too overcooked. An accompanying tomato sauce tasted like they'd just opened a tin of tomatoes.

The staff showed absolutely no interest in how we found the food. We felt rushed and left only an hour after seating. Food came to Â£50 for two courses for two of us. A small portion of old broccoli cost Â£3.50. We did not leave a tip.

This seems to be the way many restaurants in Clapham are going - they don't need to be anything particularly good to draw in the custom and charge high prices. I won't be giving them another chance this time. Disappointing.

El Rincon Latino - Still my favourite tapas restaurant by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:08:42 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7622 0599

Tags: lively, spanish, breakfast

Earlier last February, I had a long awaited catch up meeting with my girls from school. Having eaten and loved the food at El Rincon years ago I thought it would be the ideal session to have this catch-up session where we'd be loud and laughing for most of the time.

It was a great night, the place was pretty empty being a Tuesday but i'm sure we filled it with our presence. We ordered choosing two dishes per person which we shared. Everything tasted great and was so fresh not like the drivel you get in La Tasca these days. The dishes were big so two per person was enough - my favourites were the croquettes and the gambas. With a bottle of wine the bill and the service came up to less than Â£20 - a bargain for a great evening with my girlies!Earlier last February, I had a long awaited catch up meeting with my girls from school. Having eaten and loved the food at El Rincon years ago I thought it would be the ideal session to have this catch-up session where we'd be loud and laughing for most of the time.

It was a great night, the place was pretty empty being a Tuesday but i'm sure we filled it with our presence. We ordered choosing two dishes per person which we shared. Everything tasted great and was so fresh not like the drivel you get in La Tasca these days. The dishes were big so two per person was enough - my favourites were the croquettes and the gambas. With a bottle of wine the bill and the service came up to less than Â£20 - a bargain for a great evening with my girlies!