Latest reviews in Herne Hill, London, United Kingdom

Olley's - Don't eat for at least a day before you go! by hither

hither — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:08:03 +0000

Review by hither

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8671 8259

Website: http://www.olleys.info

Tags: friendly, fish and chips, takeaway

When we had visitors from out of town we thought this would make a nice change from a traditional sunday roast. We didn't book, and it wasn't too busy although it's not massive so I don't know how full it gets in the evening.

The decor is a little like a Greek Taverna or something, which is a bit odd, but it is quite nice and cosy.

We are quite big eaters, but even by our standards the portions here are enormous. The waiter did try to warn us but we thought he was exaggerating and ended up with loads and loads of food.

It is great to be able to choose from such a wide range of fish, and you can choose to have it cooked in traditional batter or more healthily steamed. The chips were great and they also do mash. I enjoyed the mushy pea fritters, which wasn't something I had ever tried before, and it's just a shame that we couldn't possibly fit in any pudding!

The service was great, the waiter was very friendly and even took my little boy's knife and fork to be washed in the kitchen before I put it back in my bag.

The only real downside is the cost - the fish is about Â£10 each with chips charged separately, so by the time we had added starters and sides it was on the pricey side.When we had visitors from out of town we thought this would make a nice change from a traditional sunday roast. We didn't book, and it wasn't too busy although it's not massive so I don't know how full it gets in the evening.

The decor is a little like a Greek Taverna or something, which is a bit odd, but it is quite nice and cosy.

We are quite big eaters, but even by our standards the portions here are enormous. The waiter did try to warn us but we thought he was exaggerating and ended up with loads and loads of food.

It is great to be able to choose from such a wide range of fish, and you can choose to have it cooked in traditional batter or more healthily steamed. The chips were great and they also do mash. I enjoyed the mushy pea fritters, which wasn't something I had ever tried before, and it's just a shame that we couldn't possibly fit in any pudding!

The service was great, the waiter was very friendly and even took my little boy's knife and fork to be washed in the kitchen before I put it back in my bag.

The only real downside is the cost - the fish is about Â£10 each with chips charged separately, so by the time we had added starters and sides it was on the pricey side.

Mela @ Herne Hill - Stunning food by lenalouise

lenalouise — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:22:14 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7738 5500

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

Tags: indian, cosy, romantic

This isn't your usual indian. They have the most creative and unique dishes that I haven't seen anywhere else and all cooked excellently and presented beautifully. The a la carte is moderately priced but they have set lunch menus and a buffet on Sunday for cheaper.

The interior is stunning - cushioned seats, beautiful throws everywhere, candlelit table. Think white and purple. Perfect for a romantic meal with a date.This isn't your usual indian. They have the most creative and unique dishes that I haven't seen anywhere else and all cooked excellently and presented beautifully. The a la carte is moderately priced but they have set lunch menus and a buffet on Sunday for cheaper.

The interior is stunning - cushioned seats, beautiful throws everywhere, candlelit table. Think white and purple. Perfect for a romantic meal with a date.

Trinishack Roti - Trinishack delivers a punch! by Henv

Henv — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:18:10 +0000

Review by Henv

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8671 8227

Website: www.trinishackroti.co.uk

Tags: curry, rare finds, take away

What a great Take Away! Trinishack Roti specialise in real Trinidad cuisine. They are a really friendly family business, you go in there and end up chatting. The food is excellent ,has loads of flavors. If you order max spicy there is a powerful after burn but the spice mix is excellant. As an English person not familiar with the food they took the trouble to give me some free samples of doubles and poulorie. The meat is so tender. I had a curry Goat roti meal and it was enough for two meals. They do a wicked Guinness punch but for the healthy minded the peanut and carrot options are pretty good too. Well I came away filled and would recommend it to my friends.What a great Take Away! Trinishack Roti specialise in real Trinidad cuisine. They are a really friendly family business, you go in there and end up chatting. The food is excellent ,has loads of flavors. If you order max spicy there is a powerful after burn but the spice mix is excellant. As an English person not familiar with the food they took the trouble to give me some free samples of doubles and poulorie. The meat is so tender. I had a curry Goat roti meal and it was enough for two meals. They do a wicked Guinness punch but for the healthy minded the peanut and carrot options are pretty good too. Well I came away filled and would recommend it to my friends.

The Prince Regent - Regal by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:19:48 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7274 1567

Tags: relaxed, young professionals, friendly

I'm not in the habit of trawling the unlikely South Western suburbs of London for a good meal, but fortunately on this occasion I had someone else to do the research for me. There are few things more valuable than a recommendation from a foodie friend, and so off we trotted on a warm spring evening to the Prince Regent, a tastefully renovated space on the Dulwich Road which I'm told used to be the grottiest of old-man boozers but now was all light and space, solid pine furniture and cut-glass interiors.

The daily menu was scribbled charmingly (and mildly illiterately) on a couple of blackboards on a wall of the restaurant. There was no printed version, so throughout the evening groups of diners huddled around the handwritten menu like anxious students checking exam results. I was immediately interested in the homemade soda bread, but unfortunately the accompanying oysters would have probably sent me straight to hospital so instead I plumped for the smoked eel salad.

A bit of a curate's egg of a dish, the eel itself was gorgeous, delicately smoked, firm but moist. However the sauce was unpleasantly fizzy and although I'm sure this was just a side-effect of mixing mayonnaise with horseradish rather than it being off, it was quite disconcerting. A couple of slices of lovely crispy bacon on top did wonders to make amends though.

Main course of lamb rump and ratatouille was an assuredly accomplished bit of cooking. Other than the lamb being rather messily butchered, I could hardly fault this dish. Dauphinoise potatoes were rich and seasoned to perfection, the ratatouille was a satisfyingly straightforward but nonetheless tasty addition, and the lamb itself was as pink and juicy as you could want.

And so, another very deserving London neighbourhood gains a thoroughly respectable new gastropub. Well worth the trip to the outer boundary of Zone 2, the Prince Regent lives up to its name as a regal and dignified establishment.I'm not in the habit of trawling the unlikely South Western suburbs of London for a good meal, but fortunately on this occasion I had someone else to do the research for me. There are few things more valuable than a recommendation from a foodie friend, and so off we trotted on a warm spring evening to the Prince Regent, a tastefully renovated space on the Dulwich Road which I'm told used to be the grottiest of old-man boozers but now was all light and space, solid pine furniture and cut-glass interiors.

The daily menu was scribbled charmingly (and mildly illiterately) on a couple of blackboards on a wall of the restaurant. There was no printed version, so throughout the evening groups of diners huddled around the handwritten menu like anxious students checking exam results. I was immediately interested in the homemade soda bread, but unfortunately the accompanying oysters would have probably sent me straight to hospital so instead I plumped for the smoked eel salad.

A bit of a curate's egg of a dish, the eel itself was gorgeous, delicately smoked, firm but moist. However the sauce was unpleasantly fizzy and although I'm sure this was just a side-effect of mixing mayonnaise with horseradish rather than it being off, it was quite disconcerting. A couple of slices of lovely crispy bacon on top did wonders to make amends though.

Main course of lamb rump and ratatouille was an assuredly accomplished bit of cooking. Other than the lamb being rather messily butchered, I could hardly fault this dish. Dauphinoise potatoes were rich and seasoned to perfection, the ratatouille was a satisfyingly straightforward but nonetheless tasty addition, and the lamb itself was as pink and juicy as you could want.

And so, another very deserving London neighbourhood gains a thoroughly respectable new gastropub. Well worth the trip to the outer boundary of Zone 2, the Prince Regent lives up to its name as a regal and dignified establishment.

The Commercial - Nice pub / average food by elmparkturner

elmparkturner — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:54:26 +0000

Review by elmparkturner

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7501 9051

Tags: relaxed, students, friendly

I like the pub but would not eat the Sunday roast again. I had to send mine back after being given a plate of fat and gristle instead of roast lamb but to their credit, they did change it right away and without question. Still, the roast potatoes were not remotely crisp, the carrots advertised as "buttered" had never sniffed a butter dish and I'm sorry, but who eats boiled parsnips? Everything was unseasoned and bland. On the whole, not worth Â£8.90.

I like the pub but would not eat the Sunday roast again. I had to send mine back after being given a plate of fat and gristle instead of roast lamb but to their credit, they did change it right away and without question. Still, the roast potatoes were not remotely crisp, the carrots advertised as "buttered" had never sniffed a butter dish and I'm sorry, but who eats boiled parsnips? Everything was unseasoned and bland. On the whole, not worth Â£8.90.

Pullens Dining Room - Neither terrible nor amazing by Sami

Sami — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:13:42 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7274 9163

We came here last night for a quick bite to eat. As it was after 9 pm, they were serving from the bar menu, which had a decent selection.

We both had the moules frites - good, fat and fresh mussels with a nice white wine sauce, but the frites were undercooked and undersalted.

The bar menu (I can't speak for the restaurant menu) is pretty cheap and I noticed that they do happy hour wines by the glass, which is reason enough for me to go as I am on a student budget. It's cozy in the bar area and there is a larger dining room area as well.

By no means my favourite, but at least it's a place where they are happy to advertise their "scores on the door" (new and voluntary initiative whereby restaurants post their hygiene scores on the door), have happy hour specials and the staff were nice enough. We came here last night for a quick bite to eat. As it was after 9 pm, they were serving from the bar menu, which had a decent selection.

We both had the moules frites - good, fat and fresh mussels with a nice white wine sauce, but the frites were undercooked and undersalted.

The bar menu (I can't speak for the restaurant menu) is pretty cheap and I noticed that they do happy hour wines by the glass, which is reason enough for me to go as I am on a student budget. It's cozy in the bar area and there is a larger dining room area as well.

By no means my favourite, but at least it's a place where they are happy to advertise their "scores on the door" (new and voluntary initiative whereby restaurants post their hygiene scores on the door), have happy hour specials and the staff were nice enough.

Number 22 - A Special Spanish in Herne Hill by herrylaw

herrylaw — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:44:37 +0000

Review by herrylaw

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7095 9922

Website: http://www.number-22.com

Tags: spanish, family & home feel, good value

Going to a restaurant a second time is always instructive as the first occasion might have been an aberration - good or bad. Number 22 was already high on my return list, but as I am rarely in the Herne Hill area the need to entertain an old friend who lives on Half Moon Lane gave me the opportunity I needed. Booking on-line elicits an e-mail from the owner and the cheery open fire which greets you on a dark winter lunchtime raises one's expectations still more. The menu is tapas-orientated with a few more substantial plates. We nibbled on perfect breads and olive oil and had manchego and quince toasts (which were a little light on the quince), succulent pan-fried bass with mediterranean vegetables, clams in saffron sauce and a most delicious paprika and oregano pork dish. The only disappointment is that they only serve rather ordinary Serrano ham and not the beautiful - but admittedly very expensive - Gran Reserva ibÃ©rico ham - which would be worth coming to Herne Hill alone for. Number 22 has a pretty garden / terrace which would be a delight in the warmer months. There is a short but impressive wine and cocktail list from which we chose a beautiful Finca Valpiedra Reserva from the friendly and knowledgeable waitress and which kept out the chill wind on the walk home. Going to a restaurant a second time is always instructive as the first occasion might have been an aberration - good or bad. Number 22 was already high on my return list, but as I am rarely in the Herne Hill area the need to entertain an old friend who lives on Half Moon Lane gave me the opportunity I needed. Booking on-line elicits an e-mail from the owner and the cheery open fire which greets you on a dark winter lunchtime raises one's expectations still more. The menu is tapas-orientated with a few more substantial plates. We nibbled on perfect breads and olive oil and had manchego and quince toasts (which were a little light on the quince), succulent pan-fried bass with mediterranean vegetables, clams in saffron sauce and a most delicious paprika and oregano pork dish. The only disappointment is that they only serve rather ordinary Serrano ham and not the beautiful - but admittedly very expensive - Gran Reserva ibÃ©rico ham - which would be worth coming to Herne Hill alone for. Number 22 has a pretty garden / terrace which would be a delight in the warmer months. There is a short but impressive wine and cocktail list from which we chose a beautiful Finca Valpiedra Reserva from the friendly and knowledgeable waitress and which kept out the chill wind on the walk home.

Half Moon Public House - wicked music nite!!! by bobs_yer_uncle

bobs_yer_uncle — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:51:58 +0000

Review by bobs_yer_uncle

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7274 2733

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

Tags: pub, wifi, free wifi

went to the delikatessen music nite on friday at the half moon had a wicked time REALLY good bands top atmosphere got totally battered danced like a loon will defo go again!went to the delikatessen music nite on friday at the half moon had a wicked time REALLY good bands top atmosphere got totally battered danced like a loon will defo go again!

The Cambria - Not a half bad local pub by t0m

t0m — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:24:15 +0000

Review by t0m

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7733 9001

Tags: lively, gastro pub, good value

Hidden on a side street off Herne Hill Road, this pub is quite unexpected. They've a comprehensive selection of lagers on tap, alongside a substantial (and good value) range of food.

They do a variety of discounts throughout the week, like half price meals on Wednesday and 2 roasts for Â£11 on Sundays.

It might not be the best pub in the world, but it's great compared to the competition! Hidden on a side street off Herne Hill Road, this pub is quite unexpected. They've a comprehensive selection of lagers on tap, alongside a substantial (and good value) range of food.

They do a variety of discounts throughout the week, like half price meals on Wednesday and 2 roasts for Â£11 on Sundays.

It might not be the best pub in the world, but it's great compared to the competition!

Steve's Cafe - Help is at hand for Herne Hill's hungover hordes. by cafficionado

cafficionado — Sat, 12 May 2007 19:03:45 +0000

Review by cafficionado

Rating: 4.00

Tags: good brew, proper food

Large, airy, busy, refurbed local caff. Well-executed fry-ups. Good bacon and bubble.

Extensive, well priced menu including myriad breakfast permutations and daily-changing specials.

Open 7 days.Large, airy, busy, refurbed local caff. Well-executed fry-ups. Good bacon and bubble.

Extensive, well priced menu including myriad breakfast permutations and daily-changing specials.

Open 7 days.

Escape Bar & Art - by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:19:49 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 020 7737 0333

Website: www.escapebarandart.com

Tags: lunch, discount, 2 for 1

London´s first ever ´art bar´ is open in Herne Hill! Escape Bar and Art is the combination of an art gallery and a relaxed, modern café and features original work from local and international artists available to purchase on the premises.

Escape offers wines, beers and spirits, soft drinks and fresh juices, the food is simple, quick and affordable, including toasted ciabattas, pizzas and fajitas.