• Added: 11th of May 2008
• Area: Wandsworth Common
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SW17 7EG
020 8672 8717

Litro_K said
Perfect for a sunny day
I've just spent the last two gloriously warm, sunny Sundays here and had to add it to the site. This pub was originally recommended to me by a friend because of their food, which is great, but I've since come to realise that The Hope has a lot more to offer besides.

It overlooks Wandsworth Common and is right across the bridge from the railway station, so it's very easy to find. As the pub faces the park, they're more than willing to give you your drinks in plastic cups to take to the common (I know, not very green, but a lovely idea on a hot day). They have an extensive range of beers on tap, including Fruli, one of my favourite summer tipples, as well as Staropramen, Peroni, Deuchars and other pale and real ales. They also have lots of board games scattered about the place - and in my experience, a pub with a decent Scrabble set is always a winner.

The food is aspirational and well-executed, considering the size of the tiny kitchen! I have never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for it to arrive, either. Everything is served in immense white plate-bowls (v. technical term) giving a gastropub feel. Prices are very reasonable considering the type of restaurants and shops further up the road, which would explain how busy they are. Something they've recently introduced for the summer is that they will prepare picnic baskets of food, wine and all utensils for you if you order with a little advance notice. Given that the pub itself has been packed out for the last two weekends running and the gorgeous common beckons, this is something I'd like to try out very soon.

I haven't been here in the winter yet but I'd be very interested to keep coming back and see how it changes with the seasons. For now, with the excellent weather we've been having, I'd happily recommend it to anyone as a laid-back, suntrap of a weekend hangout.

• Added: 4th of May 2008
• Area: East Dulwich
• Category: Restaurants

London SE22 9AX
020 7732 7575

Litro_K said
East Dulwich's First Great Italian
I can never resist a brand spanking new restaurant, especially when it's right up my street (literally, in this case). When we first noticed this was opening, we applied to visit on one of their '50 % off training days' - they open properly in the next few weeks.

Having just returned from a leisurely and varied (not to mention half-price) lunch there, I think this stylish Italian venture will do very well, occupying a leafy corner plot with an attractive terrace next to Goose Green. Although we expected minor hiccups on their training day, we were greeted enthusiastically by the manager who explained that their credit card machine hadn't arrived and so it would be payment by cash only. This might have been an annoyance were it not for his charming manner and the good fortune that there's a cashpoint just outside.

Once seated, the Italian waiting staff were polite, well-informed, and efficient. The menu is surprisingly authentic for a chain restaurant and pleased my pseudo-Italian boyfriend no end, who recounts the food he ate whilst living in Bologna at every opportunity. So with the half-price offer, we feasted: olives and focaccia, insalata caprese with rich, creamy mozzarella, then gramigna alla salsiccia (the pseudo-Italian nearly wept when he saw this; a traditional dish not often seen on menus in the UK) and filetto di manzo, a huge knuckle of Argentinian steak with a peppercorn sauce, cooked to perfection. We were stuffed, but made room for an affogato for dessert - delicious cinnamon ice cream with espresso and frangelica poured over the top.

Upon settling the bill, we were asked to fill in a comments card: proof that they will continue to be very customer-oriented and well-managed. We rolled out of there, happily, wishing we had a longer walk home to digest it all, but really pleased that this is now our nearest excellent restaurant.

• Added: 4th of May 2008
• Area: Bankside
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 9HA
020 7620 0162

Litro_K said
Good idea, great location, but disappointing
I've come to this branch of The Real Greek a couple of times with friends who are visiting London- the Bankside location makes it a useful pitstop when showing people the river and walking between London Bridge/Borough/The Globe/Tate Modern.

So, you would think with such an excellent location would mean that the restaurant is geared up to cope with many visitors. Sadly, both my experiences here have confirmed this is not the case. There's usually a wait to get a table on weekends, not because the tables are all occupied, but because they ask you to wait to be seated and there is no-one to be seen at the front desk when you arrive.

Once seated, the food choices are excellent and always freshly cooked. There's no doubt that the menu is well thought-out and the quality of the dishes are good. Unfortunately the staff at this branch, at least, seem incapable of remembering your order properly, and four of our dishes at my last visit were promptly dropped on the floor on their way to us, resulting in the chef publicly bawling out the hapless waiter. Not fun for anyone.

Replacement dishes arrived not long afterwards, but getting the bill was another problem and a lengthy wait ensued. Once it came, the itemisation was wrong- extra dishes had been added, others left off. Once again the waiter disappeared for aeons. Tired of trying to flag down wait staff, we went to the counter ourselves, asked for the extra dishes to be removed, and quickly exited. It was all a bit of a shambles, so I won't be going back for a while.

• Added: 30th of April 2008
• Area: East Dulwich
• Category: Restaurants

London SE22 9AX
020 7732 1247

Litro_K said
Gold Service
I couldn't agree more with the other reviewer, Karen. Gold Lee is consistently excellent in terms of service and the quality of their food always surprises me for the price. The staff are warm, welcoming and they even remember you if you visit often.

When dining in, I've seen the place both quiet and slightly empty on weekdays, as well as energised and full of larger parties celebrating special occasions on Friday and Saturday nights.

No matter how busy they get, their service remains flawless. If you decide not to eat in, they do local deliveries, give a 10% discount if you collect the food yourself, and free prawn crackers without fail. How very splendid.

My Chinese work colleague is jealous that I have such a great takeaway so nearby. I think that says it all!

• Added: 21st of April 2008
• Area: Peckham
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SE15 3NX
020 7639 5397

Litro_K said
Excellent Local Boozer
This is probably my nearest pub, and it's fast becoming a favourite. Set very close to Peckham Rye, it is nestled between the crossroads of East Dulwich, Peckham, and Nunhead. It offers pretty much something for everyone, in all seasons.

On winter evenings it's a warm, cosy haven, bedecked as it is with fairy lights and boasting large roaring fires. In the summertime, the back garden and bedouin-tent style back rooms become popular late-night hangouts, with the pub even putting on the occasional barbeque. The atmosphere changes with the seasons, from lively festival-esque beer tent to laid-back country-pub Scrabble venue, and I like both.

Their food is excellent, and comes in larger portions than at an average gastropub. The beers on tap include Leffe and Hoegaarden, and they stock the ever-popular Fruli in bottles. You'll pay East Dulwich prices, though, most definitely.

My one reservation would be that as it's such a child-friendly place it can get pretty full of families, babies and loud children on weekend afternoons. But hey. You gotta love 'em, the little darlings. This is (almost) East Dulwich, after all...

• Added: 18th of April 2008
• Area: Soho
• Category: Restaurants

London W1F 9BP
020 7494 4170

Litro_K said
Please, sir, may I have some more?
Ever since I went to The Salt Yard, I have wanted to try its smaller sister restaurant, Dehesa. At the former, I spent an entire Saturday afternoon gobbling delicious tapas, quaffing glasses of exquisite wines, and rounding off the whole gorgeous experience by stuffing my face with deliciously sinful chocolate cake. I whiled away hours with a friend, eating at the bar, the staff politely leaving us to our gluttony and overindulgence, only stopping by occasionally to make measured suggestions.

Dehesa is a different experience somewhat. I know I should try not to compare the two, but I couldn’t help it, given the similarities of their menus and wine lists. Firstly, Dehesa is small. The whole place seats maybe 60 or 70 people, and everyone is perched on high stools and small tables. The place fills up very quickly, and they don’t take bookings, so there’s a definite feel of rushing you in and out.

We ordered the stellar courgette flowers stuffed with Monte Enebro cheese and drizzled with honey (I’d had these at Salt Yard and they floored me), plus mozzarella wrapped in proscuitto, sumptuous olives and grilled, oil-drizzled bread, chicken saltimbocca and grilled tiger prawns. The food is flawless. But there isn’t enough of it. The prawns were more than £6 a plate, and that included a total of 4 of them. Four measly prawns. The wines are spectacular, and the rosé prosecco seemed popular too. I can’t fault the desserts either. We left satisfied, but not overly full, and our bill with two wines by the glass and tap water was just shy of £50, so not incredible value for money. Had I been given more time to savour the goods, and been left to steep in my own juices in a dark corner for a while, I would have happily ordered more and not balked at the price of the prawns.

Quite simply, this place would benefit from more a roomier, more comfortable locale, and a slightly less efficient kitchen and staff. I can’t believe I’m writing that, but it’s true- they need to relax a little. Just a little.

• Added: 20th of March 2008
• Area: Fitzrovia
• Category: Restaurants

London W1T 1DB
020 7323 9130

Litro_K said
Brillant Bam-Bou
Oh. My. God. The food here is to DIE for. We had such a fantastic meal here, I'll definitely be going back. It's one of those places that is great for special occasions- it won't disappoint.

The har gau are highly recommended, as was the vegetarian curry, and the pan fried black sea bass. Everyone around the table was rapturous about the coconut rice. And the desserts? Chocolate spring rolls? I mean come on. They must eat those in heaven.

It really isn't all that expensive, either. And the staff are perfect- composed, polite, efficient, but they make you feel a bit special. I loved it.

• Added: 11th of March 2008
• Area: East Dulwich
• Category: Restaurants

London SE22 8EP
020 8693 2318

Litro_K said
Not bad, but better can be found in East Dulwich
Chopsticks used to be the only Chinese (actually they're more like Chinese/ Japanese fusion) takeaway we used in this area, with mixed results. Some days the food would arrive promptly, and we would have ordered well, but the taste and quality of the dishes would vary wildly, as would the time it took the food to arrive.

The soups are not worth having - colourless, flavourless watery things. Singapore noodles are good, as are the chicken and prawn dishes.

When eating in, we've never found the service to be a problem, they seem friendly and willing to help. The decor and ambience is cool and it looks inviting from the outside. Having said that, you can find much better places for Chinese food in this area - just try Gold Lee on East Dulwich Road, for example.

• Added: 29th of January 2008
• Area: Battersea
• Category: Restaurants

London SW11 1EG
020 7228 0336

Litro_K said
Bloomin' marvellous little find
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 £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.

• Added: 20th of January 2008
• Area: South Bank
• Category: Restaurants

London SE1 9PH
020 7633 0088

Litro_K said
A Great Riverside Experience
I chose this restaurant at the last minute, from a selection of riverside options as a colleague of mine was leaving us to go back to Australia and I wanted to give her one last beautiful view of the city to remember us by. The original plan was to go to Bincho Yakitori, a few floors up in the same building, but that fell through as they were having their staff Christmas party (In January? Go figure).

Anyway, I booked this late on a Sunday evening for the Monday, and prayed that the view would be enough to compensate for the mediocre reviews I'dread almost everywhere- toptable, view London, Time Out. I figured our colleage would appreciate the thought, even if the food was less than outstanding.

Well, I needn't have worried. From the time I spoke to the Maitre'd, Stephan, who kindly sent me sample menus by email and assured me that we would have a table with great views, to the end of the fantastic meal, our experience at Tamesa was second to none.

Apart from being a little empty (hardly surprising on a cold Monday night in mid-January), I couldn't fault this place at all. Their service was perfect- attentive yet not overbearing, and wine suggestions were made gently, to enhance the food. We sank a few bottles of one of the nicest Riojas I have ever had, and couldn't believe the quality of the food, given the reviews we had read.

Many of us sampled the set menu, priced extremely reasonably at £15.50 for 2 courses or £17.50 for three. I had a wonderful tuna carpaccio salad followed by beef fillet with spinach and was left feeling totally satisfied. Around the table, the steaks got many satisfied murmurs, as did the pumpkin and onion soups. I sampled some desserts from around the table and all were warm, rich and creamy- comfort food for the winter.

The views, frankly, were the icing on the cake. We could see all the way from the Tate Modern over to St Paul's and beyond. Even though you're only on the second floor, it's enough to be highly impressive.

I would recommend this place without a moment's hestitation. Maybe the reviewers were harsh. Maybe the restaurant bucked up its ideas. Whatever the case, it's definitely one to watch.