• Added: 24th of May 2007
• Area: Bermondsey
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SE1 3XB
020 7089 9355

chrsoz said
Gourmet Garrison
Had a pretty boozy lunch, so my recollections are slightly hazy!

Food generally great (although the prawn toast that we shared as a starter were slightly on the well done side!), with a good regular menu and a good selection of specials. Would describe it as modern British, which makes sense since its a gastro-pub. For some reason I went for the seafood risotto (which was actually good), but as soon as I saw the impressive-looking Garrison burger I felt like I was missing out! Decent selection of wines too.

Friendly staff, and a relaxed, chilled-out atmosphere, with the kitchen visible from the restaurant (you can either sit at regular tables, or they also have raised bar tables, good for a bigger group). It's on a pretty trendy road, so you get a cool crowd in there, dropping in for a beer or coffee as well as eating, and taking advantage of the free wi-fi.

So it's a thumbs-up for the Garrison from me.

• Added: 14th of May 2007
• Area: Fulham
• Category: Restaurants

London SW6 2EB

chrsoz said
Good food & kid heaven
This was our first trip to Blue Kangaroo, which is just down the road from the also excellent Chutney Mary Indian restaurant on King's Road.

Upstairs it's a modern restaurant with a concise modern menu (catering for adults and kids equally well), and downstairs it's a kids soft play centre (with snack bar)!

Food was good, service relaxed and friendly, and as long as you can handle a slightly manic environment with hoards of kids - including group parties going on - you'll have a great time. Goes without saying that they have all the kit you need to entertain and assist whilst the kids are eating (high chairs, balloons, crayons, etc).

You pay extra for the kids to use the soft play centre, but its well worth it. If your kids are old enough - and you fancy a slightly quieter meal! - then they can go and entertain themselves in the play centre, and you can keep an eye on them via the big screens in the restaurant. The play centre is a big, well designed, space with different areas for kids of different ages. Spectators can get a drink and snack as the little ones go bananas, and it really is a fun environment.

And as an extra bonus they provide free wi-fi - useful if you can keep your focus, but not sure it makes for the best working environment!

So it's a great place to go with the kids to have a good meal and for them to burn it all off afterwards in the soft play centre! Thoroughly recommend it.

Their website is http://www.thebluekangaroo.co.uk.

• Added: 18th of March 2007
• Area: Norbury
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London SW16 3PX
020 8764 3985

chrsoz said
The Waterfront
The best bar for miles as far as I'm concerned (and it's my local, so that's a result). Modern and funky feel. Lots of big tables, so good and sociable. Decent wines and beers. Does great pizzas too. Cool and friendly staff. Non-smoking area, so good for eating during the day, partic if you've got nippers (it'll be even better when it's no smoking totally). Great Sunday morning chill-out place (generally a good chill-out place during the day before transforming into a more buzzy place in the evening). They do comedy nights on a regular basis with what looks like a pretty good line-up (not something I've actually been to though). Maybe music too, although not 100% sure. You can even buy some modern art if you fancy it (stylised pieces of musicians and film stars)! And after indulging you can go for a walk on Streatham Common and stroll up to the Rookery to have a chill!