Claire's reviews
Review of The Hope
05 Aug 07, 20:06
Trading on its location 
The Hope ticks all the boxes but predominantly does the roaring trade it does because of its plum location smack bang next to Wandsworth Common on Bellevue Road.
It's relatively spacious and has a decent amount of outdoor space, if you don't mind the fact that you're practically sitting on a road junction, and inside it's got that whole leather sofa, chunky wood tables mod gastropub thing going on.
But, realistically, it's got no competition. It's about the only place in the area that actually seems geared towards grown ups rather than parents with kids in tow
It does passable food in the gastro mould, but service for both food and drink can be super slow, especially on a summer's day when groups spill in from the common for jugs of pimms.
Loos are poorly maintained with at least one invariably out of order. A small point, but a noticeable one, especially with the volume of customers that passes through.
You're better off picking up something from the off license up the road and taking it to the common.
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Review of The Moon Under Water
05 Aug 07, 20:00
Don't 
If someone says they'll meet you in the pub opposite Balham station - dissuade them and suggest that they walk the extra hundred metres to either The Bedford or The Tup or The Firefly.
This is one of those cheapo pubs with the sort of drinks promotions that the Daily Mail rail against and accuse of being responsible for the collapse of our society. They may have a point.
The clientele seem predominantly composed of people who don't have to work during the day - old codgers, young geezers and anyone else who wants to pay as little as possible for a pint and doesn't care about the surroundings.
It's a step up from drinking a can of Special Brew in the park, but not a very steep step.
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Review of The Lounge, Spanish Tapas Bar
05 Aug 07, 19:53
Bar for all seasons 
This place could be condemned for having a bit of an identity crisis. It's a bit of a hodge podge of a sports bar and a tapas joint and a brunch hotspot, but somehow it gets away with it.
It's probably mostly down to the delightful couple that run the place. She's the sort of person that when you go down there on a Saturday lunchtime with the hangover from hell and a head full of regrets about what you did last night, will look delighted to see you and serve you a perfect Bloody Mary while you decide which of their brilliant breakfasts you're going to use in place of paracetemol.
Snacky tapas is fantastic - especially the very garlicky prawns, but Sundays in the winter is when the place really comes into its own.
We've been known to head down there with the papers for brunch and a Bloody Mary, stay for a few beers and whatever football is on in the afternoon, and finally order dinner and a couple of bottles of wine. It's that sort of a place.
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Review of The Firefly
05 Aug 07, 19:47
Reliable midweek drinking den
This place has become a bit of a mid-week staple for my crowd of friends. You can usually get somewhere to sit and the service tends to be friendly.
There's a bit of bare brick New York style decor going on, and some occasionally questionable artwork, but all in all, there's a really nice laidback vibe which turns what could be a thin, narrow corridor into a bar that's worth a look.
Food is good, not necessarily somewhere I'd recommend as a restaurant over a bar, but it does the job if you want something snacky or gastropub-esque to soak up the beers.
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Review of Tsunami
05 Aug 07, 19:39
Destination dining in Clapham North
What makes Tsunami particularly noteworthy is its diamond in the rough quality. There aren't many restaurants south of the river that North Londoners would travel to, but this, alongside Chez Bruce, is one of them.
The minimalist interior means that the accoustics aren't great and, on a busy night, can make for a noisy dining experience. And service isn't always what you'd hope for in a restaurant that's got such a 'must visit' reputation.
All this becomes irrelevant when you sample the food. This place is hailed as the Nobu of South London, and the sushi is outstanding. Sashimi and nigiri are great, but other slightly more off beat menu items, like the Sunkiss Salmon Sashimi and the Tuna Tataki are also noteworthy. The black cod in sweet miso sauce is a favourite of many, although some find it a little sweet.
It's not a cheap night out, but it doesn't have to be break the bank expensive if you stick to a glass or two of house wine and some carefully selected sashimi.
And, while you're not as likely to be rubbing shoulders with Posh 'n' Becks as you might be at Nobu, not everyone would think that was a bad thing.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Willie Smarts
05 Aug 07, 14:37
High style off the High Street
This place seems to manage to straddle being a local hairdressers where people know each other, and being a suburban snippers where they haven't got a clue about the latest looks.
The colour and cuts that I've had there over the years easily rival in quality a lot of those I've received from big name salons in the West End.
The decor is quirky which gives the place a sense of individuality that is reflected in the people who work there. Obviously what you get depends on who you get - I like Curtis - but for a local hairdressers, I think it's a good bet.
If they're busy, you might find yourself waiting a little while, but there tend to be enough mags to keep you occupied and, the calming fragrance of the aforementioned Aveda products mean it's not too much of a hardship.
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Review of Clapham North MOT
05 Aug 07, 14:31
MOT not OTT
Exactly what you want in a local garage. Honest, quick and efficient.
They do MOTs on cars and motorbikes and have a policy of treating customers they way they themselves would like to be treated. It seems to work. Having heard good reports about them, I took my car in for its MOT there and was really impressed with how quickly they did it and how good the level of service was.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of La Terraza
05 Aug 07, 14:23
Spain in SW4
This gaudy orange building doesn't look that promising from the outside but inside, it's a little bit like stepping into a bar on the outskirts of Madrid.
Invariably there's Spanish football on the televisions above the bar, and lots of guys at the bar, beer in one hand, boquerones in the other discussing the game.
The decor is simple and the predominantly Spanish waiters span the service scale, from avuncular friendliness to disinterest.
Spanish staples are what's on offer here and the big portions means that three or four carefully selected tapas can do two for a light meal.
Prices are cheap, but that sometimes means the food is too - Madrilenos might like the atmosphere but they'd probably have something to say about some of the menu items. There's probably better tapas to be had in the area - eg. El Rincon Latino, but if you just want a quick snack, it's not a bad option.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of El Rincon Latino
05 Aug 07, 14:14
Colombian?
Umm, WLL might think this is a Colombian restaurant, I thought it was just an above average Spanish tapas joint.
Tucked away off the High Street, it doesn't look like much from the outside but it's a bit of a tardis with loads of room on the inside and a relaxed and open attitude to big groups who are kept swiftly stocked with free flowing booze and tasty tapas.
There are no big surprises on the menu but what is there seems good and fresh without the mass deep fat frying that can pervade cheaper places.
However busy they are, they will always try and fit you in, and there's always the option to eat at the bar if there isn't a spare table.
Service is friendly and quick and prices aren't bad if you want a casual, mid-week meal.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Infernos Nightclub
05 Aug 07, 01:40
Grot 
If you're hankering after your student days, or even the days before you were a student and used to use fake ID to get into clubs with names like Ritzy's and Mirage, get yourself down here. If you're actually after a good night out, you're probably best looking elsewhere.
On a good night, it smells of cheesy feet, on a bad night, of vomit. You'll pay over the odds to get in and over the odds to get a drink. If you're in a big group, you might think you're doing it ironically and have a great night out, (like the hen parties and the rugby boys who you'll be sharing the dancefloor with) but, let's be honest, if you're over 18 and are even slightly bovvered about where you spend your time and your money, go elsewhere.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.