Claire's reviews
Review of The Balham Tup
29 Sep 07, 16:37
Score draw 
As mentioned above, this place has made a name for itself as sports pub. It's particularly popular with Antipodeans and South Africans and the rugby always draws a huge crowd.
The accoustics are terrible so even on a 'quietish' Saturday night, you'll be bellowing across the table to make yourself heard.
Food is distinctly average, so unless you're a broad-shouldered boy with a gang of mates intent on seeing some sporting fixture, there are probably better places to splash your cash round Balham.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Caffe Moka
29 Sep 07, 16:06
Cool for caffs 
This little caff just north of Tooting Bec tube is exactly what you want in a local neighbourhood caff. It's not a greasy spoon, more like an Italian caff doing a whole load of eat in/take out food options plus decent coffees and a huge selection of bottled and canned soft drinks.
Staffed by smiley people - which makes a nice change - who serve you decent grub, there's not a lot to complain about, especially when the food is this good. Whether you want a sandwich, a panini, a full English or a jacket potato, portions are healthy, ingredients are fresh and it's all made up to order. Prices are sensible and you can get a decent meal for under a fiver. Good stuff.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Blue Pumpkin
07 Aug 07, 00:12
Can't work out why but it doesn't work 
For some reason, this place doesn't quite cut it and I can't work out why.
All the elements are there. There's a decent wine list, the food is fine, service can be a bit half-arsed but nothing dire, but it's just lacking in something.
The terrace outside is nice for a lazy brunch or sinking a few pints or bottles on a sunny afternoon, but local residents mean it's all inside fairly early on.
Inside, it's just a bit bland - part formal dining room, part bar with squishy sofas and low tables. Kind of a paint by numbers place that is decidedly less than the sum of its parts - head to Firefly if you want this sort of food and drink combo, it's just better.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Paddyfield
07 Aug 07, 00:07
Tip top Thai for not many dollar 
You wouldn't necessarily think this almost hole in the wall joint would be capable of serving up some of SW's best Thai food.
The prices are rock bottom, you can bring your own booze and the restaurant itself seems little more than a narrow corridor.
Don't be fooled. The food that emanates from the kitchen in the bowels of the place is second to none. Delicious filling soups served with fresh chillies and beansprouts, pad thai which doesn't look like a congealed mess of noodles and curries that perfectly blend creamy with sweet and spicy. The flavours are crisp, clean and delicious.
Service is swift and friendly and, if you book in advance, they'll happily seat big groups, making it an affordable celebration for a large number, or equally, a mid-week treat when you can't be arsed to cook.
And for almost the same price as a McCrap Meal. I can't fault it.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Tagine
06 Aug 07, 23:59
Rocking the kasbah
If someone spirited you to this place with your eyes shut, you could easily be fooled into thinking you were in Marrakech (but for the lack of a 4 hour flight, and the presence of The Bedford opposite).
Low slung tables and seating, Moroccan chandeliers and a beautifully tiled bathroom all conspire to convince you that you're just round the corner from Djemma El Fnaa.
As you might expect, the menu offers predominantly tagines and cous cous, but make room for some of the delicious mezze style starters with flatbread to start with.
The food is delicious, the service is friendly, the lighting is, like the seats, low, and the ambience seductive. Plus, with a BYO booze policy, the bill isn't too unpleasant either.
Bag the big table at the back on the right, lounge in sybaritic fashion on the sofas, and wistfully think back to the old days when you were allowed to smoke shisha there. Damn that smoking ban, you'll have to drink mint tea instead.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of Bucci
06 Aug 07, 23:50
Family style Italian
This is one of those places that people who've just moved to Balham take their folks when they've come down for the weekend to help them move house.
It's a reliable well-priced traditional Italian with great pizzas as well as the usual pasta offerings you'd expect. Staff are lovely, welcoming, friendly and always up for making a fuss of someone if it's their birthday - whether they're 9, 29 or 90.
Food is usually served quickly and piping hot, and the place just has a really warm, relaxed feel. Whether you're looking to linger over a few bottles of red, or have a quick bite before heading out, if you're after Italian, Bucci is an infinitely better option than the slicker, more modern Raviolo round the corner.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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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