London Camberwell Restaurant Guide

“Lovely, charred, soft-based pizza with reliably interesting (but not OTT) toppings and very tasty!” wins consistently high ratings from a strong local fan club for this duo of pizzerias in Camberwell and Elephant & Castle.

“Still pumping out the big and loud flavour bombs with a simple style that suits the venue” (“technically well-cooked, robust dishes”, which the “in-house butchery helps make even more special”): this 10-year-old “in the heart of Camberwell” is a sibling to Waterloo’s Anchor & Hope, and has Mike Davis at the stoves, who learnt his trade at the A&H. That it still feels like an “unpretentious” boozer is key to its appeal (“its clients are hipsters who don’t like posh restaurants)”. Top Menu Tip – “incredible Steak and Guinness pie”.

“Praise be to the gods of southeast London for the resurrection of Silk Road” following a six-month closure that had its legion of fans worried last winter. And “Christ the food is still great” – spicy Uigur fare from Xinjiang in northwest China, full of “lip-burning/numbing brilliance”. (One regular, though, feels the “refurb is a bit mad – it’s gone from ‘crap canteen’ to ‘airport lounge in random Mediterranean resort!”)

Camberwell’s gentrification continues apace with this revamped, classic neighbourhood boozer – brought back to life after being closed for six years. The tucked-away dining area showcases the talents of chef Joe Sharratt, formerly of Brixton hotspot Naughty Piglets, and seating possibilities include a counter next to the kitchen. No survey feedback as yet, but in his April 2024 review, The Evening Standard’s Jimi Famurewa thought that – while some dishes “did not work” – other small plates were “thrilling”.