London Clapham Restaurant Guide

“The neighbourhood Italian restaurant that you always wanted to have” is now chef Robin Gill’s Clapham flagship following the closure of near-neighbour Dairy (RIP). It’s “noisy and buzzy” in the proper Italian manner, and the cooking is “interesting and delicious”, with highlights including “arancini to die for”.

2021 Review: “A nice, laid-back American buzz” has helped win a loyal following over the years for this small chain of Kansas City-style diners: one of the first in London to bring BBQ indoors. “It’s a fun place” (in the right mood) and the food is “decent” and in man-sized portions, but “not particularly special”.

“Doing what they do very well” – “top burgers” are presented with a veneer of Parisian sophistication at this seven-strong chain, popular not just for their value but their “lovely” styling too.

2021 Review: “Classic pizzas, cooked simply and well in a nice, buzzy room” has kept Franco Manca creator, Sami Wasif’s Clapham hang-out, in biz for over 25 years: “it’s always reliable, and you can nearly always get a table”.

2021 Review: “Bright and airy”, traditional-ish gastroboozer (plus garden), off Clapham High Street, “reliably serving good food” (if not of a particularly ‘gourmet’ variety).

2021 Review: “When all you want is an old-school burger”, these US-based arrivals of recent years really “hit the spot” – you can “build your own”, with “tons of accessories”; plus “seriously addictive fries”, “thick milkshakes”, and “more soda flavours than is reasonable”. “The eat-in experience is as depressing as McDonald’s”, though, in fact perhaps more so – “some branches have a strangely gloomy ambience” – but fans feel that “if you don’t mind 1980s-rock, a trip can still be surprisingly fun”.

“Excellent modern Japanese food with a twist” has given this Clapham local a cutting-edge vibe that has barely faltered since its launch in 2001 by a trio of ex-Nobu chefs. Top Menu Tips – “perfect black cod (gin dara) and the best scallops ever: presented flaming in a sea shell with enoki mushrooms in a creamy chilli sauce with the crunch of tobiko. Sublime!”

2021 Review: “What a find!” – “superb and authentic Indian street food” developed at a market stall is now found in a permanent home by Wandsworth Town station. “Passionate owner Tania is always there to talk about the menu”.

“Fab” California-style pizzas (bigger and fresher toppings, apparently) are all you can eat at this handy converted public convenience next to Clapham Common tube, apart from the breakfast butties served until 2pm. There’s also red & white wine on tap, and own-label beers by the can.

2019 Review: “A strong new arrival in SW4” – “inventive modern British cooking” is “served by friendly, informal but informative, staff in a space which is larger than it appears from outside” at Jake Boyce’s year-old venture, tipped for its good brunch.

With its inviting décor, this fast-expanding group has been a big “winner” since the pandemic, mushrooming to 18 sites, all of which have generally proved useful additions to their respective areas. But while “it certainly looks the part, and the staff look after you well enough”, the brunch-friendly fare can be hit ’n’ miss, with reports ranging from “surprisingly good” to “formulaic and really abysmal”. Top Tip – “always a top option for feeding the family”.

“You would pay a fortune to eat here if it was in Mayfair” – “Adam Byatt’s excellent flagship” near Clapham Common is “so much more than a neighbourhood local” and “perfect for a fancy meal, especially if you live in south London!” Often inviting comparisons with nearby Chez Bruce, with ratings tracking its rival’s closely, it is never quite as high in our ranking of London’s Top 40 most-mentioned destinations (and has taken a little more flak for “high prices” of late). “Tastefully decorated” – the fact that it’s “not pretentious, with just the right amount of friendliness from the staff” is key to its “pleasant” appeal, as, of course, is the “top-class food and wines”. Top Tip – a large outside terrace is a relatively recent addition.

Upstairs from Adam Byatt’s classy Clapham flagship Trinity, is “a casual space with big windows letting in plenty of light”. It’s frequented by locals in the know, who reckon that “Adam shoots and scores on a formula of tapas-themed sharing plates and accessible wine list”. A mild dip in ratings this year backs up those who feel it’s “slightly slipped from previous peaks”, but no-one questions that it delivers “delicious, albeit simple food” and it’s still very much “the local place to go if you can get a booking for a Sunday lunch”.

“Bright modern tapas with some old favourites” are on the menu at this “stylish” pair south of the river, named after the food market in Barcelona. “Consistently good cooking” and “reasonable prices” are the plus points, although they may “lack the extra zing of the very best places”.

“A great conversion of a big old pub in Clapham” – this November 2021 newcomer is the fourth site of the team behind Smokehouse, The Pig & Butcher and The Princess of Shoreditch. It’s a “stylish and high-spec” renovation to create a buzzy attractive space over two levels. The main area is “a bit of a noisy barn” – “the mezzanine (with views to the kitchen) is the more interesting/quieter area foodwise”. The menu has a sustainability focus (“the more ‘unfashionable’ meats: bone marrow, pig’s head, mutton”), but at the overview it “serves up really well-cooked British pub dining”.

“A new arrival in Clapham that’s making a really good name for themselves” as a “neighbourhood gem”. This small venture – the work of a husband-and-wife team – launched just before the February 2020 lockdown, and is finally winning recognition for its “really excellent Thai food: perhaps nothing ground-breaking, but the classics are prepared as well as I can remember having them in London in recent years”.

With its inviting décor, this fast-expanding group has been a big “winner” since the pandemic, mushrooming to 18 sites, all of which have generally proved useful additions to their respective areas. But while “it certainly looks the part, and the staff look after you well enough”, the brunch-friendly fare can be hit ’n’ miss, with reports ranging from “surprisingly good” to “formulaic and really abysmal”. Top Tip – “always a top option for feeding the family”.