London Herne Hill Restaurant Guide

“A funky little place” – this “excellent local” in Herne Hill is run by brothers Luca and Ollie Sechi, whose culinary aim is plant-based Italian cuisine (‘just like Mama used to make – only without the meat, dairy or egg!’). “Astonishingly popular with a loyal crowd, the ambience is always lively”. “I went with two reluctant carnivores who proclaimed it top-notch!”

2024 Review: “Love coming here”, say fans of the “excellent fish ’n’ chips” served for 36 years by Harry Niazi opposite Brockwell Park – where it’s “great to eat a takeaway”. It takes its name from Oliver Twist, in which Dickens refers to Londoners’ favourite dish.

Well-priced Korean restaurant on Ealing Broadway (with an uncommented-on year-old spin-off in Ravenscourt Park), offering a range of tasty bibimbap and bulgogi dishes with a soup starter and kimchi on the side for £18.95, alongside plenty of appetizers, stews and noodle options.

2024 Review: “Great pizza that’s very good value” is the USP of this Neapolitan-style shopfront outfit by Brockwell Park. It used to have three offshoots across South London, but now only the Herne Hill branch is ongoing.

This “perfect neighbourhood restaurant that consistently cooks to a really high standard” occupies an attractive glass-fronted site opposite Herne Hill station, and goes from strength to strength under founder, hairdressing salon entrepreneur Katya Milavic-Davies and exec chef Lasse Petersen, who began his professional life as the drummer in post-punk band The Rakes.

2023 Review: “Always fresh sourdough pizza” has helped build a strong local following for this hip southeast London group, with outlets in Crystal Palace, Nunhead, West Norwood, Herne Hill and Elephant & Castle. A new natural wine selection from specialist importer Les Caves de Pyrène is now available alongside the craft beers on tap. Top Tip – “make sure you leave room for the ice cream”.

“Lovely snacks, good coffee and cake and a good wine list too” make it worth remembering this cute Herne Hill two-year-old: younger sister to Llewelyn’s next door. Seating spills out onto the pavement, where it’s “nice to be outside on a warm day”.

“Yummy mummy hangouts” that have proliferated across the capital and its surrounding high streets over the past few years, with “relaxed and colourful décor” and “friendly waiting staff”. They are very accommodating to families, both “child-friendly” and “pooch central, with snacks and water” – although if you don’t bring your own, you might find there are “too many dogs”. The eastern Med-style cooking varies between “fresh and well prepared” at best to “adequate, sometimes slow” – while “bottomless Bloody Mary or Mimosa on a Sunday can be dangerous!”.