Banstead Restaurant Guide

“By far my favourite in South West London and beyond!” – Robert & Pat Barnett’s “very buzzy” pan-Asian in Parsons Green took over where its former incarnation Mao Tai left off as a place for a big night out for Fulhamites not wishing to schlep into the West End. “The food is always super-fresh; there’s a diverse wine list and the cocktails are as good as you’ll get anywhere… it’s always my eating place of choice even if it can be a bit heavy on the wallet…”

Park Tavern is an independent gastropub located in the heart of Southfields, in South West London.All the dining areas and the beautiful back beer garden have been recently refurbished offering a sense of convivial atmosphere to its diners. The interior blen...

“Nothing changes, and it doesn’t need to” – at this “old-fashioned” French “hideaway” in Pimlico: “always a delightful experience” thanks to its “rustic” and “quirky” candle-lit setting (“you may need your phone torch to read the menu”), which every year ranks near the top of our annual diners’ poll as one of London’s top choices for a smoochy ‘dîner à deux’. Its “comforting, homely cooking” is “unashamedly French”, and essentially unchanged since circa 1964 (which is when it opened); service, similarly, is very Gallic and, for the most part, “utterly charming”. Top Tip – “particularly lovely in the summer: sitting outside, one could be in La Belle France”.

“Just a fantastic highlight for South London” – for the 19th year running, Bruce Poole & Nigel Platts-Martin’s “outstanding neighbourhood restaurant” (in “a lovely location by Wandsworth Common”) is voted London’s No. 1 favourite destination in our annual diners’ poll, drawing adulation from across the capital as well as adoration from the immediately adjacent postcodes. It’s “a high-class restaurant but an unfussy one”: chef Matt Christmas’s modern British cooking is “imaginative” – “with lovely touches throughout” – but “not with silly complications”; and there’s “no tasting menu or small plates, thank goodness!”. When it comes to wine, “they really know what they are doing” and offer “one of the most varied and high-quality wine lists around, with lots of classics, and plenty of new options to try”. “The regular presence of Bruce himself (more common since lockdown) is welcome” and it’s a “very slick operation”: “friendly, not too pretentious” and “seemingly effortlessly convivial”. The room itself is slightly “cramped” to some tastes, but is buoyed along by the “seductive buzz of contented diners”. “It’s still the one to beat – the standards never drop… if anything, it gets better!”

“A clear cut above your standard Curry House (without attempting anything Michelin-chasing)” – this first UK outpost of a family-owned Indian group occupies the simple Putney premises that were, for years, Ma Goa (RIP). It aims for a “delicious, healthy take on Indian cuisine”. Everyone agrees the food is yummy. But while some reports say “their claims to be ‘healthy’ appear to play out with lovely dishes lacking an oily, ghee-laden feel to them”; others “totally don’t understand its billing – it all tasted good-to-very good, but was not remotely advisable for my waistline or blood pressure!”

“Focusing on the food alone, this is right up there with the best” agree fans of chef-patronne Shilpa Dandekar’s low-key Indian seven-year-old – on the trafficky segment of Fulham High Street leading up to Putney Bridge. It’s “really worth a visit” to sample her “unusual but delicious” cooking. Shilpa’s training combined Indian and European culinary traditions (Taj Group and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons). Her husband and co-founder, Faheem Vanoo, runs the front of house.

“They know their clientele” (most of whom are of a certain age), and “really look after them” at this “absolutely classic Italian” south of Sloane Square, founded 30 years ago by Paolo Caraffini. “The food feels like pure 1960s-style London/Italian and is very competently cooked”. “There’s always a great welcome (when they get to know you!), it’s not over-expensive and has a warm and bubbly atmosphere”.

“Hidden off the King’s Road” in “an attractive townhouse” in a backstreet near Peter Jones – Taylor Bonnyman’s “romantic” venue is “just lovely in every respect”. Chef Marguerite Keogh’s “exceptionally crafted” modern British cuisine is “incredibly well thought-out: dishes taste sublime and the presentation is a work of art in itself”. “The wine pairings are really interesting” and “Nuno, the sommelier, gave comprehensive explanations of all the wines”: part of a team delivering service that’s “excellent and not cloying”. “It’s under the radar, but one of the best restaurants in town”: “highly recommended”. (It also deserves kudos for its “exceptional sustainability”, with produce sourced from its own one-and-a-half-acre kitchen garden in Sussex).

At Spice Village, we claim that every meal has a story. Interestingly, Spice Village itself has a fascinating story.The story of Spice Village is a story of taste, passion, and excellence exhibited by Nasir & Suleman, two immigrant brothers who journeyed to Lo...

In the underprovided area around Oval, it’s well worth discovering this “nice neighbourhood spot near the cricket ground”. Steak is a speciality (it’s a sibling to Clapham’s Knife, see also), but meat doesn’t over-dominate the wide menu, and results remain consistently well-rated. Top Tip – ‘secret’ outdoor garden out back.

This “long-time favourite gastropub near Richmond Park” in East Sheen has been owned by TV chef Paul Merrett for more than 15 years, and serves “great food and wine”, including in the spacious rear conservatory and garden. “Never had a bad meal here”, agree regulars – many of whom meet up in the bar for a “pre-Twickenham lunch”.

The Bunga Bunga restaurant on the ground floor comprises our gondola bar and authentic Italian pizzeria. Enjoy our well renowned Bunga Bunga stone-baked pizza which we consider the best in London, accompanied with a unique cocktail and wine list covering all regions of Italy.

“The staff are so lovely and accommodating” and help underpin the strong all-round support for this long-running steakhouse, on the fringes of Clapham and Brixton. It serves a curt menu with the focus on steak supported by a few options for non-meat-eaters. Look out for the black-tiled exterior – complete with large red neon signage: by contrast the interior is quite low key.

Tapas Inspired by Spain and Lebanon What does Dar mean? It’s Lebanese for “lounge” and Spanish for the verb “to give”. And that’s a perfect combination with Spanish and Lebanese-inspired tapas as well as fine wines in a relaxed and convivial ambience. This new restaurant is un...

“Love having such a unique Indian locally” – this “culinary stalwart of South East London is still going strong after nearly 40 years”. “Staff welcome you like an old friend” and chef Jiwan Lal’s cuisine is “at least as good as that of the West End’s fine dining establishments”, in the view of many locals; and “magnificent value for this level of cooking”. Top Tip – “good value buffet on the weekends”.

Our mission: make delicious pizza, served with care, in beautiful spaces.In the beginning we were just Matteo and Salvatore, two brothers from Calabria. We moved to Bologna to study economics, and – like all penniless students – ate a lot of...

Something of an unexpected find on the Hammersmith Road – part of the Victorian former premises of St Paul’s Boys School were converted into a hotel some years ago and incorporate this smart dining room looking onto a small park. A variety of relatively affordable menus – Sunday Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and, more recently, a steak and whisky pairing – make it a flexible venue, particularly suited to a family occasion.

“Next level!” – high-profile Aussie ex-Nobu head chef Scott Hallsworth now has two Freak Scenes: one in Parsons Green (with hot pots, buns, sashimi, grills…) and a newer one near his home in Balham (more focused on sushi, plus robata dishes). Both show his trademark culinary style of “fun, elevated izakaya food” – “exciting menus with bold flavours and combinations” – all served in a “buzzy and friendly” environment.

“A high-quality find on a suburban parade!” – a “comfortable and highly competent neighbourhood gem” that’s 10 minutes walk from Surbiton station; and which has long been a “mainstay” of sophistication for many local residents. “Eric Guignard in the kitchen provides excellent cuisine and first-class service is overseen by Sarah, his wife”. Other key features are a “very good wine list with a wide selection of reasonably priced as well as special bottles” and “a set lunch that’s outstanding value for food of this quality”. (“I‘ve been coming here for 20+ years and TFT is consistently brilliant with Eric and Sarah remaining at the very top of their game and continuing to develop the great food and wine they offer”).