Clapham, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

A “buzzy” atmosphere and “welcoming service” are the strong suits of this “expanding group”, with 16 branches in London and another handful nearby. While nobody disputes that they’re “lovely to sit in” and offer “value for money”, the “Middle-Eastern-inspired cooking” divides opinion, with some reporters “pleasantly surprised by the tasty food” and others bemoaning “underwhelming” dishes that “sound better than they taste”.

“The place to be south of the river!” – Adam Byatt’s renowned destination by Clapham Common slugs it out in our annual diners’ poll with Chez Bruce 10 minutes away as the top culinary destination in these parts and comes strongly “recommended to South Londoners who don’t want to go into the centre of town” to find a “memorable” meal. “Adam Byatt frequently stops by for a chat” and under chef Harry Kirkpatrick (who joined in July 2023) there’s little but hymns of praise to the “excellent and technically accomplished cooking”, which is matched by “some exceptional wines”. Front of house staff “balance the formality expected with a Michelin star with easygoing friendly service and there’s a really relaxed feel to the place”, particularly now there are more “casual” options to eat here either at Trinity Upstairs (see also) or on the relatively newly added outdoor terrace.

Set in a “light-filled room” above Trinity restaurant, overlooking Clapham Common, chef-patron Adam Byatt’s “very casual” everyday option provides an affordable taste of his “reliably delicious” cooking, served at high tables. The ‘Sunday Lunch Club’ is the stuff of local legend – “essentially it’s a Sunday roast but the 3-course menu is different every week and the roast main is always beautifully cooked. The portions are massive and they often come round offering seconds, which are hard to decline…”

This “large” and comfortably appointed pub in Clapham Old Town has made a “great addition to the local scene” since it reopened in 2023 under the team behind Ganymede in Belgravia and The Hunter’s Moon in South Kensington. Culinarily, the aim is a ‘Contemporary Twist on Traditional British Pub Cuisine’, with brunch a feature.

With its “top-notch, meat-focused food, warm and friendly service” and “great rustic dining room”, this “magnificent old boozer in Clapham Old Town” is “lovely to have as a local but also worth a trip to visit”; even if there is the odd concern that “it doesn’t know whether it wants to be a restaurant or a pub”. It’s from the team behind Islington’s Smokehouse and the Princess of Shoreditch, who took over three years ago.

A “buzzy” atmosphere and “welcoming service” are the strong suits of this “expanding group”, with 16 branches in London and another handful nearby. While nobody disputes that they’re “lovely to sit in” and offer “value for money”, the “Middle-Eastern-inspired cooking” divides opinion, with some reporters “pleasantly surprised by the tasty food” and others bemoaning “underwhelming” dishes that “sound better than they taste”.