London Putney Restaurant Guide

A “family favourite” that “brings back memories of small French restaurants” – this “reliable” Battersea brasserie has outposts in Putney, Wandsworth Common, South Ken, the City and most recently Clerkenwell, where it opened inside Marrable’s Hotel in late 2024. Harsher reports say they can be a little “underwhelming”, though – one reporter complaining that the “cute dining room was let down by mixed quality of the food and somewhat lax Gallic service (in a bad way)”.

For a “delicious, healthy tasting curry”, fans recommend this “solidly-good Indian” in Putney: the first UK outpost of a family-owned group, whose premises are still remembered by some as the site of Ma Goa (long RIP).

“HomeSW15 continues to go from strength to strength” – a neighbourhood brasserie (with terrace) amidst a traditionally lacklustre selection of restaurants on the wide pavement leading to East Putney tube. “Craig has led his team throughout the last several years and does a fantastic job, knows all the regular customers and has been the only person in the last decade and a half to get this site to work effectively”. And now the same magic is winning hearts in Barnes at HomeSW13 – “a new version of Church Road” (RIP) but “cheaper and more cheerful”. “The makeover has resulted in a higher energy and more flexible local and the team’s slightly more relaxed approach works well”. It helps that “the food is really good” too – it’s looking like this site is at long last recovering the high mojo it had for so long when it traded as Sonny’s (long RIP); if with a more “informal style” of cuisine from an “all-day menu spanning brunch, lunch and dinner”. Top Menu Tips – “lovely cauliflower bite snacks; top-notch Jerusalem artichoke soup… the blade of beef with garlic mash is suitably unctuous; and the chicken schnitzel with Asian slaw is also good”.

“Pretty much any Asian dish you fancy is available” (“where else can you get sushi, ramen, laksa and char kway teow in one place!”) at Ding Chu’s five canteens in central and west London, which celebrate their 30th anniversary this year. They are “terrific value, especially for areas of town where restaurants are generally overpriced”. You wouldn’t choose them for a romantic supper though: each interior is a “bit of an overly bright space”.

“Delicious ramen with rich home-made broth” draws a steady crowd to these “quick, casual” joints “with a fun classic rock soundtrack”; and whose “great noodles are very consistent across their branches” (there are now seven across the capital). Top Menu Tip – “bao bun specials are good too, and great value”.

“The base is soft, fluffy, chewy, flavoursome… but also all-round crispy and charred to just the right amount! Very impressive, right up there with the best of them!” – Tim Thornton has “nailed a simple and good thing, so often done very very badly”, creating “pizza with a sourdough difference that’s really well presented, different, and with unusual toppings”: “first class”. His initial Hammersmith base inspires most feedback, but will close in late 2025 (hence no listing) to be replaced by a new Richmond HQ, alongside the existing Barnes and Putney satellites.

2023 Review: Massimo Masili’s Sardinian showcase is a “very welcome new addition to the SW15 dining scene” thanks to its “excellent food and extremely friendly service”. It can, though, seem “too expensive for what it is” – “Putney location, Mayfair prices!”

2024 Review: This “surprisingly good Chinese” in Putney specialises in the cuisines of Shanghai and Sichuan, and the “flavours and produce” are by all accounts “excellent” (even better if you “ask for the Chinese menu”). Top Menu Tip – “particularly fine duck”.

“Love the ambience… no pressure to quit the table and nice to overlook the river” – such are the plus points of these flexible, comfortable and welcoming homes-from-home in the Home Counties and in London near Tower Bridge and in Putney. Celebration? Both locations also feature funky little Thames-side ‘igloos’ seating up to 8. Looking for great food too? Don’t bother! “Disappointment” is often registered regarding the salads, pizza and other very middle of the road fare – keep your celebrations as liquid as possible…