London South Lambeth Restaurant Guide

A “quirky” but “gorgeous restaurant in a listed building” surrounded by modern skyscrapers – this “Vauxhall institution” occupies a much-chandeliered showroom of architectural antiques (run by LASSCO), which adds a unique sense of occasion to chef Jackson Boxer’s “assured” and “interesting” preparation of “modern British classics”. “Quiet and serene, with a diverse and older crowd of a lunchtime – it’s buzzing and vibrant with a younger clubbier crowd on a weekend”. Top Tip – “the Dexter beef and bone marrow tartare with shallots is the best steak tartare in London”.

This “gastropub of real standing” (est. 2010) a short walk from Vauxhall is just the place to “get your laughing gear on some excellent modern British fare”. “It looks like a pub” and is a “proper South London boozer at the front, where you can have a quiet pint”, but “you don’t judge the book by the cover” – in the back is a “well thought-through carnivore’s paradise” (“go hungry for big plates of usually rich food”), with a “good selection of wines by the glass”. “Booking is obligatory”, although not quite as difficult as its more famous stablemate the Anchor & Hope, close to Waterloo and the South Bank. Top Menu Tip – “offaly tasty options not easily found elsewhere”.

“An amazing combination of flavours and heat” is the reward for a visit to this Sichuan newcomer: a relatively simple-looking walk-in operation on two floors near Vauxhall Park. “Staff are knowledgeable and helpful” and the ingredients are high-quality (for example, only Iberico pork is used). Top Menu Tip – “anywhere that takes rabbit seriously is very good news!”