London Vauxhall 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”.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, this well-established fixture serves “decent food that’s just a little smarter than average”. It has attracted plenty of useful publicity over the years thanks to high-profile patronage by politicians from both sides of nearby Parliament (Brown, Prescott, Cameron, BoJo), who refer to it as ‘the KT’. Keen Westminster-watchers will be interested to note how many newbie MPs beat a path to its door this year...

This “enjoyable” if “typical local curry house” in Kennington was opened by Zalal Uddin in 1982 and is still family-owned. It makes the most of its proximity to the Oval – offering “very good service in trying, post-cricket, circumstances” – and to Parliament, which makes it a “good bet for MP-spotting”.

This quietly ambitious kitchen at Lambeth’s Garden Museum is a real magnet for diners in-the-know (“I’d happily eat here once a week if I lived locally – it’s always different!”). Former Noble Rot head chef Myles Donaldson delivers a daily changing lunch menu that’s not vegetarian or even vegan, but strong on both camps and on delivering “good, healthy food”. The interior is simple, but enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the street and into the garden. (There’s also coffee, cakes, etc all day).

“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!”