Reigate, International Restaurant Guide

2024 Review: This “lovely food-led pub” – a carefully modernised beauty from 1854 on Crystal Palace’s thriving ‘Triangle’ – showcases chef David Yorkiston’s “really great cooking – way, way above typical gastroboozer fare”. “Controversially, it has banned kids under 10” but not everyone objects (“we think the atmosphere is all the better for it, even if it means we can’t go there as often as we’d like)”.

Andrew McLeish’s longtime beacon on London’s south-east fringe receives nothing but plaudits for its “imaginative” and “excellent quality” field-to-fork dining (an ethos reflected in the restaurant’s rooftop beehives), with its loyal army of local fans saying it’s a “very special place that easily beats most high-end offers in Central London”. Even those who have “been using Chapter One for special occasions for over 20 years” don’t get bored since “the menu is changed weekly” to keep things fresh; there’s also a more informal brasserie menu and “the addition of the conservatory bistro is a must for the summer”.

“Massive portions of delicious vegan food” hit the spot at this Earlsfield 10-year-old from former school friends Alvin Suntaramoorphy and Shyam Kotecha (who have a spinoff branch in Honor Oak Park). Their ‘vegan soul food’ is “so good that even carnivores demand more” – but if you’re not satisfied, they say you can renegotiate the bill. It’s also BYO with no corkage charge, and if you’re broke they’ll feed you in return for some washing up. Top Tip – “leave room for the decadent puds”, such as “their delicious vegan ice cream”.

A well-located venue on the Thames at Teddington, where “wonderful views of the lock” remain a standout feature, whether you opt for the glass-fronted restaurant or (better) the riverside terrace. On the menu, competent modern Euro cooking – shellfish platters, steaks, plus afternoon teas – abetted by regular jazz nights.

A “very handy local” in a former pub on a corner overlooking Wandsworth Common that has “a good buzz when busy” and enjoys a fair amount of support in southwest London. Foodwise, reports suggest it’s decent if rather middle-of-the-road, but the wine offering – from owner John Brinkley’s shop in Chelsea – is a strength.

It’s hard to know how enthusiastic to be about these slick food courts from all-conquering JKS restaurants at the foot of Centre Point and in the heart of Battersea Power Station. They do win dependable feedback for their “nice mix of cheap ’n’ cheerful food and drink” and “great selection of different cuisines”, but more cynical types dismiss them as hyped, unimaginative venues for sanitised street food. BREAKING NEWS. In July 2025, the group applied for planning permission to create a third ‘Arcade’, in the landmark site of Covent Garden’s former TGIF.