Wimbledon Common Restaurant Guide

“An absolute gem of a restaurant in Wimbledon Village” which “churns out tasty old-school Thai classics at reasonable prices”. It’s “a family-run venue with staff that are spot-on and an ambience that’s unrivalled” (“go during the tennis when it becomes a haven for celeb-spotting!”). It also has a less commented-on Soho branch at 42 Rupert Street, W1, said to be “on a par with its sister in Wimbledon” food-wise.

This modern Italian in Wimbledon Village wins consistent – if consistently middling – ratings and is, say fans, the “ideal local”, with home-made pasta and thin-crust pizza topping the bill.

This “good local” beside Wimbledon Common, co-owned by TV chef Paul Merrett (also of the Victoria in East Sheen), does “a great Sunday lunch – and you can take the dog”. Competent staff ensure you get “excellent service even with a big group”; “the only disadvantage is its popularity, which can make for a noisy experience”.

2022 Review: ‘A taste of rural France on the Fulham Road’ is the promise at this ‘gourmet traiteur’ in Chelsea: an early 2020 newcomer where dishes (to go or for delivery within 4 miles) are designed for reheating at home and prepared by Chris Hill, who most recently worked as a senior sous chef at The Ritz. It’s owned by Dimitri and Mira Plaquet, of a high-quality Belgian food group called La Villa Lorraine. They must be doing something right, as in mid 2021 they launched a second store in Wimbledon.

“The venues are wonderful to look at, but the food is almost always below average, over-priced from an uninspiring menu, with service that can be pushy and inflexible” – a fair summary of the pros and cons of the sub-sub brand of the famous Theatreland classic, which more generous fans claim provides “reliable comfort food without the hassle of the original”. Many diners have their eyes wide open when it comes to the trade-offs of choosing to dine here: “you likely have a good time; it’s just that, in London, there is always somewhere more interesting round the corner”.

“No flowery, fine-dining pretensions: just a warm, dog-friendly place with a short, but always interesting, menu” – such are the recommendations for this brilliantly run 1830s pub on the edge of Wimbledon Common, which does a roaring year-round trade, and makes particularly good use of its front terrace and lawn in the summer. Casks of guest beers and ciders are on display behind the bar (long-serving landlord Andrew Ford is a real ale enthusiast). Top Menu Tip – “the pies are worth the 20-minute wait!”

“Yummy mummy hangouts” that have proliferated across the capital and its surrounding high streets over the past few years, with “relaxed and colourful décor” and “friendly waiting staff”. They are very accommodating to families, both “child-friendly” and “pooch central, with snacks and water” – although if you don’t bring your own, you might find there are “too many dogs”. The eastern Med-style cooking varies between “fresh and well prepared” at best to “adequate, sometimes slow” – while “bottomless Bloody Mary or Mimosa on a Sunday can be dangerous!”.

“Much closer to ‘fine dining’ than most local Thai restaurants” – this well-established quartet from Khun Patara Sila-On is part of her international, decades-old chain which started in Bangkok in the 1970s; and “every dish is of the highest standard, with superb presentation” (although if the food is “a couple of notches better than standard fare, prices are also a couple of notches higher”). Top Menu Tip – “whole chilli sea bass is a delight”.

“Really great food at reasonable prices – and the staff seem to really care”: no wonder Wimbledon locals are happy that this modern British restaurant with rear conservatory provides “somewhere decent to eat in the Village”. Its sibling the Light House shut up shop in early 2025, so this is now the only remaining ‘Light’ shining in SW19.

2022 Review: “Good outdoor facilities” boost the appeal of this handsome period inn, near the edge of Wimbledon Village. Run by Youngs, the food receives the odd bum rep, but for the most part is recommended as being good for a pub.

The Wimbledon outpost from the three Gladwin brothers wins solid scores for their ‘Local & Wild’ cuisine, featuring produce and wine from the family estate in Sussex presented in a rustic style. They now have five venues in the capital: this is one of the better ones – although some locals still miss The White Onion (RIP), its predecessor at this address.

2023 Review: Formerly known as The Swan, this Wimbledon pub was extensively refurbed by the Metropolitan Pub Co, and reopened with a new name in March 2022. Too little feedback for a rating as yet, but one early-days visitor reported of “superior pub fare”.