Don't you just love discovering a place around where you are on a day-to-day basis that makes you…read moreregret not finding it sooner? Four o Nine is one of these places, I'd never heard of it but decided to give a go last Saturday night as they were offering a deal. We had little trouble finding it (yes it's on top of the Clapham North pub, ignore the address look for the pub) and when we walked in we didn't really know what to expect. What we got was a warm greeting from the hostess who promptly took our coats and got us seated in the dining room. Room was lit by low lighting and taper candles on every table, really great ambience and truly fit the festive/winter season. Our waitress was lovely, how do I know? Usually when you go to a 'fancy' place and ask for tap water, you can tell they somehow are disappointed or sizing you up as a 'cheap' customer. Our waitress happily took our order of some tap water before we even got down to ordering our drinks (a bottle of wine in the end) and was just very attentive (not overly so), happy and polite, just exactly how you'd wish all wait staff would be! Now on to the food... I got the cauliflower truffle soup as an appetizer. It was delicious and although I'd call it a veloute more than a soup, there was no disappointment for my tummy. My partner got a chicken liver and fois gras dish with some pineapple mixture kind of like a coulis. And the tastes matched surprisingly wonderfully. For my main course I had the onglet steak which was cooked as asked (yay!) and was delicious, my partner had the pheasant and although he said it wasn't an item he'd get often (who does want pheasant anyway) it was still cooked well and a unique change. Really enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and the service so no doubt I'll be coming back, YAY me!

Let's go straight to the point: one of the best restaurant and service I have ever had in my life,…read moreone of them that makes me have fights with my family back home in France when I tell them how fantastic London is regarding food. One problem: the address: do not on Clapham road, the restaurant is just above the pub Clapham North facing the tube station with obviously the same name. The entry is just a door besides the pub on Landor Road. Once you push the door this is pure happiness: decor is great and a really good atmosphere, perfect for a date or for a special treatment for your girlfriend. The food was very tasty and the wine just a pure pleasure. The quantity of food was perfect, just what you need, no more, no less. The service might be the asset of the place: friendly, professional, and anticipating your needs. This restaurant might be expensive, but it is worthy and it is definitely a must for anyone leaving in Clapham!

Our dinner here was one of the most special and memorable meals I have had for a long time. The…read moreservice was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable, and everyone in the place was just a pleasure to talk to. The food was inventive, beautifully presented, and uniformly excellent. Among the many highlights were the mushrooms three ways, the guinea hen with perfect roasted potatoes and sweet potato purée, the trout turbot, and the rice pudding, a fantastic riff on a traditional desert from Normandy. The anchovy foam on cheddar shortbread and escargot in crispy pastry were perfect amuse-bouches, and (of course) the cheese plate was impeccable. Overall, I was just so impressed with the food, the people, and the atmosphere. I could not have wished for a better welcome to the neighborhood than this lovely experience.

All of the great reviews are spot on. This place was awesome. We did the 5 course tasting and it…read morewas a great decision. Some of the staff is a little hard to understand but we think that added to the experience. The food was tasty, creative, and inspiring. The staff was amazing and service was just out of this world! We would highly recommend this restaurant.

The food is excellent the service is fantastic and the ambiance is so impressive all in all…read moreabsolutely wonderful every staff is so nice and kind

What a little local gem! We can here on a Saturday night without a reservation. They managed to…read morefind us a table - but we were lucky as the (not small) dining room was absolutely packed. The manager came over to introduce himself as he had never seen us before. Most of his (many many) customers are apparently regulars, which we took as very positive. The food was generally very good - I had a chicken Rezala, which I have only found in one other restaurant and love, so I was happy! My garlic naan (a once a month carb treat) did not let me down, it was scrummy! My sister asked for paneer tikka masala, and although they made it without a problem, I thought the sauce was more of a pasanda. It may have been the lack of food colouring (the manager explained his strict policy), but it was still nice. We will definitely be coming back! Although next time we may take the precaution of booking a table!

A pretty basic, but excellent value, local Vietnamese cafe, and the locals know it, so be warned,…read moreyou may have to wait for a table at peak times, and if you arrive late in the evening, they may have run out of some of the most popular dishes! I'd especially recommend the delicious and healthy crunchy fresh salads, soft shell crab and bun hui (spicy noodle soup), although in my experience the standard pho can be of a slightly variable quality. Another thing that can disappoint slightly is the often pretty cheerless service, however, this is still my favourite Crouch End cheap eat.

Love the soups, summer rolls and shaking beef! Cheap too. :))…read moreGood service.

So friendly. Food great. Stumbled across it. You're doing a great job at running a lovely place!!read more

Great little coffee shop, they take their coffee & tea seriously, good selection of loose leafs,…read morecakes. They serve very good toasted baguettes with salad and a small dip. Highly recommend the Serrano, grilled chicken and sun dried tomatoes, with a sweet chill dip. Its gets very busy in there and seating can be hard to find, but its well worth the wait, the staff are attentive and helpful, and will serve you a glass of naturally flavoured water (currently cucumber) upon arrival which sounds weird but is actually really tasty and refreshing. Located at the top of Beckenham close to the station, this place is perfect stop for lunch before embarking on a trek around Beckenham place park to burn off that slice of chocolate orange cake.

Wonderful ambiance, amazing cuisine and fabulous intriguing host. Arno makes uniquely gothic dark…read moreacademic ambiance that compliments a gourmet pinwheel of cuisine

Saltoun Supper Club…read more I had nearly given up hope of ever going to the Saltoun Supper Club (SSC) when I unexpectedly heard from them at the beginning of last week. After numerous e-mails, I was very pleased to have finally secured a table, and so Dr G and I drove with much anticipation to the elegant and rather quirky flat of Arno Maasdorp in Brixton. One of the things that first struck me about SSC was the intimate setting created in Arno's living room with its bare brick and the open plan kitchen. From the choice of glasses and cutlery to the careful use of indirect light, the room expressed an understated elegance and refinement of taste. The artwork was intriguing; I loved his wall installation made up of many different miniature items, as well as the beautiful antique pieces like the South American baskets dotted around the room. I had the feeling of entering a private gallery; wherever I looked there was something intriguing to catch the eye. There were 10 diners in the room (Arno can sit up to 16); an interesting mix of people of different ages and backgrounds. Smoked sea-salt had been sprinkled over the butter and it went very well with the excellent sourdough bread purchased that morning from Franco Manca. We were soon served our first course, a "Winter Vegetable Salad with Mandarin Oil". I was very impressed by this dish and the complexity of flavours that Arno managed to create out of broccoli, beetroot and cauliflower. To make a delicious dish out of such humble ingredients is the sign of a talented palate. The vegetables were perfectly al dente, but the secret was definitely in the sauce - a sweet and sour and highly aromatic dressing made of mandarin and chervil. It complemented the vegetables perfectly and started the evening on a very good note. Our next course was "Leek and Pecorino Gnocchi". This was also good and very well executed - the gnocchi had been cooked and then flash-fried with the potato and leek sauce. I could also taste truffle oil, and the addition of generous shavings of pecorino cheese made for a very delicious dish. We had a short break between the first two courses and the main, so we all decided to take a tour of Arno's amazing flat and examine the quirky art pieces more closely. I soon got chatting to fellow guests which for me is one the nicest aspects of dining at supper clubs. We were soon called back into the living room as our main dish was being served - "Roasted Duck Breast" accompanied by a medley of root vegetables, mushrooms, spinach and fresh green olives. This was nothing short of sensational - the meat had been perfectly cooked, the duck skin was crisp and delicious, and the vegetables were faultless. I was struck by the effect of the fresh green olives - a slight salty tartness that provided a nice balance against the rich and fatty meat. For dessert, Arno served what he described as a "Pear and Bramley Apple Fine Tart". This was an intriguing and fun dish, and had very interesting flavours at play - it was served with a quenelle of vanilla cream, very fine homemade tuiles biscuits, and sea-salted caramel. I loved this dish and despite being very full, I wish I could have had seconds! "Petit Fours" and coffee/mint tea were served - these were delightful and I think a very nice touch to end a perfect meal. I was impressed by Arno's attention to detail in everything that he did - from the chic and quirky decor to the high standard of the food and the time and trouble he took to engage in conversation with each diner. Verdict - Excellent food to match some of the top restaurants in London in intimate and quirky surroundings, and at a very reasonable price. Arno was an excellent host and I would certainly like to return.Highly recommended.

Right, so... imagine that you're stuck in the middle of nowhere and you're desperate for a cup of…read morecoffee and a snack. Well, this is the oasis to your desert! Owned by a lovely South African woman, she changed this property from what used to be a stagnant Caribbean cafe to one of the best places to eat in South London. The chef is from Australia with a great knowledge of food from around the world, and he'll serve up some of the best dishes you've ever had as you warm up inside the super cosy interior. The colours are nice, the people are friendly, the food great, there's books to read, it's warm and the service is quick. There's not much more you could possibly want from a cafe, and its a real gem considering the surrounding area is full of fast food restaurants and fried chicken shops. Go! You'll love it!

Such good value for money, really friendly, fresh excellent food and gorgeous coffee. They have…read morelocal art on the walls and hold music evenings once a month. It's a real joy to come here for a decadent breakfast or lovely lunch.

Why haven't i been here before!!…read more Lovely owners. Fresh fish in a light crispy batter and solid hand it chips!! Delicious! I'll be back very soon for some tasty delights!!

Outstanding fish and chips. Large cod with small chips was the perfect late night snack for my…read moretraveling, hungry, family. Give this place a Michelin Star!