Red Reb (21 November 2008)

This place was a real find; a community restaurant tucked down the back streets of Clapham. At £6.50 the main courses were ridiculously inexpensive, which suggests this place will weather the credit crunch. Despite the budget prices the quality of the food was very good and they didn’t skimp on the portions at all. When we went we had two courses and coffee, and the bill came to just over twenty quid. We started with scallops and porcini mushrooms with a tasty white wine sauce, and my veggie companion had the avocado, tomato and mozzarella on some really delicious pesto ciabatta. Under the disapproving eye of my friend, I ordered the calves’ livers, bacon and sage butter served with mashed potato, which was a perfect winter dish whilst she opted for the goat’s cheese soufflé. We rounded it all off with a chocolate and raspberry tart and a toffee, apple and pecan pie. We could and should have shared one between two, but they were delicious. The service also was great, really friendly and efficient. I’m definitely going for a return visit, although I’ll have to keep a beady eye on my waistline, if not my wallet. By the way, it’s a daytime place, only open from about 11am to 3pm, and you can just have coffee, tea and cake, but not a meal.