Eats Dulwich

Depends which end of East Dulwich you are of course. The train from Denmark Hill to Clapham High Street takes only 4 minutes and it's only a few more minutes to Clapham Junction. I'm off Lordship lane and I prefer to hop on a bus to Denmark Hill than take the sluggish 37.

What is going on with all the roadworks at the moment? Went to Ivy House tonight. First there was a diversion on Underhill Road so went down Barry Road instead and was caught in massive jam on Peckham Rye at 7.30pm not rush hour, down to one lane with temporary lights. So on our return we headed to Dulwich Library via Goose Green end of Lordship Lane and Lordship Lane itself was closed. Went down East Dulwich Grove and temporary lights near Tessa Jowell. The roadworks seemed endless. Started to think i was in an episode of Black Mirror sponsored by Conway. Edited to add - Admin, I see most of this has been mentioned elsewhere - feel free to delete thread as I can't!

We fostered a cat from Celia Hammond and I don't remember any criteria being mentioned at all although they did visit our house – presumably to check we had enough room to swing it! Seriously though, it may be that there are different rules for fostering and adopting. We fostered on a temporary basis as we couldn't give a long-term commitment, but it ended up being permanent because nobody wanted to adopt our ageing moggy.

I sometimes don't feel as comfortable as I did but it's not because I'm older, it's because I'm sober. Staggering home when I was younger I always felt I like a had a cloak of invisibility around me. And a magic compass - not even sure how I found my way home some nights.

I made it to Victus and Bibo at last. Definitely a bar vibe but they've also got a pretty decent menu. Basic but good value and tasty. Welcome addition to this end of Lordship Lane. Review here: https://eatsdulwich.substack.com/p/restaurant-review-viktor-and-bibo?r=8oe6m

Deleted as I've just repeated what has already been said!

That's the one , tried to go at the weekend but it was closed for holidays. Couldn't see their name. i thought it had only just opened so bit surprised to see it closed for hols so soon!

tbh not impressed. I review restaurants and decided to give them benefit of the doubt that it was an off day and didn't write it up. There's a new restaurant by the Plough which I think is Turkish (where the strange French restaurant was many years ago). Planning to try that soon, if anyone has been let me know what you think./

Or ten minutes limp.

Driving down one of the side streets near the park last night we saw a group of kids in front holding a rope across the road. Did feel a little anxious and then when we got closer it turned out to be a harmless trick - nothing in the road/dangerous, just three kids on each side holding long twigs as if they were tugging a rope between them. i'm conflicted - quite a theatrical prank (I presume copied from online) but given the location could well have been the same group mentioned above.

That's strange, I thought I recommended [email protected] who is based at Oru but I can't see the post now!

That's not a bad idea, though I also want to keep the site as simple and user friendly as possibly. It's ultimately about getting a balance between being informative and being a good read. Stars are useful but I'd like people to read the reviews too.

Thanks, it's a real dilemma whether to do star ratings. A few people have asked me to do them but I've tried to resist as they are too reductive - people will look at them and won't read review! and they are difficult too - my last review of Victoria Inn, i'd give it five stars for value for money - how can you knock two courses for £18? – but 2 stars for quality - edible but nothing special. Which I guess is why some sites give star ratings for different things...

Hi, Just a quick note to say it's six months since I launched Eats Dulwich. In that time I've reviewed 28 restaurants. Usually four or five a month except for a month when I came down with gout, which I guess is an occupational hazard. Don't say I don't suffer for my art. Early on someone – Sue, I think – asked me what I'm going to do when I've reviewed every restaurant in East Dulwich. I'm nowhere near that point, but what I have found is that a lot of new openings have tended to be in Rye Lane, so the site has expanded to cover SE15, hence the slight change of name (still haven't had any cease and desist letters from anything with a similar name). Anyway, the site is still free, it would be great if as many readers as possible here can subscribe so that they automatically get new posts (when you try to subscribe the default might be paid subs but that's down to Substack, just tick the free option instead) as I don't post everything on EDF. Obviously you can get reviews elsewhere if you want, but I think this is the only proper site for local East Dulwich people written by a local East Dulwich person. If you like eating out please have a read. And if there are other places you think I should visit please mention them below and i'll do my best to try them. Link here: https://eatsdulwich.substack.com/

[email protected] is based at Oru and was recommended to me. Not cheap but you can email her to get advice going forward.

I don't know how often they do that BBQ deal but it's fantastically good value. The a la carte is pricier but worth it too. Full review here.

Yes, Persepolis definitely coming to SE22, we ate in the legendary Peckham branch last week and the Lordship Lane offshoot was confirmed. It will be called Simorgh. Doubt if the new one will have a roof terrace overlooking the Job Centre though! Review of the quirky original here. https://open.substack.com/pub/eatsdulwich/p/restaurant-review-persepolis?r=8oe6m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

This piece seems to suggest the upgrade is about to grind to a total halt - "meaning it will retain its status as the busiest interchange railway station in the country with no step-free access." (scroll down to read it). https://www.londoncentric.media/p/july-7-terror-attack-how-londons-bus-drivers-got-the-city-home?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=8oe6m&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Saw your comment and thought I'd better check it out! Here's my review: https://open.substack.com/pub/eatsdulwich/p/restaurant-review-lai-rai?r=8oe6m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Seems to work for water companies.

We tried norbert's on Friday night. Of course there are cheaper places to eat chicken in SE22 and we overdid it on the sides because we wanted to try out their range of options. But it's very good quality chicken and two people could easily be satisfied sharing half a chicken and chips which would be £24 – £12 each. Here's my review: https://open.substack.com/pub/eatsdulwich/p/restaurant-review-norberts?r=8oe6m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

I popped in to have a chat with them and a look around after I'd eaten somewhere else so didn't sample anything, but they seemed to have plenty of staff so hopefully service won't be too slow! Planning to try soon.

Asking people to post cheques to them does make them sound like something from the previous century tbh.

used to love Meson don felipe with the funny guitarist who used to climb up and play on a podium, still a nice lively atmosphere and we still pop in if at the young vic but there's a lot better Spanish eateries near Borough market which is closer to the Tate too. Barrafina, Brindisa (though neither are cheap) and a few weeks ago we tried one called Parrillan, where they bring a little grill to your table and you cook your own tapas - this one certainly ticks the box for quirky but the portions are small so the bill can mount up.