sportbilly Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Does anyone know how Piaf restaurant in the village remains solvent given there is never anyone in their? While the Dulwich estate are very tight on some things having failed the community and let two chains (Pizza Express & Cafe Rouge)in to the village there is a space for a good idependant. Unfortunately Piaf does not provide good food! It is a shame but until Piaf goes under we are being deprived of a good restaurant in the village. Any thoughts? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huguenot Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Piaf is a chain no?I don't see how letting firms in that provide reasonable food at reasonable prices is failing the community?I would have thought failing the community involved letting retail outlets go derelict through snobbery, or allowing all night raves to go ahead? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190638 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanMacGabhann Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Huguenot, you have been on immense form recently but I think you have missed the goal, Diana Ross style heresportbilly accepted the 2 big name chains as the estate preferring that to empty failed restaurants - he/she wasn't saying they were "failing the community"sportbilly's problem - and it's one I agree with is twofold.1) Why, in an area like that patch of road is there not a space for a Franklins type operation - something above MOR fare for people who want something a bit special2) yes Piaf is a chain (albeit a mini one), but whereas people know what they are getting in Pizza Express and Caf? Rouge (decent enough grub, if a bit pedestrian, and decent prices), Piaf is offering more - it has always tried to be the "cut above" restaurant with prices to boot. Once every 2 years I go there, to give it a fair crack of the whip and despite endless change-of-management and menu promises it is always pretty woeful. The food is dull to bad and the service is uniformly shockingSo in the village, one's option for a meal out are1) The Dog with it's mediocre M&B food - mediocre M&B food you can get anywhere2) Pizza Express - decent pizza style grub but acoustic nightmare - plus you can get the food anywhere3) Cafe Rouge - as above but with steak frites4) Piaf - have a look at the mission statement on their website and compare that with the reality. Then cry. It is the only place in London that has made me genuinely angry when I've been there. And that has happend twice in the 8 years I have been hereSurely the moneyed people of DV can expect and do better than this?? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190643 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huguenot Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Hmmph. Okay then. :-S Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190659 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanMacGabhann Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 * falls off stool! * Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190660 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllforNun Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 you have forgotten beuberry house or whatever it is now named ! Anyway La Piaf is an M16 listening post - there can be no other explanation other than it has the interior of the tardis and it is this that allows it to exist outside of time and space, economic changes and the capitalist exchange system that most of us are forced to live under. Or like i said before an M16 listening post ! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190670 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherwick Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I vote for the tardis idea.. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190693 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dulwichmum Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Once Belair house was really great, but now, for some reason, it always smells of cabbage and the decor is very naff. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190699 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveT Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I always found belair house over priced for the fayre they served. I never would have described it as great unless 'rip off' was included in the sentence. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190742 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonM Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I always found Belair a rip-off and overrated too. But I also knew some people who adored it (admittedly they were on expense accounts...) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190815 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportbilly Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 Thanks for the views on Piaf. Didn't know it was another chain (albeit small)! I tend to agree with the MI6 idea. I think that if Lordship Lane can deliver decent restaurants there is no reason why Dulwich Estate who like the power kick can't think more carefully about which restaurants entering the village.I have to admit my favourite restaurant in the area is Joanna's up in Crystal Palace. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190915 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huguenot Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I'm not sure that it's actually a 'Lordship Lane' orgainsation that delivers.Probably the range of landlords and premises along LL has a limiting effect on rents, with the result that costs are kept in line with the kind of profits that are generated by independent restarauteurs against the number of covers they can fit in the place.I'll be betting that entrenched interests and limited retail space has kept Village rents quite high. This has meant that restaurants need to cut costs in other areas to keep overall costs down, and the only ones that can do this are chains with bulk buy deals... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190919 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jah Lush Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I concur with what Sean said wholeheartedly. I absolutely refuse to go back into that place. La Piaf is a disgrace. It's crap. You'd think that in Dulwich Village there would be a decent restaurant but no there isn't one and as for Belair House...fecking rubbish. Nice setting but forget it. Complete rip-off. Crap food, crap service and overpriced. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-190941 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllforNun Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 "This has meant that restaurants need to cut costs in other areas" for this bleeding place to cut it's costs to match it's covers it would have to burn itself to the ground and claim the insurance on a weekly basis. It's a listening post i tell you it has to be, next time you go past look at the strange tower coming out of the back, it linked to that big house a few doors up, curtains never open and bristling with CCTV Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-191045 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sofaRunner Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I agree with sportbilly.... Cafe Piaf is a terrible waste of space! many years ago when it first opened it was really good but has changed hands a number of times & it is amazing they are still afloat. There are some fantastic eateries in Herne Hill - independently owned & it shows in the care they take & the standard.does anyone know anyone with contacts in Dulwich Estate powers? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-191075 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSetWilly Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 it has gone downhill over the years, familarity breeds contempt perhaps. saying that it used to do a mean coq au vin rouge Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-191084 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cate Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 The only time I ate in Piaf I was served a revolting croque monsieur that has been cooked in grease and was still swimming in it. Completely inedible. I fled and never went back. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/5933-piaf-restaurant-dulwich-village/#findComment-191087 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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