The Lido Café

Address: Dulwich Road, Brockwell Lido SE24 0PA

Phone: 0207 737 8183

Email: info@thelidocafe.co.uk

http://www.thelidocafe.co.uk

Having wanted to visit this place for some time, we took a whim and headed down on a Wednesday evening to check the place out. As a child I frequented Brockwell Park and the Lido many times, although back then the food was usually a cheap and cheerful burger, chips and a coke. Therefore the idea of going back there to fill out stomachs has never been particularly appealing. However after hearing so many good things about this place we knew we had to check it out.

Although we hadn’t booked a table they managed to squeeze the three of us onto a table, which meant plenty of elbow fighting, but we were glad that they were so accommodating. The restaurant is small, with beautiful views after the lido and fairy lights (always a plus in my book) adorn the place. There is also a slight old fashioned conservatory/greenhouse feeling to the place. There is seating outside facing the pool, which I’m sure is lovely in the summer.

Orders were taken with sufficient time for us to peruse the menu, order drinks and discuss what we got up to that day. We went for a charcuterie starter to share, sirloin steak, autumn squash stuffed with wild rice and roast guinea fowl. To drink we went for a Hackney Gold, an elderflower juice and a glass of the house red.

The charcuterie came with my favourite Puglian olives, which are the brightest green and have a slightly buttery taste. There was also a selection of salami and ham and toasted bread. The bread was slightly too toasted for my liking, making it a bit of task to eat. As a starter this was perfect, leaving us satisfied but not too full.

Our main dishes were also delicious. The T-bone steak with chips and green pepper corn sauce melted in the mouth and the peppercorn sauce was a perfect accompaniment. The autumn squash with wild rice also hit the spot, moreish and perfect for the cold winter nights approaching. The guinea fowl was also excellent, with perfect crispy skin…not much to complain of!

It is pricier than some of the other eateries in Brixton, however I see this place as a special treat. I’m already considering it as a place to go for mine and my boyfriend’s anniversary in January. For the three of us it came to £60 not too bad, especially considering the steak came in at a hefty 17 quid, although that’s what you expect for a quality piece of meat.

Now all there is left to do is head there for brunch one day. I’ve got my eye on the prosecco breakfast!