49 Camberwell Church St.,  SE5 8TR

Telephone: 020 7703 4832

Open:
Monday to Friday – 5pm to 11pm
Saturday & Sunday – 2pm to 11pm

The food scene in Camberwell is now, in some ways, more interesting than that in Brixton. There are a number of top class eating places, rather than  a food court with an increasing number of burger joints. This place, serves food from north-west China and Sichuan, is recognised as one of the best.

This isn’t fine dining. Just a single shop front in Camberwell Church Street, furnished with simple tables and benches, with the cooking all done in full view behind the counter. The simply cooked food comes quickly and without ceremony. The two of us weren’t looking for a big meal and were in and out in less than 45 minutes. But people pack-in to enjoy the authentic flavours. The Time-Out review says the dishes are “fiery, but  also balanced with a plethora of spices” and recommends sticking to the Xinjiang specialities.

This is not your standard Chinese food. The menu is relatively short, concentrating on the regional specialities, many of which are new to us. We ordered the cabbage with lamb noodle, plus portions of home-style aubergine, and shredded kelp. We also had a portion of the egg, leek and shrimp filled dumplings.

The choice of dumplings was a mistake, as they lacked any clear flavours and, perhaps, were under-cooked. The rest delivered the excitement that we were looking for, even though our waiter advised against the stir-fried lamb shish noodle, when one of us said they didn’t want anything that was too hot. What we ordered, all rated as one chilli on the menu, was hot enough for most. The aubergine dish, one of a number of interesting vegetarian options, was my favourite.

For drinking the choice is simple – House Red Wine, House White Wine, and TsingTao beer. We can’t report on the quality of the wine as we stuck to jasmine tea.

Despite the disappointment with the dumplings, we enjoyed the meal and will certainly be back. The service was brisk and efficient, offering helpful advice when looking at an unusual menu. And the cost was most reasonable, coming in at around £25, including service.

Unit S36, Pop Brixton

49 Brixton Station Road

SW9 8PQ

We were invited a few weeks ago to try the supper club of one of our favourite spots in Pop Brixton, Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen. Going back to her roots with this new venture, Zoe started out as a supper club before she opened up in Brixton a year and half ago, and we’ve always loved going here (the fried chicken is the best!) so jumped at the chance.

Zoe’s place is tiny, so this was a very intimate supper club (they advise to not bring any bulky bags or coats) with only eight of us. Zoe herself was there to greet us and introduce us to each dish, explaining its roots and how she has devised these dishes from traditional Ghanian food, but with her own stamp.  She is charming and makes you feel welcome and very much part of an experience, not just dinner. This is also a sharing menu so make sure to bring a mate.

Continue reading →

Piano House, 9 Brighton Terrace, Brixton, London SW9 8DJ

Website: http://www.chickenshop.com/en/brixton

Phone: 020 3859 1130

Opening times:

Mon – Thurs – 12 noon to 11pm
Friday – 12 noon to 12 midnight
Saturday – 10am to 12 midnight
Sunday – 10am to 10.30pm

We can’t lie; when we heard the news that Soho House, a private members’ club that has grown into a mighty international brand, was to open a location in Brixton it seemed that it really was the end. The Soho House company is synonymous with member’s only exclusive locations, so it seemed that the social divide many had feared, had made its check mate move. However, when we actually went on a Friday night, we were pleasantly surprised. Continue reading →