The Table Café, Southwark: 18/20

Location: 83 Southwark Street SE1 0HX

Website: http://thetablecafe.com/

Visit: Tuesday evening, Wednesday mid-morning, Thursday lunch

Scores

Ambiance 5/5

Design 4/5 (benches are not for looong sitting)

Drinks 4/5 (spirits to come!)

Staff 5/5

Extra LBC star

The Table Café. London’s Best Kept Secret.

As a tagline it worked for this Southwark Street eatery for a while but after seven years they are now stepping into the limelight and this is what their Tuesday night launch was all about. And they have a lot to shout about.

The Table was designed by the architect across the corridor; this used to be their office canteen which seems rather luxurious considering today’s limited real estate! It won’t help if I say it is like my office, but it is. There is a concrete ceiling and pillars. Windows are floor to ceiling and make up the walls. Seating is on sturdy wooden long tables and benches with orange cushions and there are high stools along the edges and (YES!) outdoor seating in a sheltered courtyard out back. The kitchen takes up the back wall and is open plan creating a nice buzz.

Food

Open from 7.30am till 5pm and steadily increasing their evening hours too, weekdays will offer breakfast and lunch with coffee and cakes in between; weekends are more brunch and I have been told create queues out the door, oh my! Breakfast offers one of my favourite – and yet least explored options – of French toast with banana and bacon. Yes, both. The salty and sweet work so well. Lunch and dinner are inspired by new chef Cinzia Ghighoni who not only started Michelin bib winning Zucca with owner Sam but went onto London dining scene darling Duck Soup. She has infused the menu with Italian “small” and “large” plates as well as excellent Italian breads. The friggitelli and ricotta was a favourite (peppers!) as was grilled chorizo but what really took me by surprise was the beetroot. I don’t like it. Seriously; but this offering was almost sweet and so tasty I will go back for more. Could this be to do with how local this is? Vegetables come from just half a mile down the road from plots run by the St Mungos homeless programme. Ethical as well as delicious and the launch saw us take away boxes of this local produce (the “shard” chard was particularly good!)

Drink

The wine list has also had a make over by Matt Walls (www.mattwalls.co.uk) who has created a concise, interesting, food friendly list. I particularly like the Masseria Pietrosa Verdeca 2010 from the whites and the Prieuré de Montézargues Tavel Rosé 2011 from the rosés for interesting summer drinking. They continue their local theme with Coates and Seely English sparkling. It may be winning awards but like many local wines it has not convinced me yet… Do watch this space for some interesting news on spirits, the next menu they are drawing up.

Events

Music To Dine For has seen The Table offer evenings of wine and fine dining paired with acoustic jazz. I cannot think of many better ways to while away an evening and look out for more tasting events to be put on as the year goes on.

Future

There are big plans here. Shaun (@thetablecafe) manager and owner, has more than proved to investors that this little number has real gravitas. There will be work on the outdoor area, (much needed in this area), more events, a carefully chosen spirits menu and with Cinzia at the helm in the kitchen the only way is up.

Gas Light Grill at The Lost Angel, Battersea: 17/20

Location: 339 Battersea Park Road (between Clapham Junction and Queenstown Road)

Website: www.gaslightgrill.co.uk

Visit: a sunny Thursday evening launch night

To Notes: If you like the Blind Tiger/Lost Society or PKD look this is for you

Scores

Ambiance 5/5

Design 4/5

Drinks 3/5

Staff 5/5

Extra LBC star: With time…

I would not normally write a review of a bar after one visit, especially as that visit was the launch night, and it was HOT when everything seems rosier. But I liked it and I want to spread the word. The Lost Angel has been revamped and they have spruced up the restaurant area – the Gas Light Grill – to make a pub that looks rather ordinary from the outside something rather special once you walk in.

The first room is large, wooden floored with a horse shoe bar in the middle. So far, so good. There are large leather chesterfields across the room, there is extravagant brass work around the eagle statues, there is a golden phone box on the right…hold on, this is no ordinary pub. Carry straight on and you have the rather sultry grill room with a small bar in the corner and a door at the end opening onto the terrace. We tried several morsels of what will be on their full menu and I have to admit the steak – especially smothered in whisky BBQ sauce – is very tasty. Other gems included new season asparagus wrapped in ham and mini steak tartar; emphasis is on fresh seasonal ingredients. Bar snacks are also comprehensive from olives to meat platters to burgers to market fish, starting at £2.50 and going up to £18 for steak.

And then the terrace. Ah, the Not To Be Missed terrace. There is one large area under a clear plastic roof covered over with plenty of greenery that also winds up the pillars, a bar in the corner and leather sofas everywhere you look. The smaller part is more high stools and wooden tables with a large umbrella for those fairer skinned drinkers.

(Ladies, the toilets are like the New York loft apartment that you dream of BUT no full length mirror, shocking considering the detail elsewhere!)

So to the drinks; the bar is incredibly well stocked and all cocktails come in at around £8. There was a restricted menu on for the launch night and extra staff were on hand to ensure service. So I will not judge too harshly the over eager addition of Crème de Violette in my Aviation, and although refreshing the gin based Mojito twist was a little simple and the apple flavours did not come through.

So weighing the good and the ever so slightly less good (including the walk to Clapham through a slightly dodgy industrial estate) I will be back; I hope that locals support it and next time you are looking for a space for a large group, especially as the sun becomes more permanent, The Lost Angel should be at the top of your list to call.