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Summertime Eating and Drinking in Tooting
I’ll admit it — I’ve been a little neglectful of my local dining reports lately. After a wonderful couple of weeks in sun-soaked Sicily, Melanie and I decided to spend the rest of the summer right here in Tooting, before heading off to Greece later in the year. The summer has been a bit of a mixed bag weather-wise — either scorching hot or pouring with rain — but we’ve found plenty of ways to keep things bright. Between cooking for visiting friends and venturing into downtown Tooting, we’ve discovered (and rediscovered) some real culinary treasures. Smoke and Salt – A Standout Tooting Dining Experience First up, I must shine…
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It’s a Roll!
Feeling a bit peckish the other night, we popped into one of our favourite Tooting restaurants, the guaranteed to be good, Lahore Karahi on Tooting High Street. Not quite hungry enough for a full meal, we both went for the kebab roll, which lives humbly in the starters section of the menu. Well… let’s just say this is no ordinary starter. Two perfectly spiced minced lamb kebabs, served on a soft, fluffy flatbread and generously topped with crisp, fresh salad leaves — it’s more of a light meal, really. Delicious, satisfying, for just a fiver!What more could you want from a quick bite in Tooting? Thanks again, @lahorekarahirestaurant — we’ll…
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Chocolate Samosas: A Sweet Surprise at Radha Krishna Bhavan
After a quiet week at home, Melanie and I decided to spice things up by heading out to one of our favourite Keralan restaurants in Tooting. With no reservation in hand, we hopped on the bus to Tooting Broadway and made our way to the ever-popular Radha Krishna Bhavan. Peering through the steamy windows, we saw the place was absolutely buzzing—always a good sign! Melanie signalled to our friends, the proprietors, letting them know we needed a table for two. Despite the packed house, they quickly found us a temporary table for six, and before long, we were comfortably seated at a cosier spot. We’re definitely creatures of habit. The…
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Dreaming of Summer with Tomatoes
With Christmas well and truly done and dusted, I’ve decided it’s time to switch my blog header from the festive theme. This time, I’ve gone for tomatoes—bright, juicy, and bursting with colour. Yes, I know they’re not in season here in the UK, but that just makes them all the more desirable for me. As someone who tries to avoid winter at all costs, I find myself longing for warm summer days and fresh, simple dishes like Insalata Caprese. Just the thought of ripe tomatoes paired with mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil transports me straight to the Med. New Year, New Cookbooks Father Christmas (thanks to…
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Happy New Year!
We had a great night out last night, seeing the New Year in at one of our favourite places – Rick’s Restaurant. As always great food and friendly ambiance. Wishing all our followers and visitors a Happy New Year. Melanie and Andy
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A Very Pleasant Greek Surprise at Ciel Café
We first noticed Ciel, a new café in Tooting, on social media and glimpsed it a few times while passing by on the bus. The name, which means sky in French, intrigued us, so we decided to give it a try. Yesterday, while strolling down to Tooting town centre, we passed by Ciel again. The blackboard outside mentioned dishes like cheese and spinach pie and orange cake, giving us a hint that this café might have some Greek connections. After finishing up some last-minute Christmas shopping, we were determined to stop by Ciel on our way home. The shop’s sky-blue exterior was another clue that there might be something Greek…
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A Hearty Breakfast
This morning, I was up at the crack of dawn (for me!) — 7 a.m. to be exact—for my biennial heart check-up at St George’s Hospital. With the comforting thought that “no news is good news,” I left with a clean bill of health and decided to treat myself to a celebratory breakfast. As I strolled towards Tooting Broadway, I couldn’t resist being drawn into a charming café, Tartine Artisanal. From the moment I stepped inside, I was warmly welcomed and shown to a seat. As I scanned the menu and took in the cosy ambiance, I initially thought I had walked into a traditional Parisian style café. But something…
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Poros Appreciation Society: A Delightful Afternoon in Tooting
Saturday afternoon was very pleasantly spent meeting up with an old friend who Melanie and I first met on the Greek island of Poros. Tina, who, when not enjoying the sunshine on our favourite Greek island, lives not far from us in London. We decided to meet at The Castle, a pub that has been an old haunt of mine for years. After some refreshment, we headed across the street to the famous Lahore Karahi. If you have never visited Tooting before, this gem of a restaurant is a must-try! Once seated in the Lahore Karahi you will find an eclectic mix of patrons, all relishing the authentic and mouth-watering…
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Our Regular Haunts: Favourite Local Restaurants in Tooting
When Melanie and I are faced with the classic question, “What do you fancy doing tonight?”, we often turn to our shortlist of tried-and-tested local spots. These restaurants have become our regular haunts for different reasons: sometimes it’s the food, other times it’s the atmosphere, or simply the fact that we’ve developed a friendship with the owner over the years. Not all of these are fine dining spots, but they each have a special place in our hearts. As we revisit these favourites, we’ll share more in-depth experiences about each. Rather than formal reviews, consider these reflections on what we love about them. Some of these places have been a…
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Tasty Lunchtime Treat
A friendly welcome always awaits when visiting Taste Kurdish Restaurant in Tooting. If you’re a lover of the food of the eastern Mediterranean, then you won’t be disappointed. Superb spinach and cheese pies, tasty koftes, chicken and salads, all in the cosmopolitan ambience of Tooting’s lively shopping centre. Cheap and very cheerful, give it a try!