The Florence SE24 0NG

Date: Sunday 30th October, 2012

Choice: Angel
Who was there: Claire, Justin, Joe, Heather, Angel & Ellen. With guest, Alex.

We chose the Florence because Angel had been there a few times in the evening with work colleagues and also once for lunch with friends...also because it is the sister pub to one of our favorites - The Bishop in East Dulwich.

Making a reservation on the phone was straightforward enough and they keep the parties with kids out the back near the garden where there is also a great indoor play area for kids, complete with a baby changing area - parents with kids are perfectly catered for. However on our arrival after we had found our table and Ellen went to the bar to get some drinks and was greeted with a very impolite waitress who ended up giving her the wrong drink, now it may have been Ellen's Scottish accent, but if you are unsure, ask. 

The table waitress was luckily much more pleasant and she took our orders efficiently and with a smile. Nice. 

We ordered Roast Beef, Roast Pork and the Veggie Meatloaf with Mushroom sauce.

The Yorkshire was huge and the Pork and the Veggie Meatloaf were fine, middle of the road food, not the best but no where near the worst we have had. 

The Beef however was tasteless, albeit a very generous version of tasteless beef. The gravy was watery and the cabbage was in a creamy sauce which was more watery than creamy (and the watery gravy mixing with it did not help). It tasted like nothing had been seasoned - we had to add salt and pepper to everything. 

On the up side the potatoes were lovely and soft and crispy outside. Perfect. Pitty about the beef. We are not sure if we want to venture back to the Bishop incase the standards have slipped across the group. 

We didn't have dessert, opting to get something from the street market near the train station.

Mains: £13.50 for the Beef & Pork, £11.50 for the Veggie Meatloaf.
Desserts: None were had.
Website: Theflorencehernehill.com
Bookings: yes, via phone

The Avalon SW12 9EB

Date: Sunday 29th July, 2012

Choice: Claire
Who was there: Claire, Justin, Joe, Angel & Ellen. (with loads of birthday guests)



Unfortunately we have not been having the best weather this year, actually we have had a pretty rubbish summer the past 4 years. So we were very happy to be inside this very cosy, welcoming pub a very short walk from Clapham South tube. It’s Claire’s birthday so we had many guests, but unfortunately Heather was on holiday in Tokyo and could not be there. To get down to the food, the roast beef was amazing (as you can see by the photo). A huge portion and loads of veggies( although Ellen got ripped off and only had 2 very small quarters of Potato. You can even get extra yorkshire for £1.50. It is on the menu as a side if you ordered something else you can still get a yorkie! The beef was very tender and the red wine gravy was amazing. Claire had pretty much the only veggie option, which was a goats cheese and tomato tart. On the menu it was supposed to have a pine nut dressing but Claire said she could not taste it, however the minted royal jersey potatoes delicious. The deserts were brilliant; A really soft Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla ice cream, Apricot & Almond tart, And the Summer Berry Pavlova – all £5.50, there were several more desserts but these are the ones we had. Overall a brilliant pub. 

Mains: £13.50 for the Beef.
Desserts: £5.50
Website: theavalonlondon.com
Bookings: yes, via phone

The Calf SW4 0DR

Date: Sunday 6th May, 2012

Choice: Angel
Who was there: Heather, Claire, Justin, Joe, Ellen, Angel & Naana.

Generally we were not that impressed with the place. The Roast beef was a bit rare but tasty. The Yorkshire was burnt, there was celery in the vegetables which we are not decided if that was odd or interesting, definitely questionable. 
The additional sides good, well the cauliflower cheese was. The potatoes were inconsistent bith fluffy & soggy. Carrots were very disappointing, quite tastless. 

The nut roast good, but there was no gravy for the Yorkshire which it came with. 

The service was rubbish at the bar. Everyone seemed to be new and no one seems to know where anything is. Ordered within seconds of each other but food came out at different times. 
We didn't have desserts as we were so dissapointed, but we did enjoy ice creams from the Gelateri along the road towards the common.

Mains: forgot to get the prices, but certainly not worth what we paid.
Desserts: ?
Website: thecalfclapham.co.uk
Bookings: yes

The Hope SW17 7EG

Date: Sunday 29th January, 2012

Choice: Angel
Who was there: Heather, Claire, Justin, Joe, Angel & Ellen. (with guest Kym)

We will having a few roasts in South West London in the next few months as Claire and Justin have had their baby boy Joe.
The Hope is a gastropub in 'Upper Tooting' - though I would really say it is Balham. It was a little crammed and the tables were close together, but I guess you notice these thing more when you have a pram in your group.
The 21 day aged West Country beef was nice, cooked through, and the kale and yorkies were nice, the potatoes were a bit over cooked (burnt). they brought out bought jars of horseradish, which was really sharp and amazing! Forgot to write down the name. 
Ellen and Angel also ordered a side of the cauliflower cheese, which was a little disappointing, not cheesy enough.
The Desserts were really tasty and we were happy we ordered them - Sticky Toffy pudding, Mascarpone & Amaretto cheesecake with fruit compote. The Cheeseboard was good, but as most cheeseboards, not enough crackers.
Overall a really nice afternoon out. Plus they sell Mean-time lager!


Mains: £13 for the Beef, £10 for the Nut Roast.
Desserts: £5
Website: http://www.thehopepub.co.uk/
Bookings: Online booking system