Rate my Bistro

We initially came to this Latin American restaurant for coffee but then ended up returning to it later in the day for an evening meal! Its nice that the restaurant is divided into sections: one part for the restaurant and the other part with comfy seats for drinks!

The latte and mocha drinks were really good. The mocha actually tasted more like a hot chocolate. We had the chunky cassava wedges as a snack. Although it looked like a small portion, it was enough. They had the right crunchiness on the outside with a soft centre.

The roast butternut squash and coconut milk soup was a rich soup and was just right for a cold winter’s day! I could taste the spiciness of the chilli in it. A good alternative was the chicken fajita wrap that was served with curly fries. The chicken was tender and tasted good with the additional filling of peppers, onion and cheese.

To complete the meal, a dessert had to be had. We shared the chocolate banoffee pie. This was an excellent choice and had the perfect proportions of chocolate, biscuit, banana and toffee.

I do have to comment on the fantastic customer service and the efficiency of all the staff at the restaurant. The restaurant was very busy in the evening and we were thinking that the service was going to be quite slow. This was not the case. The food was brought out not long after we had ordered and we weren’t waiting around for the bill either.

A fantastic restaurant with lively Latin American music and atmosphere. A highly recommended restaurant if you are at the O2 Arena!

Las Iguanas, The O2, Peninsula Square, Millenium Way, London, SE10 0DS

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A very reasonably priced Turkish restaurant in the centre of East Dulwich. I always like to start with the Hisar Mantar: fried breadcrumbed mushrooms with garlic mayonnaise. This goes well with the yogurt, cucumber and mint starter. The Patlican Salata had a nice taste with the flavours of the aubergine, peppers, tomatoes complemented by the garlic, lemon, mint and dill dressing.

The mixed grill main dish never disappoints. The chicken, lamb, kofte and lamb cutlets are always cooked perfectly and have the right tenderness. The portion size is good and this dish is very satisfying.

Its hard to resist the baklava dessert with its layers of puff pastry, nuts and sweet syrup. The mint tea is a good drink to finish off the meal, although the coffees are also good too.

The service is always really great here and it is nice that the kitchen is an open one so you can see the food being cooked on the charcoal grill as well. You never feel rushed at Hisar and can take your time savouring the food.  

Hisar, 51 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8EP

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I found myself at Sheen Lane again this week and decided to try the bacon and egg rolls offered by Cafe Leo.

Now being an old fashioned Northerner born and bred, when I order a bacon and egg butty, I expect to get an egg with some bacon slapped between two slices of bread (served up by someone who reminds me of an old school dinner lady!). That was until Cafe Leo on Sheen Lane reeducated me. 

The bacon and egg roll was nothing short of delicious (fresh crunchy roll, perfectly cooked egg with good quality bacon) and the side salad made this lunchtime snack a real treat. (Cue Yorkshire accent) Followed up with a cup of tea, the bill came to under a fiver.

The staff made me feel like an old friend and the atmosphere was very relaxing. Their menu consisted of various sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. Your typical cafe menu with added class and service.

28a Sheen Lane, London, SW14 8LW

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Trente30 is a cute little ice cream parlour and coffee shop located on Sheen Lane in Richmond, just up the road from the Mortlake train station.  They offer a good range of smoothies, ice cream, milkshakes, hot drinks and pastries.  The staff are very friendly.

I really warmed to this cafe.  The coffee and hot chocolates are great but their ice cream is out of this world. 

Trente30, 30 Sheen Lane, Richmond, SW14 8LW

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