Putney, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

This “lovely Putney spot” is “the best neighbourhood restaurant ever”, according to its local fanclub – in particular, “Craig and his team have customer service down to a fine art”. It’s set amidst the pick ’n’ mix of restaurants near East Putney Tube, and a pavement terrace with awning leads onto rather a stylish interior, with eye-catching tiled floor, brick walls and a long bar; and they serve a jazzy modern bistro menu. In September 2024 they opened a second branch, Home SW13, in next-door Barnes (taking over from Church Road, RIP). Top Tip – “love the scrap-eat Mondays where they use up all the weekend excess on a surprise great-value set menu”; “and those cauliflower croquettes are divine!”

This comfortably decorated national chain feels akin to dining in a hotel, but minus the bedrooms; and its two London branches – near the Tower and in Putney – benefit from attractive Thames-side locations, where “it’s lovely to sit outside on a warm day by the river, or year-round in one of their igloo pods”. “There’s a warm fire inside with cosy armchairs”, too, which make the venues “fine for coffee or snacks”, although for more substantial meals “the food is only OK”.