Restaurants

I used to write a lot about restaurants on mmofm. Going to restaurants is one of my favourite pastimes and one that I share with Jimmy. Our first proper date was at Still Luigi's at Gypsy Hill. We have not been back in years. The quality started to decline, and it was pretty obvious that Luigi's health was also in decline. It was only a couple of weeks ago we found out that Luigi died a couple of years back. The restaurant still exists, and, thus, must be doing something right, still, despite events.

Restaurant reviews are big on the internet, with various websites devoted to them. I tend to take them with a pinch of salt. So often do I read 'the waiters had an attitude problem' when my own experience has been directly contradictory, leaving me to wonder whether the attitude problem was in fact that of the customer. Even when there is criticism - or praise - of the food, it always leaves me wondering whether the standards of the customer are appropriate.

Reviews tend to focus on Central London restaurants more than suburban ones. Someone once told me that a mutual friend was 'a foodie because he goes to all the 'name' restaurants' (TV chefs and so on). I actually don't see that as a definition of a 'foodie', because it might be because the friend really appreciates the quality of food which is served there, or it might be because he is swayed by the brand name. I like being the sort of non-foodie who sniffs out good restaurants that lack fame. But also one who can see the limitations and weaknesses, and still return because of the strengths.

In the past few months, my restauranting, at least with Jimmy, has been limited, mainly to very local restaurants. Since he has been in the pub, and until a couple of weeks ago, we have only been to tried and trusted places lying between home and his pub

• the incomparable Bombay (Inn? Brasserie?) just round the corner. It may not be the best Indian in London, but it is good - very good - with the obvious added bonus of being just round the corner. It's rare we go there and don't see someone we know. Kim, the owner-manager cares passionately about his business and his customers. We like very much our regular waiter, although shamefully we don't know his name
• Da Franco's on Streatham High Road, a good quality inexpensive Italian personally owned, managed and overseen by the omnipresent Franco, ably assisted by Paolo. A splendid menu of regular items, especially their fish selection, supplemented by a varied and tempting 'specials' list. Jimmy doesn't rate their ice cream, but I can always find something satisfying on the pudding list
• Thai (Garden?) almost opposite Da Franco, a reasonably good Thai. I like it more than Jimmy does, and, I think, it is Streatham's only Thai. I think it rests on its laurels a bit,and I wouldn't choose it for a special night out, but it's good for a change
• Little Italy, in The High, on Streatham High Road. It's been there a long time and is absolutely reliable. The menu remains resolutely unchanged after several years, even the 'specials'. I think other residents of the Streatham area are fonder of it than we are, but it's safe bet especially at awkward mid-afternoon times when almost everywhere is shut
• The legendary Mrs Wong, on The Dip (near St Leonard's Junction). People travel from miles to Mrs Wong. For years we didn't go there, favouring the more refined atmosphere of Hung's on Sunnyhill Road, but Hung's underwent radical change, and to put it bluntly, horribilised. Mrs Wong isn't licensed - it's Bring Your Own. The tables are close together, and it's not an environment in which you would linger long - and they don't encourage you to. But it's brilliant for a quick meal - on the way home, pre-cinema or whatever, and always delivers value for money. There is a reason why it has been going so long, gets full so quickly, and has such a widespread reputation. Nothing fancy

In Central London, I have, in the past six months or so, been to Pasta Brown on Bow Street, Cafe Boulevard on Wellington Street, Loch Fyne on Catherine Street, Marsala Zone on Floral Street, Giovanni's on Goodwin's Court and Porter's on Henrietta Street all in Covent Garden, and the Cinnamon Club near work. I wouldn't hesitate to return to any of them.

Porter's is probably the one that is all round the most satisfactory, and Giovanni's is the craziest (they post the chef's mood in the window, management have a Tito Beltran obsession, and they have dishes designed by Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna - I'm not sure whether or not Angela's contains garlic...). Cinnamon Club is the swankiest. I think they all offer value for money, and I have no grounds for complaint about any. I have also eaten in Wagamama, Ponti's and Pizza Express, none of which are anything special but deliver what they set out to do, and no doubt will be visited again.

Upper Norwood is a mecca for restaurant fans. We have eaten in A Torre, a family-run Portuguese restaurant. It has a delightful sense of chaos, and is astonishingly cheap for delicious food (and they have a garden out the back, we discovered, soon after the smoking ban came in!). Mediterranea - well, I can only quote DiscoStu on the Virtual Norwood site

This place is awesome, the food is amazing.........and reasonably priced. the service is fantastic with friendly waiters/waitresses who are genuinely passionate about the food. It all adds up to a great dining experience.

And today, our old favourite, Los Toreros. To be honest, it doesn't stand comparison to La Rueda on Clapham High Street,and I can kind of see where the negative comments are coming from. But I like the fact that the staff don't keep bothering you, that it's so massive you never feel you're sitting on your neighbour's lap, and while the food isn't amazing, it's all satisfactory. Going mid-Sunday afternoon, at this time of year, is bound to find any restaurant quiet, but it was about a quarter to a third full.

I think probably of the lot, I would most recommend Mediterranea for the way its passion is evident in every aspect. I have especial fondness for our local Indian, for Da Franco's, and for A Torre for proving that a little bit of the laid back charm of Southern Europe is possible on a side street of an unglamorous - but for its splendid selection of restaurants - junction where five London Boroughs meet