Which are the best restaurants in Beckenham?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Packham on August 21, 2009 at 4:28pm

As you say there are many and it does depend on your taste and how much you wish to spend. Favourite Indian is The Moghul Brasserie on Croydon Road near the Audi garage, The Rascasse is good for a really nice special meal (although not cheap) and has great steaks, etc, Pizza Express never disappoints and far better than Pizza Hut and Zizzi is good too if you want to use a chain and Pierlouggi's is a good Italian/Med type restaurant opposite the NatWest. 've not come across many bad ones although disliked Goumet Burger Company and the Mexican in the middle of the High Street I've heard from a few people is not good. Hope this helps and happy dining!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Sanderson, on August 22, 2009 at 1:52pm

I'd like to give a second endorsement for Rascasse. The prices mean that we've only eaten there twice, a year apart, but apart from the excellent quality of the food, what stood out was the quality of the staff.

Also worth a mention is Flavours on Clock House Parade - good Italian food for a decent lunch or evening meal, good ambience, affordable - and just a few doors along is the Belleberry Deli, French-run, more snacks than meals (plus delicatessen, obviously) but top quality fare.

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Permalink Reply by Graham Smith on September 7, 2009 at 1:50pm

La Rascasse is excellent - even if it is quiet, the noise from the bar area gives it some atmosphere
Mae Peng is also fantastic
Mello was very good before it closed.
Curry Cottage is OK. Flood fine but the service can be a bit dodgy.
Pizza Express, ASK, Zizzis, GBK all standard fare as you'd expect from these chains.

La Rascasse is my favourite for a great meal out.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Jeffery on September 8, 2009 at 3:33pm

THUMBS UP:
Pizza Express: As said by others, utterly reliable and better than Pizza Hut. It's the 1st choice of our kids (Rosie, aged 10 and Jenny, nearly seven). We only use the 'Hut for "pizza delivered" as the kids call it.
Pierluiggi's: We used to like to eat there but find it too noisy (which is the only thing I don't like about Pizza Express, by the way)
Gourmet Burger Kitchen: Only been once, and my wife and I liked it.
The Sampan: Had lunch there once and enjoyed it. They're our choice if we want a nicer-than-the-local chinese delivery.
John's Kitchen (Clock House Parade): Our preferred local Chinese delivery/take-away.
The Big Catch: Best fish and chips restaurant in the land. Bit expensive for a fish and chips take-away though.
Moghul Brasserie: Good but...
The Spice Society: ...is a far superior Indian Restaurant.
Zi Teresa: A wonderful Italian restaurant. Wish they weren't quite so successful though, as the main man there, who was always very amusing, was too busy to perform any waiting duties the last time we went.
Mae Ping (Thai): Luverly.
Filled Of Dreams (sandwich bar): Reliable and friendly. And what a name!
Nando's: I like Nando's a lot. Rest of my crew not so sure. Hmph.
Miso: Excellent, and fast, noodle bar. Must go again.
Bluebelle cafe (Maple Road, Penge): Hiding away off the main street through Penge but a really good cafe. The aussie (nobody's perfect) chef has high standards which he seems good at maintaining.

There's a Fish And Chips shop on the corner of Ravenscroft Road and Elmer's End Road which is excellent. Can't remember the name of it though. It's a much preferred source of take-away fish 'n' chips than Anlee's (see below) despite the fact that it's much further away from our house than Anlee's (which is just two minute's walk away).
Indian Ocean (Clock House Parade): Not spectacular, but plenty good enough for a delivery/take-away.

Honourable mention: Villager's Sausages. Not a restaurant or take-away, but OMG! the sausages are sublime!

THUMBS DOWN:
Zizzi: Nothing like as good as it should be for the prices charged and the decor. Making food look nice is no substitute for making food actually taste nice.
Friendly 8: Tiredest looking restaurant I've ever been in. Food no more than average. Staff disinterested. Glum. Never again.
Anlees's (chinese and fish 'n' chips), Churchfield's Road: Only enjoyed the chicken and sweetcorn soup there. Everything else not up to much. Chips entirely unpredictable. Given up on them. Shame, as they seem a nice family.

J

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Permalink Reply by marie shallcross on September 8, 2009 at 3:46pm

Maria's in the high street near the George; really is the best espresso this side of the Alps and their vanilla milkshake & mocha also rate a ten.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Sanderson, on February 5, 2010 at 10:18pm

Another excellent meal in La Rascasse tonight. Perhaps a bit pricey by normal Beckenham standards, but well worth it. First-class staff too - can't recommend it highly enough.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Miller on February 8, 2010 at 1:02am

Well we like;-

Rascasse, Flavours, Pierluigis for eating in (plus the Pizza Expresses, Nandos when we're not being too fussy) but I'm a bit worried that no-one has mentioned El Molino's - best evening out we have when we have the chance (we've been going there for nigh on 20 years!) and still fantastic. Great Tapas, great character, great service (even if they do forget to charge for some of the beers)

Takeaways; Ratsoi at Elmers End is brill (lamb shanks to die for); Namaste London in Sydenham is second choice if we're on a bit of a budget; and as for Chinese, the Jade Garden in Penge in unbeatable; Pizzas are always got from Toscana in Penge.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Jeffery on February 9, 2010 at 10:43pm

Wifey and I ate lunch at Zizzi's last week. It'll be the last time. Expensive, no noticeable flavour to the (beautifully presented) food and I had gut ache until after 9pm (do pasta carbonara and tea not mix?)

That's three times out of four we've been disappointed with Zizzi's food. No more chances.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Hudson on February 15, 2010 at 12:21pm

Belleberry, just before Clockhouse Station. Friendly, good choice, cheapish coffee. Can get busy at lunchtimes though

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Permalink Reply by Emma Jones on February 17, 2010 at 1:45pm

Personally I really liked La Rascasse for a meal out. Staff are pleasant and the food is just amazing

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