Royal Garden Chinese

Mi Cocina Es Tuya

➤ 61 Westow Street, London, SE193RW, SE19 3RW, United Kingdom

Meat • Coffee • Cheese • Spanish

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"Really lovely staff, who went over and above when they found it it was a birthday dinner. They played happy birthday and gave a dessert without being asked it was very thoughtful. They explained the menu and cocktail options thoroughly and were extremely friendly the whole evening. Food was delicious, cocktails were excellent and the atmosphere was really relaxed. Will definitely be going back. Thank you!"

Little Bay Croydon

➤ 32 Selsdon Road, CR2 6PB, South Croydon, United Kingdom

Pizza • Cafés • Seafood • European

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"I hadn't been here since my mother brought me as a teenager in 1965, when it was the Chalet Suisse. We were welcomed by a waitress seeing us coming and opening the door for us, ushered to a table by the window. We both had a fish dish, myself a crab-stuffed fillet of plaice, my wife a seabass paella with mussels. My plaice was succulently fresh, with a subtly spiced filling and sauce, The new potatoes were perfect. My wife is from a fishing family in Brittany so really knows her fish, and her saffron paella met with unconditional approval. The buckshee bread chunks in a basket already on the table were left, so I could enjoy mopping up the last of the lovely flavour of the juice. After polishing off the little extra pot of sweet potato fries, for dessert we had a special, Eton Mess, and banana cream profiteroles, which we swapped half way through, just gorgeous, and a filter coffee to finish off. With a couple of beers all for a fraction over £50 this was extraordinary value. This was no ordinary pub-chain grub. Every dish had something unusual and special to commend it, whether the spicy crab or the tart passionfruit syrup setting off the usually overwhelmingly sweet Eton Mess. This was proper cooking by someone who really knows their stuff, nicely presented but without fuss. Our fellow diners were all friendly and accomodating in a fairly small space, some engaging in jolly conversation with us. The service was attentive, kind. and unobtrusive. There was music but not overly loud and the atmosphere was relaxed and unhurried. I've heard this place mentioned by others before over the years and very much wish we'd made the effort to visit before now, our wedding anniversary. We will go again for sure, and take others with us too!"

Ponte Nuovo

➤ 86/88 Hight Street, CR0 1NA, Croydon, United Kingdom

Sushi • Pasta • Pizza • Steak

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"I came to a birthday meal of a friend and we had such a great time. the restaurant is a beautiful environment for an evening meal with its elegant decor and comfortable seating. eating has an authentic Italian feeling. the waiters were really friendly and patient in the treatment of the group, but the eating was getting old! eating is a bit expensive in comparison to some other places on the street, but a nice tasty for one occasion."

Crushed Bean

➤ 81 High Street, CR0 1QE, Croydon, United Kingdom

Sushi • Juice • Seafood • Western

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"This is a small, very nice, non-chain coffee shop selling tea, coffee, some savoury sandwiches plus snacks and cakes. (Not to be confused with 'Smoothbean ' which is also in Croydon and also very good, but the two have no connection.)What 's good about it? It 's non-chain, so you 're actually dealing with nice people offering good service, not just wage slaves at the front end of a vast, impersonal corporation. The quality of the tea and coffee is as good as anywhere else. The service is warm, human, friendly and personal. The staff are efficient and helpul but also pleasantly informal. They don 't have a very wide selection of things to eat. However, what they DO have is all very nice and good value, whether you want savoury and healthy or sweet and indulgent. I loved the little 'bakesmiths ' cakes they sell that say 'made by hand in small batches ' on the label. What 's maybe not so good? Well, it 's not in what you 'd call a great location. Plus it 's really small. Upstairs (at street level) there are just two small tables and space for maybe five or six people at most (assuming some don 't mind sitting at the window). Downstairs, there are a chairs and sofas providing room for about eight people, although it 's a bit cramped.All in all, the think to love about Crushed Bean is the tone, the atmosphere, the fact that it 's small, friendly and informal and run by human beings rather than branded corporate drones intent on hitting targets. Go there at a not-too-busy time and you can enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet and know that you 're choosing to support a small, independent coffee shop and not one of the behemoth chains. Bonus good point #1: if you ask for your milk on the side, it comes in a miniature milk bottle. This cute touch should be standard practice but isn 't.Bonus good point #2: They offered me a free tea refill. Nowhere else that I 've been to does this.Bonus good point #3: They are right opposite Cake Box, a wonderful emporium of gloriously unhealthy options."

The Little Coffee Shop

➤ 107 Sanderstead Road, CR2 0PJ, Croydon, United Kingdom

Cakes • Coffee • Ice Cream • Chocolate

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"My best friend lives nearby to this lovely little coffee shop and I thought it would be nice for Christmas to get her a selection of Christmas treats from here as I know she uses it regularly and I have popped in here with her for milkshakes and cakes, when I have been to visit her and her lovely girls. The customer service from this small business was incredible, she knew my friend by name and even knew that she had already ordered a Christmas cake from here and kindly recommended switching the Christmas cake in the order for one of her favourite Guinness cakes. Seeing as she had been so accommodating and friendly I asked as a special request if she could put English muffins in as they were a fond shared childhood memory of ours and Corene replied straight away and said she could, no problem. Such a lovely touch that you would probably never get from a large corporate company. I already felt great that I had supported a small business and their customer service really made it a very pleasant experience. I know this year they have extended their range due to covid to provide fresh eggs, milk, lockdown essentials for lots of the locals to have somewhere easy to get these things in a difficult time and just wanted to spread the word of how wonderful they are!"