Metro

Claphamites love this garden restaurant, falling under the spell of dining that mostly takes place in a large marquee lit with fairy lights & candles. The cooking is less adventurous than it once was & all the better for it. Start with beef carpaccio or a half pint of prawns with aioli & garlic toast, then follow with roast rack of lamb or pan-fried barramundi. The owner is always on hand to greet regulars & keep an eye on things, while the staff are enormously friendly, though not always very efficient. A relaxed, child-friendly attitude makes Metro enormously popular for weekend brunches, which often stretch to dinnertime. Booking is essential.