We know that organising the Christmas party, whether it be for family and friends, or the whole office can be hard to get right. You'll need a venue that impresses, great food and decent transport links, right? Well, we have something in mind! Let us introduce Freak Scene Balham, the second restaurant from Head Chef Scott Hallsworth, formerly of Nobu.
Freak Scene sits in the heart of South London's Balham, not far from the tube station and surrounded by the area's buzzy bars and pubs - which is also always a good shout when planning a festive do! The space is intimate with plenty of atmosphere and ideal for taking over as a whole. Expect sleek design, often influenced by Japanese decor, neutral tones and quirky art pieces like the neon sign which sees a figure riding a pepper.
While there aren't any details for private events online, be sure to give the team a call or email and they'll happily chat through everything you need to know. This is a passionate bunch who are excited to share their space and menu with locals and those travelling from further afield alike.
It's a no brainer that the best part about going with Freak Scene is the menu. Hinged on pan-Asian cuisine, the food focuses mainly on sushi and dishes cooked using the robata grill - and it all sounds delicious. Perhaps, start with a few small plates such as crispy masterstock lamb ribs alongside salt-grilled mackerel on grilled pumpkin mochi toasts. Then, it's time to explore the sushi bar, such as the sushi tacos with tuna, salmon and yellowtail, or rolls like the Kinome Dragon.
As for grilled mains, invite your gang to enjoy the likes of grilled Shetland squid with jalapeno dressing and onion salsa, as well as hispi cabbage with ponzu, buerre noisette, truffle and dried miso, among many more.