Gently lit by two antique chandeliers & hidden away on a Vauxhall backstreet, the newly refurbished Black Dog (formerly The Lavender) is earnestly making its mark on the South London pub scene. The open kitchen keeps the locals & corporate regulars fed & watered with a simple but thoughtful menu based on seasonal ingredients – think pumpkin risotto with ricotta & crispy sage or lamb rump with crushed new potatoes & rosemary jus. For something lighter at lunchtime try the top-selling goats’ cheese, grapefruit & beetroot salad, perhaps with a homemade Scotch egg. Breakfast is a less formal affair, with granola & porridge for those on the go. The carefully styled bar shows off a decent range of real ales, English ciders & continental lagers, as well as a modest but wallet-friendly list of sub-£25 wines. Staff are knowledgeable & charmingly upbeat.