Restaurants

Olley’s has a decent claim to the crown of south London’s best fish and chip restaurant, the main challenger being Masters in Waterloo . This place is best known for its slightly cheesy ‘specials’, named after local celebs and restaurant critics – so the James Nesbitt Experience offers haddock, chips and peas, while the Guy Dimond Experience, named after Time Out magazine’s food editor, and reassuringly expensive at just shy of a tenner, is another way of saying lemon sole with chips. Although most custom comes from takeaways, the mid-sized restaurant is also popular. The various fish (cod and haddock, of course, but also hake, halibut, monkfish, skate and others) come fried in an ace batter, grilled, steamed or with tomato and herb sauce. Chips are about as good as London can offer, and the mushy peas have a little more texture than your usual paste. Service can be sketchy, but is always friendly, and children are very welcome.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009