I haven't been to the Dewaniam for a couple of years, but it was very nice.
And if you are prepared to go all the way to Penge, then you might also want to try out Ganapati in Peckham.

But if you are looking for somewhere nice right in the centre of Forest Hill you should probably consider Tse's and Dartmouth Arms. But with a two minute train connection to Honor Oak Park, I continue to believe that Sodo and Donde (Tapastry) are virtually in the centre of Forest Hill.

The Dewaniam restaurant closed quite some time back, and they now only have the takeaway in the side street.

This post was last modified: 02-10-2014 10:47 AM by katie one.

Yeah I used to live in Peckham until just last year....don't think Ganapati is quite as special as Babur tho'!
'All the way to Penge' lol. It's just a lovely wee stroll away!
And I agree HOP parade is an intergral part of Forest Hill (didn't used to when we first moved - I thought we were in Brockley! - but I'm a bit more enlightend now ).
Don't rate Sodo at all, sad to say, but I love Donde to bits and bobs somehow. The food is consistently good (pig cheeks nommmm) and there's just a really relaxed atmosphere there, and (unlike with Sodo) I like the feeling of knowing where my money's gone and not feeling short-changed.

Well I guess that whilst not everyone agrees on what is good or not (as it to be expected) at least people now have more choices than before of where to eat, which can only be positive.

India Gate under the new owners is excellent, as good as I've had anywhere. Love babur, but not exactly your average curry house.

Loving this thread, and how the quality of an area seems to come down to what the food is like lol.

I like mine stuffed with chestnuts, thyme, and Boerewors.
Nom Nom

The dishes at Thai Orchard are so far from how they should be cooked I wouldn't even call it a Thai restaurant. I also don't understand why they don't do something with the decor in there. Another missed Forest Hill oportunity.

I've not eaten dinner at Canvas and Cream yet but at least they have made an effort.

Does anyone think that the view from Horniman Gardens is one of the best in London? Personally, I think it's better than Hampstead Heath. But I'm biased.

Oh and easily one of the best butcherys in London. I count my lucky stars every time I walk past.

Indeed it is one of a few in the area which are beautiful Chris88

We've been using Cinnamon (and before that, Kafe La) for years for takeaways. Always good - but haven't had a sit-down meal there for quite a while.

Sorry to break in to the restaurant critiquery, but I just wanted to point out the irony (possibly in the Morrissette sense of the word) that in the same week an article appears in the press bigging up Forest Hill, an article also appears in the Guardian by a young chap, with a pregnant wife, who can no longer afford to live in London. I believe the chap in question is currently a Forest Hill resident.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...ced-london

So yay for all the super eateries, boo for the fact that Forest Hill is now only "affordable by London standards" which we all know is not affordable according to the real definition of the word.

I prefer the view from Blythe Hill than from the Horniman Gardens to be honest.

As for the prices, well yes they have gone slightly crazy in the last few years especially. Certainly if we'd not bought a good while ago when it was more 'affordable' we would not be moving here now.

Interesting. I have wondered for a while whether we might reach a tipping point at which the younger "professional classes" begin to decide, in their droves, never mind the job opportunities, s*d London, it's far too expensive to deliver on quality of life and be worth bothering with. Whether this would be a good thing (correction of insane housing market, leading to longer term more balanced development) or a bad thing (further hollowing out, and leaving city still more only for the super-rich) I haven't worked out.

Someone mentioned the Dartmouth Arms for food.
I find the quality of food there lamentable.And overpriced for what it is.
Further afield (only a little tho) We really like Franklins,never had a duff meal there.

I think the article's definition of Forest Hill is rather narrower than that of most of the commenters on this thread.

I think it's entirely fair enough. I find central FH's pubs uninspiring, and that includes the Sylvan Post (shabby, uncomfortable, poor range of drink for an Antic) and the Dartmouth (still too in love with itself), while the Honor Oak is so soulless and transactional it has the feel of an Argos collection point.

Restaurants in central FH even more so, with the honourable exception of the India Gate. I imagine this will get better of its own accord in the years to come.

I do look forward to the author explaining the nature of a non-noisy railway line, mind.

Oops, accidental double post.

This post was last modified: 03-10-2014 09:36 AM by Baboonery.

We tried That's Amore on Kirkdale the other week. I hadn't even noticed it in 18 months living in FH but it was lovely. Delicious flavours, nice wines and really lovely staff. I recommend it. Agree on the lack of restaurants in FH but give it time I think

Unfortunately That's Amore has closed down, but there is a planning application for a new Italian restaurant next to Aga on Dartmouth Road

Always had exceptional food at Le Querce, but then I almost always have the fish or seafood specials which are always fantastic. I think for a relatively small suburban area forest hill and Honor Oak combined have a much better than average selection of restaurants with some real gems amongst them.