When you find a good pub, take a tip from me and hold onto it with two hands. Maybe even a well constructed sailors knot or two as well! They're ever too scarce in this bustling city of ever-rushed pints and hurried sundays. Since I discovered it, I've therefore had The Florence in Herne's Hill firmly lodged in my short lists of cracking London boozers.
It's a jolly spot with a vibrant blue painted bar and dropping Edison bulb light features, perpetually packed with young families. There's a large beer selection and they have their own brew kit in the back which they sometimes use to make collaboration brews. On sundays it gets busy and you'll have to book, or leave a hungry hungry hippo.
The menu is surprisingly quirky, for a pub of relatively traditional facade. Instead of starters they do 'small plates', which I actually like, and have a decent looking brunch menu which sadly I haven't tried yet. My favourite small plate came with chicken hearts, grilled and skewered plump, on a n'duja mayonnaise. I'm an offal girl anyway but these were cooked on point and the n'duja was smoky and powerful.
It's a jolly spot with a vibrant blue painted bar and dropping Edison bulb light features, perpetually packed with young families. There's a large beer selection and they have their own brew kit in the back which they sometimes use to make collaboration brews. On sundays it gets busy and you'll have to book, or leave a hungry hungry hippo.
The menu is surprisingly quirky, for a pub of relatively traditional facade. Instead of starters they do 'small plates', which I actually like, and have a decent looking brunch menu which sadly I haven't tried yet. My favourite small plate came with chicken hearts, grilled and skewered plump, on a n'duja mayonnaise. I'm an offal girl anyway but these were cooked on point and the n'duja was smoky and powerful.
Their quail with gingerbread croutons and syrup also was well cooked, if lacking a proper sauce to bind it all together, and their sugar cured prawns with samphire and black pudding were juicy, if a little sweet for a palate unfamiliar to sugar and shellfish. All were plated wonderfully.
Stars arrived with the mains. Roasts of rump of beef and Hampshire pork belly. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a SUCKER for pork belly and this one was great. The crackling was PERFECT (although why put the apple sauce right on top of it so it starts going soggy?) and the Yorkshire puddings passed my Yorkshire woman benchmark. Gravy was good….this is important.
If you can manage it after 2 sizeable courses, check out the desserts. I tried their sticky toffee pudding and a dark chocolate mousse with praline and lime curd. Chocolate works superbly with citrus and this was a good pairing, with the praline adding texture. A major thumbs up on the sticky toffee – the waitress told me that extra toffee sauce was available on request and this was a lovely touch. Nothing is worse than a stingy sauce portion; food needs to be LUBED, and when lube is as tasty as this sticky toffee sauce, good times are neigh.
The wine list showed yet more great judgement. It was split into two lists – 'The List' of popular, best in class 'traditional' wines, with another half called 'The Other List' offering more artisan, natural or organic selections. A lovely nod to this wine movement which is rapidly gaining popularity.
In short, this local boozer gets a firm thumbs up from me. It's a bit different from your average joint churning out sunday roasts and there's certainly be some oomph put into developing the menu. Head down and check it out. I'd love to know if you agree.
www.florencehernehill.com
131-133 Dulwich Rd, London SE24 0NG
02073264987
