The 'Avalon' Gastro Pub

Went to the Avalon today for Sunday lunch and wasn’t that impressed. I think it’s really over priced for what it is. As one of the previous reviews says, the roast comes with just a couple of soggy potatoes, and some uninteresting veg: cabbage, carrots and peas, which had clearly been microwaved. There was nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but for around £13 I expect more. Same for the puddings. We paid nearly £30 each for just a main and a pud (noone had anything extravagant like steak), a bottle of wine and two pints. I don’t mind paying this for a gastro-pub when the food is exceptionally good, but here it’s just average. Won’t be going back. Oh, and the staff are pretty miserable.

Really nice pub, staff were quick and place was clean.

Fairly disappointing Sunday Roast, the veg was largely cabbage based, only 2 roast potatoes, served on cold plates, thin gravy. I think it’s gone down hill in the past couple of years, still a good atmosphere & very pleasant dining room, could certainly be improved, I’ll probably just stay in the bar in future.

Went here the other night with friends. Great atmosphere and tasty food, the service was faultless also.

The beer garden wasn’t open (due to rain), but the manager showed us through and it looks amazing for spending long summer evenings with a few cold beers.

Highly recommend!

If I had written this review last year, it would have got 5 starts. However, judging by our last meal at the Avalon, it was so dissapointing that I have knocked it down to 3.

This pub has everything you need; spacious bar/ dining area and a beautiful beer garden which is stunning in the summertime and great for taking children along to as well. Infact, when I have been there for lunch with my fiance and daughter midweek the pub is pretty empty with the exception of lots of mothers and babies enjoying a good drinking session ;-) But seriously- its a great place to meet up with your mum friends and babies/ children for lunch or just a chat and coffee during off peak times. Otherwise during weekend lunchtimes the pub gets packed with punters so best get there early.

The food used to be great, always ordering the usual Avalon beef burger and chips and my fiance always had the steak. That was always our 'go to' place for a good burger/pub lunch. However our last visit was very dissapointing. It was terrible infact. Having had to wait about 4omins for our food on an empty weekday afternoon, we expected at least good food. And with a slightly hungry/ restless toddler in tow we hoped it would be worth the wait. Put simply, we won't be going back there for food again.

i tried there pie and pint meal over nationa pie week and it was lovely
i had the leak and chicken pie which had red chillies in it which gave it a good kick. hubby had the firshermans pie and it was lovely.
A really lovely atmoshpere here with an eclectic mix of furniture

Food came cold and very slowly. Unimpressed but fundamentally nothing wrong. Pleasant atmosphere, though hard to hear yourself think, which isn't great for the restaurant section...

I came here when they were offering 50% food for facebook and was very pleased. Service was great, nice comfortable environment, nice and reasonably-priced food (made cheap with the deal), and good wine choices. Wish I had room for pudding cause they looked delicious!

-Goat cheese tartlet - Great flavor but didn't like the cool temperature
-Fennel soup - Simple and tasty. Served with delicious bread
-Lamb loin - Really well cooked. Perfect portion. Pretty good flavor. White bean puree wasn't super-tasty but still a nice accompaniment. Could have used a little more mint.
-Squid ink linguine with crab & chili - Decadent. Starter portion was perfect for a main after having a starter.

My mind isn't quite made up about the Avalon. This used to be a pub called the George and it did what it said on the tin (very well) - pub grub, real ale, sky sports. Well, the George has been turned into Clapham South's most exclusive gastro pub (or so they say). I'll have to come back and eat to pass final judgement, but the atmosphere last night, the queue outside the pub and the prices are probably enough to turn me away for good.

I had a lovely summer's evening at The Avalon, a gastropub in Clapham South with a very surprisingly large and roomy back garden; and one that probably even the Queen herself would approve of for her own garden parties. I was there with a bunch of other Qypers (see the reviews below!), and we had a great time learning a few BBQ tips from the head chef of Avalon.

While I can't provide an opinion on the food as we had a special home-style BBQ menu, the usual dishes that passed by our table did look very appetising, and comes in big portions too. Prices are reasonable for London, but I think the main attraction of this place is neither food nor drink, but the garden.

Thus if you are in need of a place to hang out with friends or family or you want to hire a private (and it really is private!) garden area, complete with a BBQ, The Avalon is the way to go!

Reviewed by The London Insider
http://www.london-insider.co.uk/2010/07/lesson-how-to-bbq...

Attended a fun Qype event organised by Kristiana and Gemma. Pleasant and friendly staff, and an wonderful location - especially the secret garden at the back with the fountain. The owners have done a great job transforming this space. Enjoyed refreshing Pimms on arrival and learnt a lot of needed BBQ skills from head chef Adam, assisted by sous-chef Carlos. Learnt how to properly cook rump steak burgers and construct them into monster meat towers, peri-peri chicken and sausages. The burger and peri-peri chicken probably suffered being left a bit too long on the BBQ as they were being kept warm as we munched our way through each meat on the BBQ list - dried out a bit. Burger could have done with some Cajun seasoning or herbs to liven the meat patty up. Have had proper pungent Peri-Peri chicken in Portugal, but was probably due to the meat not having been marinaded overnight. Got to try out my sports massage skills on the chicken!!! Picked up some useful tips on cooking fish on the BBQ from Adam and had a great time. Would definitely go back for the relaxed summer atmosphere in the secret garden, and to try the fish and chips and Pimms Jellies which looked fab as they whizzed passed us.

I was here for the qype BBQ event too on a scorcher of a day. I would rate this possibly the prettiest pub garden I have ever been in (and I've been in a few!) follow the little sign marked secret garden out the back door. The demo was very interesting and I picked up some great tips such as blanching your sausages before grilling them. Unfortunately my burger was a little dry and overcooked but I wonder if that's because the chef was a bit unnerved by a hoard of qypers papping him like he was Britney wearing no knickers! Luckily my peri peri chicken and sausage were nice so that saved the day for me. I would definately go back for the lovely garden, take home message=clapham south-Not that Far Away on the northern line-who knew!

I rarely get out of the 'ditch, so a trip to Clapham - SOUTH! - seems like a trip to the country. Thank goodness it's only just a 30min ride on the Northern line because I cant wait to go back!

The Avalon is a lovely, large pub with huge tables outside for large groups to gather. There's seating inside and a dining area just beyond the main pub area.

Our gathering sent us straight out the back into a large garden space. I'm impressed with the size of it because it went back much farther than seemed possible.

There is a large grill outside and since we were there for a grilled meat class, it was the perfect venue for a sunny summer evening.

With plenty of Pimms to get me going, I popped on an apron and helped put some mince rump burgers on the grill. They were huge! Once cooked, we dressed them up with salad and creams and munched while our second course got going.

Next up was peri-peri chicken. We watched the marinade mix in the food processer before getting generously massaged onto the massive butterflied breasts. Served up with some salad - delish!

Our final tasting was Cumberland sausage - blanched before grilling! This might have been the best trick I learned all night - cook your sausage then grill them just to get the skin nice and carmelized. Truthfully, they were perfect!

I checked out the menu, gazed at the other plates passing by (especially the desserts) and declared I needed to come to Clapham more often - with friends - to Avalon!

What a glorious night it was on Monday as a group of Qypers descended upon the secret garden here in Clapham South to discover just what it was we had been doing wrong with our Barbeques all these years...

The decking area out the back, which is huge and beautifully decorated is a recent addition, covering a patch of land that was previously just wasteground. The bubbling fountain and tree lined walls make for a lovely setting.

The pub itself has two other garden areas, one out the front and one down the side, both containing TVs well shaded for the all important sporting occasions.

Inside though it is tastefully decked out and has a delightful dining area.

Our Barbeque class was interesting, learning about blanching sausages (which makes a lot of sense) and backing up my view that Gas Barbeques are just as good and a lot less hassle than their charcoal rivals.

We started with a huge Rump Burger, minced on premises and with nothing other than seasoning added. These looked great but were perhaps a little too big to comfortably eat! I found it a little dry to be honest and it probably could have done with some herbs or something to add a little flavour. Still, a good chunk of meat none the less.
The Piri-piri chicken was good, personally I would have liked a little more kick and perhaps that was due to not being marinaded overnight but it was still tasty.
I think the sausages were my favourite though.

I would definitely go back here for the garden but I wasn't blown away by the barbeque food - seeing some of the dishes that were coming out for other diners though it may well be worth checking out the main menu...

The Avalon is a couple of minutes stroll from Clapham South tube station, where I attended a Qype BBQ event, which just happened to be held on a beautiful balmy night. One of the main advantages of this place is the amount of outdoor space available – there are 3 different areas in total. The terrace out the front, has plenty of seating and the obligatory TV for the world cup, as does a small garden to the side, with plenty of tables and yet another TV screen. The real draw is the vast rear secret garden, which was opened in 2009, a year after the pubs refurbishment. There are plenty of benches, tables and umbrellas to accommodate large groups, or intimate couples whilst feeling secluded from the goings on of South West London. At the very back of the garden there is a small fountain, and plenty of flora for decoration, including a huge Lavender bush, which smells divine.

Well the best thing about beer gardens in my opinion is the BBQ food which comes alongside and this place has a special menu devoted to it, aptly known as the ‘Garden Menu’. We had a hands on demonstration by the Head Chef Adam, and his assistant, which involved making and tasting the burgers, sausages and peri-peri chicken on offer. The burgers are made out of pure rump steak and the cumberland sausages are blanched before bbq (top tip – helps them keep the shape, and cook through). We also witnessed the peri-peri sauce production including a blend of masses of Chilli, corriander and lemon juices. The food all tasted delicious, even if I did construct the burger myself.

In the winter months this place also has ample room for indoors weather-proof eating, with a large separate dining area, in addition to the bar at the front. I believe there is also a private room which can be hired upstairs for functions.

This is the perfect place to come on a Sunny day, whether it be during the day for food and fun, or as an escapee from a post-tanning session on the common.

Stop the Press; a dedicated dazzle of Qypers has chanced upon one of the best beer gardens South of the Thames. And no it wasn't the free food that swayed me; although the juicy dripping burgers, flame-grilled spicy chicken and neat, tender little sausages may have helped.

Around 2 years ago the Renaissance gang gave this spot one hell of a refurb, and opened their delightful back garden to the Summer folk last year. It is one of the more spacious you'll find - perhaps being a little further out allows for the generous space - but is also really quite pretty.

They've got long family/party-type tables in the front with big brollies, then the garden closes in a little further back, narrowing down to twin seaters and tables that encircle a little bubbling fountain. It's got the flaming BBQ menu (around £8 a main), jugs of Pimm's, tellies in the front for football and good bathrooms.
If you happen to be around Clapham on a sunny day it would be a pity not to pop in.

I don't think that I've ever been in a London pub that has a beer garden as large and well "decked" out as the one at Avalon. The owners have made fantastic use of the outside space, with candles, sculptures, iron wall hangings, large umbrellas for shade and further down toward the back a beautiful fountain with armchair like seating. You really could be in a country pub, rather than a five minute walk from Clapham South Tube.

There's a large grill and BBQ area, which I was lucky enough to don my apron and turn some delicious burgers and fragrant, succulent peri peri chicken.

The burgers were enormous and it was a struggle to eat more afterwards (although I did), washed down with glasses of Pimms. It was the perfect way to while away a summer's evening.

The dessert menu looked super tempting too - Eton Mess is a favourite of mine which I'll be sampling when I definitely return!

Was lucky enough to be on the list for the bbq here Monday evening. Could not have been a more perfect night - clear skies and balmy air scented with the lavendar that edges the ENORMOUS and really attractive beer garden. An oasis off Balham Hill - who knew?

After sipping cool drinks - generous jugs of Pimms and cold white wine, we gathered round the gas barbie for a demonstration from chef Adam and Carlos cooking burgers and piri piri chicken. Was surprised to hear they import their beef from Australia - they get through about a tonne a week at the moment and find it better value to go this route rather than use British. They grind the rump themselves for burgers and add nothing to the mix, just a quick oiling and salt as they hit the hot grill. Good flavour and seriously generous hunk of cow.

The chicken is local - from Sutton Hoo - and breasts beaten out and marinated in homemade piripiri - chilli, shallots, lemon, garlic and oil. Cooked up really well - hot and tasty.

To complete the meat fest there were some great sausages, perfectly cooked and lovely and juicy.

Seriously enjoyable evening - properly busy in the gorgeous beer garden for a Monday night, guessing mostly locals. Lots of nice looking food coming out served up by friendly staff. Huge bar inside, plenty of staff, terrace out the front with big screen tv's - the vey definition of a great local!

It turns out that I've been cooking sausages wrong all these years. You see, they need a good blanching first before you stick them on the barbecue and under no circumstances must you prick them! This was just one of the lessons that I learnt from the chefs at the Avalon. I also learnt how to make a fantastic piri-piri marinade for chicken and which type of mince makes the best burgers - it's rump steak!

The Avalon is the perfect place to spend a warm summer's evening. There's a gorgeous beer garden with decking and sprawling lavender which mingled with the heat of the blazing barbie provides the perfect scent to summer! I was here for a Qype event and we started our event perfectly with pimms in the back garden. The Avalon is owned by the Renaissance group who specialise in taking old venues and doing them up into fashionable gastropubs - which has certainly worked wonders for the Avalon.

The food was delicious we started off with a burger so big that I had difficulty eating it. However, the meat was really succulent and I particularly liked the relish that they served with it. The next meal was peri-peri chicken served with a delicious marinade that was blended before our eyes. I really enjoyed the sausage that we sampled afterwards - who would have thought that I'd been cooking them wrong all this time, blanching them beforehand certainly made a huge difference.

I found the staff attentive and helpful and, with a venue that's perfect for this warm weather, I'll definitely be returning!

Had a great meal here last night with a friend and surprised myself with crustacean choices again!
The Avalon is just near Clapham South tube station and when we arrived at 6.45pm there were quite a few people in the bar for after-work drinks.
There's a large terrace on the front road-side with plants and tables hidden behind a hedge. When you step inside a large bar to the left has high tables and a variety of lounges and tables to the right. There's one small walled terrace the the right of the main bar, which had an outdoor sports screen showing the football. The bonus was that it wasn't blaring away in the main bar like so many pubs do at the moment!
As you walk through the main bar area, a gorgeous restaurant takes up the rear of the building. It has orginal cream tiled walls with light green accents, high ceilings and caramel and olive green leather chairs. Huge mirrors covering the back wall paired with two massive skylights make the area seem really open. The focus is also on the pair of massive chain and lantern chandeliers that hang in the skylights, giving a more modern edge to the otherwise traditional room. Upstairs is an even more grand private dining room (the Blue Room) positively oozing with traditional features for special occasions.
Now for the menu - there are some pub staples done well like burger with fries, fish and chips and a variety of steaks, but we decided to try some of the more unusual options.
For starters I had crab samosas with harissa and creme fraiche on a tiny bed of salad. The three samosas were excellent, very thin, light and crispy outsides with shredded crab meat and vegetables.
My friend's marinated squid in a herb and toasted cashew salad was great. The squid was tender and not chewy, salad was nice but not my favourite thing. She thought the squid should be warm in the cold salad for best effect!
For mains I picked something out of character for me - a whole grilled plaice in crab mariniere with green beans and tiny clams perched on top.
Four years ago I had an aversion to shellfish, seafood and fish served with bones, so the challenge was on. I must say - I really enjoyed it!
The clam sauce was subtley creamy but not too rich as to overpower the tender and light flesh of the plaice. I enjoyed picking ut the tiny clams from their shells and devoured the whole lot!
I also tried my friends dish - Organic Sea Trout on a bed of crushed jersey royal potatoes with seaweed tapinade. The trout fillet was cooked well, not too dry as it sometimes can be, and the seaweed flavour was great, adding interest to, but not overwhelming the otherwise simple dish.
The dessert menu is heavy on English favourites, but there was no chocolate option in sight. In lieu of that, Eton mess and cheese were considered before we both picked the sticky toffee pudding with cinnamon ice cream. It came out piping hot and was delicious, but 2/3 of the way through became slightly dry as the caramelised sauce and ice-cream were all gone! Might be my fault, but a bit more ice-cream would remedy that.
All in all we really enjoyed it, at 7pm we were first in the dining room, by 8.45pm every table was full and it had a really lively, buzzing atmosphere.
If you fancy sitting outside there is a more relaxed bar menu that can be eaten in The Secret Garden - a wooden terraced enclosed garden that stretches back from the restaurant with different enclaves, tables and booths and even a fountain. Perfect for when the weather decides to play - the BBQ is in situ at the front of the garden and will be fired up soon. A great place to relax in the sun, or for more formal dinner, or even a casual beer with friends. It's easy to see why it was packed with locals!