Le Querce

Above average – but only just – and certainly not outstanding, and the less than generous portion sizes make me think twice about revisiting, even though it’s a 5 minute walk from home. Needs more unique Sardinian fare to really stand out and to get anywhere near an ‘authentic’ Sardinian offering – stop coasting along on a ‘safe’ middle of the road ‘italian’ menu and get known for something really special and unique.

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Update: Aug 2012
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Menu didn’t look improved at face value, in fact, seemed to have shrunk, so asked about the ‘specials’ – waiter reeled off about twice as many more dishes as on the printed menu, most far more interesting! Ordered grilled octopus, then told 5 mins later they hadn’t any left… offered cuttlefish ‘in umido’ instead, which wasn’t at all bad. A vast selection of home made ice creams that, that to be fair, weren’t up to the standard of what you’ll receive in any good gelateria in Italy, BUT, interesting to have the choice and the chance to try Saffron, Chili, Garlic, and Prune flavours. (Chili is a little overdone and really doesn’t need that amount of heat in an ice-cream to make its point!!)

All in all, portions were slightly bigger than my last visit, my wife’s seafood pappardelle were fishy and interesting enough,and although my daughter’s lasagne were teetering on the mushy disaster (when have you EVER had well cooked lasagne eating out??), I’d say that this place has improved, but can’t give a half star and not sure that it’s quite 4 stars yet. And I’d still LOVE to see more dishes from Sardegna. 3.5 stars for a pleasant meal.

AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. I've been a regular customer for a couple of years and I always enjoyed their food, which helped me feel less homesick... However, the treatment my family and I received yesterday was absolutely appalling. My dad and I got tuna steaks for our main course, and they were covered in so many spices that you could barely taste the flavour. Within 30 to 40 mins of eating it, the two of us got bloodshot eyes and our upper bodies, elbows and knees had developed a massive rash... We were completely covered in red spots as if we had got measles. The two of us being the only people at our table to have eaten the tuna, this was a clear case of food poisoining, even though the staff quickly dismissed it as an allergy, and advised us to take an antihistaminic to sort ourselves out. The thing we can't get over is that the staff must have been aware of the tuna being contamined and its poor quality, as we overheard a waiter say to the cook "if those tuna steaks aren't gone yet, make them disappear". Also, why smother the food in so many spices to the point that you can't tell the flavour, unless this is rotten ? I think this was really really devious of them, and once we got home we got hit by what the lonely planet guides call "traveller's diahorrea" . In Italy, stuff like this results in the establishment being heavily fined / shut down if the customers reports it to the relevant authorities. Now I wonder, is this why their Blackheath restaurant has been recently shut down ?

Genuine Italian, family restaurant. Child friendly. Extensive specials menu. Sublimely cooked scallops on samphire. Home-made pasta cooked to perfection.
Wonderful evening.

I moved to this area about four years ago and it took until last night to book a table here as I foolishly judged the place on how it looks. Unfortunately for me I have missed out on four years of dining at a restaurant that is truly authentic. The portions are large, menu is fantastic, service is friendly but not overbearing, good Italian wine list and gorgeous home made ice-cream and sorbet’s. I look forward to my next evening there. My only quibble would be that the lighting is a bit bright

I have been outside this restaurant on many occasions and did not even notice it, I presumed it was a cafe of some sort. I have a friend visiting who recalled the good food and we decided to try it out on a Sunday evening. Unfortunately, so did a couple with a child of approximately 3 or 4, the little fellow must have been way over his bedtime as he cried and screamed the entire time we were there and the parents did nothing more than ignore him.

The menu had several fish specials that were fresh and uniquely prepared. I chose the prawn pasta which as absolutely lovely and my friend chose a Sardinian dish which she enjoyed.

My one gripe is that the prawns are not shelled, in fact the feelers had not even been removed and being the same colour as the tomato based sauce, I kept getting these in my mouth and having to remove them, not very dignified I promise. My 2nd gripe was a lack of a finger bowl or anything to wipe the hands on, apart from the one serviette with the table setting. So you are having to shell the prawns to eat them and … I presume lick you fingers clean ! I did ask and by the time I had finished my meal ( about 20 minutes later) was given a small ramekin with water in. Not ideal.

So whilst the food was most enjoyable for the most, the experience left a lot to be desired and I doubt I shall be returning soon.

I love this place and regularly make quite a long bus journey to indulge in its excellence once again. The staff are warm and welcoming and the food is both generous and gorgeous. The perfect pan-fried liver, ginormous veal chop, and succulent best-ever tasting chicken are especially amazing. And then there are the taste bud-blowing home-made ice creams and sorbets. Chili, rose petal, mint (which they grow round the back), olive oil, garlic, aubergine, beetroot - each and every one is an true taste experience, but the amaretto and pumpkin ice cream reigns supreme! A wonderful, unusual, friendly establishment and fantastically good value too. What more could you want? If I could award it ten stars I would. And more.

Went there after reading another review that they were able to cater for gluten free diet. There were 10 of us (4 adults 6 children), food was good but not great, choices were limited and to top it all when the bill came it wasn't itemised at all, when I questioned this I was made to feel that I had crossed the boundary! So as not to spoil it for the rest of my party, I paid up in excess of £300!

A real hidden gem! Truly authentic, delicious, homestyle Italian cuisine cooked by real Italians. They also have a wide selection of unusual gelati and sorbetti - our group tried about 10 different kinds altogether and unanimously agreed they were all out of this world. Highly recommended!

This place is far better than it might appear from the outside, and is typical of Brockley and Honor Oak's slightly hidden gems! The staff are really welcoming, and the food is well above your standard Italian. Really autentic and not too pricey at all. Quite kid friendly too (this may be a plus or a minus!).

A real rarity in London - a family-run Italian restaurant in a suburb that is really playing above its game. No lame pasta and margherita pizzas here; this is the real deal, with handmade gnocchi, fresh fish simply cooked (the specials the day I visited were JOhn Dory and monkfish) and a lively atmosphere thanks to the effussive and charming patron. The owner is clearly a wine lover from his enthusaistic reccomendations from the wine list, and has chosen wines nearly exclusively from Italian regions to complement the food.

Always full of locals, this place is a real gem. Don’t be put off by the slightly unchic look to it; part iof its charm is that it is all about the food, not the looks - it’s not a place to pose and be seen, but to eat the real deal Italian. Go there after watching an episode of the Sopranos and indulge!