LDNReview
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Llewelyn's
Included In
We’re pretty sure that when Darwin came up with his ‘survival of the fittest’ theory, he was in fact studying a group of Londoners attempting to pay rent, work, commute, socialise, and, you know, breathe, at the same time. To survive in this city you have to be strong. Or at the very least, be really good at handling the emotional upheaval of leaving yet another umbrella on the night bus. That’s where Llewlyn’s comes in. Because this restaurant is one of the best ways to escape the stress of London, without having to manically flee it via the M3.
This neighbourhood spot is right by Herne Hill station, and short of hiring George Clooney to hand feed you, it’s probably the most charmed you can be whilst eating. Before you even take a single step inside Llewelyn’s, you’ll already know that stress has no place here. As you walk across the square towards the sleek black exterior, you might hear someone playing the street piano inside the station, or smell the flowers at the florist next door, and you might even see an actual bird’s nest in their fairy light wrapped tree outside. Basically, if your only reference points for England were Christopher Robin’s childhood and binge-watching Richard Curtis films, this is the kind of restaurant you’d think exists on the corner of every British street. But, as most Londoners know, they don’t. Llewelyn’s is special.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
One of the things that makes this place the kind of restaurant you want to - and can - escape to time, and time, and time again, is that their menu of seasonal dishes changes daily. For lunch, you can expect your classic daytime favourites - there’s nothing too challenging going on, maybe a caesar salad, maybe a fresh broad bean and pea risotto, and maybe a house terrine, all done just right. By night, everything shifts to being a bit more sophisticated - some butter almonds with wild garlic here, a little langoustine beurre blanc there, but it’s still the kind of food you can carry on a conversation over.
There’s no single way to escape London at Llewelyn’s. You could come by for a cosy date night in the middle of winter, sit at their simple white counter, and power through a bottle of red and their Hereford beef lasagne for two. Or you could rock up solo on the hottest day of the year and pick at a Cornish lemon sole out on their terrace whilst watching the people of Herne Hill go about their business. You’ll be happy. Will it be because the food is transcendent? No. It’s because the food here is reliable, familiar, and surprisingly affordable, especially when you’re sharing.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
As much as Llewelyn’s might make you feel like you’re now a full-time Enid Blyton character, you do need to do a little planning before you come here. The fact that Llewelyn’s feels like a neighbourhood restaurant in an imaginary village called Xanaxdale, but actually exists less than 20 minutes by train from central London, makes this place very popular in the evening. So whether it’s for a grown-up birthday dinner or a candlelit date, you should book ahead. But we’re sure you can manage that. You are a Londoner after all.
Food Rundown
Courgettes, Ricotta, Mint, And Crumbs
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Herb-Fed Chicken Caesar Salad
Farfalle Genovese
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Fresh Broad Bean And Pea Risotto, Feta, And Mint
Grilled Whole Cornish Lemon Sole, Langoustine Beurre Blanc, And Chips
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Hereford Beef Lasagne And A Green Salad For Two
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Flourless Chocolate Cake And Creme Fraîche
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli