Eat & Drink
Originally published on Tuesday, 18th November 2008
Chapters All Day Dining
Some brasseries and diners can be a bit of a let down. They lure you in with Bentwood chairs, nicely worn wooden floors and squidgy banquettes, only to let you down by serving mediocre food.
Not so at Chapters in Blackheath Village. Once a more formal restaurant called Chapter Two (Chapter One is in Kent), the same team have given the place a makeover and made it a bit more up-to-the-minute with a zinc bar, exposed brickwork, lots of mirrors and those modern dangly-pendulum lights. The effect is American diner meets hip Continental cafe and the all-day menu reflects this: choose from eggs Benedict or a plate of scones or go the whole hog and tuck into slow roast belly of Packington pork with choucroute and spiced lentils.
And the great thing is, everything is cooked beautifully. South African-born Trevor Tobin has worked at other London treasures such as Lola's and Foliage and really knows what he's doing. He is also helped along by the Vosper grill oven that the kitchen boasts, a rarity in London I'm told, that infuses all it cooks with a fragrant charcoal toastiness.
With views over the heath, it's as good a place as any, and better than some, to while away the afternoon.
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-12pm / Sun 9am-10.30pm
Place: 43-45 Montpelier Vale, SE3 0TJ
Cost: £35
Web: www.chaptersrestaurants.com
Book: 020 8333 2666