This restaurant opened about three years ago and was a welcome addition to the high street at this location, that had struggled to find itself shall we say. Origianlly 'Vanilla' bar and club back in 2005, this site has been host to a Jamaican 'restaurant', a very brief encounter as a cafe with the afwul name 'Lifestyle 24' followed [thankfully] by a luscious takeover and refurb by Mint [formally 'Baroque] owner. After a wonderful start of fantastic food and cocktails, stunning decor and ambience, sadly Geoff pulled out and ownership went back to the freeholder Dennis. The ambience and decor changed drastically and the menu lost its way....BUT I'm happy [thrilled even, as I really liked this place and the staff are always fantastic] to report that Dennis has installed a new French chef, who has created a stunning, mouth-watering, seasonal menu that tastes as good as it looks. Get yourself down there to see if you agree with me. We do need to pull together my Streathamites and get them to remove that awful TV, that is most inappropriate for a bar and restaurant I'm sure you'll agree.
Mint Bar & Restaurant
Hamlet
The Hideaway
The White Lion
232 Streatham High Road, SW16
Run by Andrea Vicari and Dorian Lockett, who previously presented more than 250 concerts over five years at The Bedford in neighbouring Balham, the aim is to promote top established names and rising stars with their own groups or with the house band, which features Vicari on piano, Dorian Lockett, bass, and Lorraine Baker, drums. This venture brings jazz back to Streatham where, in the 1950s and 60s, the area had its own jazz club and the legendary Swing Shop, a veritable jazz shrine run by Dave Carey which became an essential hang for jazz and blues collectors as well as a hub of the South London blues scene in the mid-1960s.
13 Mitcham Lane, SW16 6LQ
