Restaurant review: Park's Edge, Herne Hill, London

Being a Brixtonite, I’m always looking for fab restaurants near my home patch, so I was pleased to be invited to Park’s Edge Bar and Kitchen in Herne Hill. Located in the heart of Herne Hill, across the road from popular Brockwell Park, this laidback restaurant is perfectly situated for Herne Hill residents / fans or those who want to pop in for lunch or dinner after a relaxing day at the park. 

Diners have a variety of classic gastropub dishes to choose from, such as burgers, fish, steaks or roasts, and they take pride in their inventive twist on flavours such as hints of West Indian spices to liven things up a bit. All of the food is made fresh with ingredients sourced from local and regional food producers.  Their wine list contains wines from around the world, including home-grown British wines. For those who don’t wish to imbibe, they also make a range of mocktails – which I can verify are pretty delicious. 

​The vibe
The evening we visited, the restaurant had a cosy, intimate feel to it thanks to low lighting with flickering candlelit votives on each table.  The décor is very much urban chic, thanks to exposed brick walls, inky navy-blue leather Chesterfield style sofas and booths, a scattering of funky animal print chairs, striking over-sized chandeliers and custom bookshelves displaying a range of bric-a-brac and antique books.  The overall feel is quirky and cool - somewhere one could easily while away the hours with a large glass of red (or three) while catching up with friends.

​The food
The cuisine varies depending on when you visit. For earlier risers, they have a ‘Brunch to Lunch’ menu which features lip-smackingly moreish offerings such as waffles, baked eggs and torched sea bass, to name a few.  On Sundays from 12-7 they offer a Sunday Roast Menu, featuring everything from Cornfed Roast Chicken to Sweet Potato & Leek Wellington or Dorset Lamb Shoulder. 

As we visited during a weekday evening, we ordered off their standard dinner menu. For starters, my friend and I shared the Spring Salad of Grilled Baby Gem, Watercress, Roasted Butternut Squash, Basil, Pickled Kohirabi and Citrus Dressing, which had a lovely, fresh and zingy flavour, which I loved.   We also tucked into the homemade brown Irish soda bread (you can never go wrong with carbs), paired with almond and cumin butter, which provided a surprising twist. 

For mains, my friend opted for the Pan-Seared Seabass, White Cabbage Soubise and Roseval Red Potatoes with Sea Veg & Saffron, which was perfectly cooked and had a nice balance of flavours.   Wanting to satiate my carnivorous tendencies, I chose the 28-day aged Scotch Cote de Bouef with Roast Tomatoes, Peppercorn Sauce and a side of Grilled Leek Mac and Cheese and Triple-Cooked Chips. A hearty meal that hit all the right notes. That being said, the macaroni was a bit bland, but the steak was flavorful and carefully carved, making it look as fab as it tasted.  

The verdict
This is a great place to visit if you’re looking for scrummy food in a welcoming environment, with a relaxed, ‘local favourite’ feel. We’ll definitely be popping in again the next time we’re in the neighbourhood. 

The details
9 – 51 Norwood Road
Herne Hill
London
SE24 9AA

https://parksedgebarandkitchen.com/

Ashley Miln
*During my visit, I was hosted by the lovely team at Park's Edge. All opinions and photography are my own.

Our experience overall 
Food and drink ★★★.5
Ambiance ★★★★
Staff attentiveness/friendliness ★★★★​★​