http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32547 I enjoyed a great late Sunday lunch (after a strenuous pingpong championships on Camberwell Green!) with two friends and we sat up in the high gallery and treated ourselves to cool, refreshing, post-pingpong pints of Efes beer.
'Mangal' is, apparently, 'grill' in Turkish and the 'FM' refers to the initials of the head chef, who prepared a delicious aubergine and minced lamb dish, complete with a vast range of salad selections.
Not being a cheapskate, but what really won us over was the hospitality and all the complimentary items!
While we were perusing the menu, the friendly waitress brought us some amazing, smoky barbecue-flavoured flat bread and fresh, sweet lilac onions marinaded in a divine balsamic vinegar mix. After the meal, we were presented with slices of pineapple - although, strangely, no plates or cutlery to devour it with!
Finally, we were offered tiny shot glasses filled with a selection of three liqueurs: banana, coffee and tangy cherry.
What a great way to round off a great afternoon!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32547 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32350 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32350 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32349 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32349 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32112 A beautiful Victorian gem, after you've had a blustery weekend walk from Highgate over Hampstead Heath, this is definitely the place you want to go to. The food is top notch, you can get a venison burger there if you so wish, and with a range of ales on tap and a warm dark wood interior that has plenty of little corners in to sit this is the place to go to warm up and relax.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32112 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31915 Pasha also hosts a hotel and a sauna and hammam (Turkish steam bath) on the premises. Quite an unusual venue and a great, if somewhat wacky, night out.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31915 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31913 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31913 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31908 Actually, I need no excuse to pop into the Brockwell Park's Lido Cafe, swim or no swim, I'll be there enjoying a cup of coffee or a hot chocolate. The menu is extensive and inspired with smaller portions for kids, and food served throughout the day. When the outdoor pool is open, there's even a little hut where swimmers and 'sunbathers' (ha!) can get snacks.
Special events include live jazz and flamenco evenings and five-course supper parties.
Art Deco fans can also admire the interior, when not gazing at all the beautiful bodies by the pool. Dream on!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31908 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31749 The British-Asian fusion cuisine is pretty tasty too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31749 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31735 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31735 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31734 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31734 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31732 Located at the open Coldharbour Lane end, the bistro spills out into the sunshine and can stay open after the market traders have long since shut up shop and gone home. Great Thai flavours.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31732 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31731 La Cabaña is a modest Colombian-Venezuelan eaterie near the Coldharbour Lane entrance. Snacks sell for £3, main dishes for £8-13 and there's a huge selection of interesting fruit juices; lulo, guanabana and the unusual Pony Malta.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31731 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31648 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31648 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31647 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31647 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31500 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31500 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31456 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31456 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31376 Visitors are tempted inside this former electrical and hardware store by the beautiful furnishings, comfortable sofas, giant sanded dresser behind the bar and the collection of paintings by local artists adorning the walls. This cafe and art gallery hosts different exhibitions and private views every month. The cakes are all home-made and the menu includes some mouth-watering items such as smoked haddock, baby spinach and lemon fishcakes. The cafe/gallery opened in November 2010 and French manager Julie plans to incorporate a large deli, with meats, cheeses, home-baked bread and a vast range of tempting treats and there's an arts and crafts fair every Saturday morning on the leafy terrace, over the road from the Common. It's a wonderfully sophisticated, cultured yet friendly place to hang out in south Peckham.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31376 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31368 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31368