On Cafe
Chinese and French Patisserie
31 Clapham Park Road, London, SW4 7EE
£
On cafe is an Asian style restaurant and French patisserie in the centre of Clapham. Despite being in the centre, On Cafe is easy to miss, due to it being situated on Clapham Park Road, a busy main road not usually associated with dining out.
I went here for dinner with a friend and we ordered the Fried Salt and Pepper Squid (which was recommended), the Chicken Fried Rice, Special Duck Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, Spinach and Ricotta Cheese Bao and the King Scallop and Prawn steamed Gow. The Salt and Pepper Squid was delicious, although it's hard to get squid wrong at the same time it is hard to get it just right too. The dim sum did not disappoint either - I would particularly recommend the Duck Bao - explosive flavour and rich filling.
The restaurant itself is BYOB - always a great addition. The interior is small and only has around 5 tables in which you can dine on, therefore booking ahead is recommended. Decor is simple and lighting is soft but bright, this isn't a romantic restaurant in the slightest, but a good place to come for a much needed, decently priced catch up with a pal.
The dessert menu at On Cafe differs largely from the Dim Sum and Asian themed main menu - Choux buns, Eclairs, French Tarts, Gateaux, Tiramisu and Macaroon's take you from one rich flavour sensation to another - albeit a different cuisine altogether. This is a slightly odd touch in my opinion, but not necessarily a bad one. The macarons have been voted amongst London's best - I tried a Lychee Rose and Raspberry whilst Asta had a Nutella and Hazelnut. I wouldn't be the one to judge as I'm not a particular fan of macarons, however, these were some of the nicest I've tried.
Overall, On Cafe is definitely worth a visit, the food is tasty and BYOB makes it a cheap eat out. Staff are friendly and as long as you're not expecting a 5* dining setting you won't be disappointed.
OVERALL RATING: ***
http://oncafe.london/
