Ploussard

Ploussard has got the kind of quiet luxury look—wood panelling, concrete floors, artfully tousled linen napkins—that’d make Gwyneth Paltrow proud. A short stroll from Clapham Common, it draws you in off the street with lettering in a colour we’re calling French bistro red. On the quieter, darker tables at the back, couples lock eyes over Lincolnshire poacher éclairs and strong martinis. But for groups it’s all about bottles of wine in wooden booths that wouldn’t look out of place in an impossibly expensive chalet. The interiors are excellent and so is the food. Standout dishes from the modern European menu include rich, fall-apart lamb and salty anchovies on a fluffy crumpet and a light, airy chocolate mousse with creamy salted caramel ice cream. These might be small plates, but you won’t feel small-changed by the portion sizes. It's an impressive place but not in a shouty, gold Rolex kind of way. It’s a brown cashmere sweater and suede leather clog of a restaurant.

photo credit: Anton Rodriguez