A short walk from us in Furzedown (or Balham South as I like to call it) across the Common, is the Heaver Estate, a number of roads built in the late 1800s by Alfred Heaver. These very smart streets are between Bedford Hill, Balham High Road and Tooting Common with Ritherdon Road running through the middle. For some house envy it is worth a drive, or slow amble with a pram, up and down these for Door Stalking purposes and window box ideas. These houses epitomise Kirsty’s expression Kerb Appeal. When I win the lottery we WILL be moving there. In the meantime I just hang out there on Ritherdon Road.

Ritherdon used to be a bit of a no man’s land but in the last few years has smartened up no end with the arrival of Independent Mind Body and Soul spa, Quirky Dovetail, and Thorold Wines, each of which are worthy of a blogpost on their own, and most recently Dee Light Bakery. The French Cafe has been there a wee while but it has really upped its game since it originally opened.

Serving a Brasserie style menu there is something for everyone, Plats du Jour, Salades and Baguette, as well a short but sweet kids’ menu. On my first visit something was not working, my quiche was, I don’t know, a bit soggy. Maybe I was unlucky. I have been 3/4 times since and I now always order the same: the delicious Poulet Baguette and frites. It is A-MAZ-ING. Gloriously dressed with an olive oily fresh pesto, posh leaves and chips to die for. To accompany that my obligatory coke, which here comes in a bottle (get in!).

The service is friendly, they welcome munchkins with plenty of space for a buggy or two, and the interior is stylish. Think lots of metro tiles and factory lights but in bright colours. My only slight gripe is the incongruous nightclub styley  loos - straight out of the 80’s, lots of black. Random. 

Once you have eaten then you mooch into Quirky Dovetail for some retail therapy and pick up a little known but always reasonably priced bottle of plonk from Thorolds. Job’s a good ‘un. Try it.