Best Contemporary French Restaurants in South Norwood

Another excellent lunch at Cornus. I was tempted by the excellent value set lunch menu at £55 for 3 courses but succumbed to the full 7 course tasting menu at £165, which included of course the usual selection of canapés, delicious sourdough bread and focaccia, and petit fours. Top quality ingredients, highly skilled cooking and beautiful presentation. Highlights included red mullet with a salsa verde; cod with girolles, squid and crispy potatoes; roast pigeon with a chestnut purée. Service was excellent throughout from the whole team, with particular thanks to the incomparable sommelier Melania and joint owner David. The wine list is extensive and keenly priced by London standards but BYO is extremely popular and with corkage at lunch of £20 an absolute bargain. The total bill for this solo diner was £235, including a glass of champagne, corkage and service charge. I think that is tremendous value for money. Overall at least 17/20 and one of the best restaurants in London for classic cooking with lots of technique and top quality ingredients. The only problem is that now I’m torn between long-established sister restaurant Medlar and newcomer Cornus for a neighbourhood lunch. Ah well, life is tough.

Good authentic food , small but perfect menu, excellent customised service they really explained the dishes then listened and delivered what we wanted

the food served here is outstanding in such an intimate space, we have been going for the 10 years that they have and have always had superb food and service

The meal was very nice and the service was good, however, and I accept that waitresses are there to see more, but we were told that the side orders were only small and not enough for two persons and we there ordered a second one. When they arrived this was not the case and one would have been enough, and we therefore left half of each, my question is, why lie to us?