The Fat Delicatessen

This is really a winning formula and it's very unique for Balham. It seems to tick every box really; it's a coffee shop, a tapas bar and a deli all in one - hurrah!

I had a party recently and ordered copious quantities (i.e. For 50 people!) of antipasti from these guys, as well as a whole manchego cheese and some olives. The food was not only reasonably priced, but it was absolutely delicious and superbly presented. There was no doubt whatsover that the food is the genuine, Spanish article and you can really taste the difference. All my guests commented on how wanderful the flavours were.

So, if you're around in the area and you fancy a coffee and a cake, brunch, or a drink and some tapas on your way home, do drop in, and indulge in a glass of sparkling Spanish wine at the same time! It really makes a refreshing change from all those tapas chains like La Rueda.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 16, 2008

Hooray for real foodie food in Balham!

This place is the genuine article - Spanish-style tapas of the very best kind, with various other delights thrown in. The drinks list is pretty yum, too.

I've now been twice, and would go back in a heartbeat.

Dishes tried so far: aubergine with rocket and parmesan; roasted squash with chestnuts; morcilla with baked egg; puy lentils with chorizo and pimiento peppers; roasted artichokes; green beans with portobello mushrooms; tortilla; octopus salad with capers and olives; duck salad (I forget what it had in it!); mackerel with mixed leaves and egg; and probably some others, too. All absolutely superb. Faultless, even.

And don't forget the puddings. If the 'mains' are fantastic, the puddings are even better - if that's possible. I've had the lightest, most delicious pain au chocolat pudding (a la bread-and-butter pudding), and a taste of my companions' white chocolate cheesecake and lemon polenta cake. We were all rendered speechless.

The guys who run this place really seem to know what they're doing. If you express an interest in any of the food, they'll give you a taste, and tell you all about it. They certainly do customer care with capital Cs.

They also know how to create the right kind of environment - it's slick, but it feels kind of homey, too. A great mix.

And you can even take their gastronomic delights home, too - the deli is all part of the operation.

So - if you want somewhere to settle in with some great food and wine for the afternoon, I'd day this is definitely the place. But get there before everyone else - go now!
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HP
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 06, 2007

I went into the Fat Delicatessen on my way home last night. What a winning place. Really friendly people in there - when I went in I met the man who runs it and seems to do all the cooking (that's a job and a half!) and a lovely lady working there too. It was too late to cook so I bought a couple of pieces of bacon/mushroom quiche, some cous cous and roasted squash. Upshot was it was all beautiful - what a treat. I'll definitely be back - for take-aways and to sit in. Looks like it'd be equally nice for a bit of brekkie / coffee at the weekend as for a bit of lunch or dinner with a glass of vino in the evening - it has a licence. Nice one. So, I couldn't be happier this place has opened up by me. Really lovely food and drinks that all look very good quality and all the rest of it. Thanks very much!!!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

I went into the Fat Delicatessen on my way home last night. What a winning place. Really friendly people in there - when I went in I met the man who runs it and seems to do all the cooking (that's a job and a half!) and a lovely lady working there too. It was too late to cook so I bought a couple of pieces of bacon/mushroom quiche, some cous cous and roasted squash. Upshot was it was all beautiful - what a treat. I'll definitely be back - for take-aways and to sit in. Looks like it'd be equally nice for a bit of brekkie / coffee at the weekend as for a bit of lunch or dinner with a glass of vino in the evening - it has a licence. Nice one. So, I couldn't be happier this place has opened up by me. Really lovely food and drinks that all look very good quality and all the rest of it. Thanks very much!!!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 24, 2007