Sappho Meze Bar

Amazing little gem of a restaurant. You'd walk straight past it if you didn't know it was there. Such an array of meze food and all so tasty. My friend is Greek and I took her, she said it was like being at home. The Kleftiko lamb was beautiful. You will leave feeling stuffed and satisfied. I've been going to this restaurant fro many years after it being recommended by a friend. My friend went there so often that the owner bought them a wedding gift! I've been in there plenty of times and drank only tap water so I am not sure where these comments about the water are coming from. It's never been a problem. Could it be that the softly spoken polite owner was misinterpreted?

All i will say is, try the place. I've been to many michelin starred restaurants in London and other "cool" restaurants and have been treated appalingly but apparently this is acceptable? This place is small, cheap, well run and serves great food.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sappho Meze, very simple decor, plain honest delicious traditional Greek food.

Ate here with a friend recently, the food just kept coming, the owner and also waiter and chef asked us if we liked meat or vegetarian, we went for the vegetarian option. We had at least 10 little plates in front of us at one point, the flavours were amazing. The owner seems passionate about food and when asked what spices were used in the potatoes, he took time to chat with us about the food and about himself and Greece. Very reasonable prices and the house wine was good.
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9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

There's something highly suspicious about the rather spiteful reviews here.

I've been a regular at Sappho for fifteen years and, having lived in Greece, it is the nearest thing to real Greek food I've come across in London. The owner goes out of his way to accomodate all tastes and has no interest in turning a vast profit. Hence the unbelievable value of £9.50 for a gargantuan meze plus drinks.

Asking for water has never been a problem. On the contrary, the proximity to Clapham's bar culture means that the odd "worse for wear" patron staggers in and is discouraged from having a beer.

This is a welcoming, family run restaurant with impeccable customer service. The only time I've experienced any issues has been with really loud and obnoxious customers swearing and upsetting others who are discretely asked to leave. That's very rare though.

In short - I just don't believe the reviews. They must be written by people with some kind of axe to grind. I've often seen customers spend all evening over a meal drinking nothing but tap water (supplied in quirky jugs) and are made totally welcome. It saddens me that a brilliant restaurant that is run for love of food, not profit attracts such nastiness.

I cannot recommend Sappho highly enough.
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James MacDonald
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 15, 2011

Excellent evening at this friendly, rough-and-ready meze bar. Don't go if you're expecting an uber-cool 'dining experience'. Do go if you want great food at tiny prices, good wine, Keo beer and a friendly owner offering excellent service. I think some of the other reviewers must have been to a different restaurant!
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Ian Freeman
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Sunday, May 01, 2011

AVOID!

Terrible food with incredibly rude owner on hand at all times. We left a potato at the end of our meal and he informed us of the expense of said potato and would not drop the subject until we felt forced to apologise! Ridiculous. Also he refused to identify the different dishes as he couldn't be bothered, the wine was dismal and the cauliflower cheese...well, since when has that ever featured in a meze?

Horrendous experience overall, would never go again. Plenty of better Greek restaurants in London.
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Gabby
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Monday, April 18, 2011

I loved it! Went there on a friend's recommendation and I wasn't disappointed. The food is good and you get lots of it, I found the wine very enjoyable and the owner really very friendly. He chooses your meal for you (just asks for your preferred type of meat or vegetarian) but it was absolutely delicious. Cheap, too. Will certainly be back!
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Lein
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 31, 2011

We got asked to leave because the three of us ordered water to drink. The owner said it would cost him £50 if we were not drinking alcohol. He offered us £10 to go, but our dignity was more than than. Give it a miss.
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Martin
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 06, 2010

Lovely restaurant! I've been going there for years and it has never disappointed me. Authentic Greek cuisine for those who know the difference between good food and the Real Greek. Excellent service, run by a family, who are real people and fully interact with the customers. The laid back owner always comes up with historical and cultural anecdotes about Greece and the daughter is just lovely. The prices are excellent, just £9 for what is essentially a 3 course meal and the meze dishes keep coming..! And the atmosphere, well for those who know how to recognise a Greek tavernaki, it's just that. Authentic and unpretentious but warm and all wooden inside. Fully recommended to everyone.
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T Reid - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Until recently, I would have happily given this restaurant a 4 or 5* review for the great value and high quality of it's food but now I struggle to even justify with myself the 2 * rating. Why?

I was there with my girlfriend the other day and we were both enjoying the relatively simple, but neverless good selection of meze that has become a Sappho trademark. We also ordered a coke and an orange juice at the beginning of the meal as we were both driving.

Near the end of the meal, we were both a bit thirsty and I asked the owner (old bloke, white hair) for two glasses of tap water. His response, in front of the whole crowded restaurant, was quite shocking. He blurted 'Oh come on - at least cover the cost of your meal!'

He then insisted on us ordering either a bottle of sparkling or still water. Embarrassed (mostly for him) at this outburst, we succumbed and ordered a bottle of still water. When he brought it to our table, he pointed to our food and again stated that he made no profit from his food whatsoever and that we should pay more for our drinks.

The fact that he pretty much told us that we were cheapskates for wanting tap water and his refusal to give the customers what they wanted has really ruined our impression of this otherwise fine restaurant. We used to go there pretty much on a fortnightly basis and, apart from that night when we were driving, would always order at least 4 bottles of beer between us. The fact was, we wanted tap water and he refused to give it to us. He openly tried to humiliate us but wound up making a fool of himself and lost two customers in the process.

I recommended this restaurant to dozens of friends in the past, but now I recommend to you not to go because they do not deserve your custom. They charge low prices for their food and so expect you to make up for it by ordering drinks that you don't necessarily want.

Such a shame!
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rob
4 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 9
Sunday, December 06, 2009

The place to visit before you die. Excellent food at minuscule prices. Friendly atmosphere. You’ll love it.
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Jon Pro
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 10, 2009