The Stage Door Restaurant

A really lovely family-run restaurant right opposite New Wimbledon Theatre. The menu has a great selection of Greek dishes as well as some really delicious steaks! The portions are very generous but if you can find room for dessert the home-made trifle and cheesecake are lovely.

I definitely recommend this place for lunch or dinner!
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Suzanne
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Wanting somewhere close to Wimbledon Theatre (we were going to a Saturday Matinee performance) and liking Greek, we decided to give The Stage Door a try. I've walked past it many times over the years, but have always been put off by its somewhat dark/unwelcoming exterior. However, having read the previous reviewer's positive experience, I made a reservation on the basis that "you can't judge a book by its cover".

Once inside, we realised the interior somewhat reflected the exterior. It had a slightly cold/imprersonal feel and felt a bit like stepping back into the 1980's ...with (fake) animal prints on the wall. However, the husband and wife (owners?) were lovely (really friendly & welcoming) so we hoped this "genuiness" would be reflected in the food ...and to a degree, it was.

The (home made) Houmous Starter was plentiful and served with a lot of Pitta Bread (not the measly portions one often gets). And my friend's Moussaka looked (and according to her, was) delicious. But my Kleftiko was somewhat dry and the Desserts were a real disappointment. As soon as we saw the photo shots accompanying each dish (on the separate Dessert Menu) we realised they were not home made, but frozen (and bought in). So we didn't order any. And although not incredibly expensive, nor was it a particularly cheap place to eat if you were simply going to a Matinee performance with children (as we were).

For only 4 tables to be occupied on a busy Saturday afternoon (in such a prime location) indicates something is fundamentally wrong (as, perhaps, does the fact that the last review was March 2008)....not least because Greek is one of the few restaurant "types" that Wimbledon is sadly lacking.

This could so easily be a REALLY good Greek Restaurant. All it needs (in my opinion) is a modern makeover (whilst still retaining its fundamental "Greekness") with a specific view to making the place more warm/inviting. Plus perhaps it could offer a Set Lunch Mezze (which would encourage families as their children could "pick 'n mix" what they want to eat. And last, but not least, ditch the frozen desserts and offer a few (home made) Greek classics like Baklava, etc.
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L.Warren - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Saturday, November 14, 2009