We're back partying in the upstairs ballroom at The Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich on Saturday Oct 12th, so it seems like a good time to share our top tips for places to eat in SE10 before you join us for a boogie.
As one of London’s most popular tourist destinations, not surprisingly Greenwich has plenty to choose from. There’s all the usual big chains including Pizza Express
Zizzi Bill’s as well as newer kids on the block such as Honest Burgers and Franco Manca but there are also lots of independent places and smaller chains.
There‘s somewhere for every one at every price range, and if you are visiting for the day or the weekend (we know quite a few of you make a weekend of it) don’t miss out on the dozens of food stalls at Greenwich Market which is open until 5.30pm. We especially love the falafel at Ehla Eat #justsaying.
Oh and we are here on Fri Sept 6th adding some HSDY disco sparkle to their Vegan Vibes night if you fancy joining us for a boogie
You can always eat in the bar or restaurant downstairs at The Trafalgar Tavern until 10pm, but if you want to explore more options, read on for our HSDY tried and tested recommendations.
22, King William Walk, SE10 9HU
You’d be hard pushed to find a more retro eating place than Goddard’s. They have been serving pie and mash in south east London since the 1890s and have been in Greenwich since the early 50s, minus a few years.
There was a bit of a local outcry when they sold their traditional, green-tiled “Pie House” on Greenwich Church Street to Gourmet Burger in 2006, but in 2012 they re-opened in a new bigger site on the edge of Greenwich Market. You can sit and eat at the counter or in the upstairs dining room. Alongside the old school meat and beef pies, with mash and liquor (parsley sauce), they have veggie and vegan and gluten free options too. Open 10am til 7.30pm daily and 8pm Fri and Sat.
1, Nelson Road, SE10 9JB
Remember when you went on package holidays in the 80s and 90s and the local tavernas got round the language barrier by having laminated photos of all their dishes for you to point at? Well this is nothing like that! Yes there are photos of your food but Sticks ‘n’Sushi does it all in a very tasteful, and tasty, Nordic way.
The small chain started in Copenhagen over 20 years ago and took inspiration from the founders’ half-Japanese, half-Danish heritage and this is one of seven branches they now have in London. Flick through their photo album menu and you can take your pick from an array of sushi, yakatori sticks and salads plus sharing menus with trendy names like Mixed Emotions, and the mega £100 Four Meal Drive.
43, Greenwich Church Street, SE10 9BL
Talking of holidays; (see No 2) going to Bianco43 feels a bit like taking a trip to Italy, without any of the hassle of trying to work how to squeeze all your favourite outfits into one tiny carry-on case.
With its white walls, wooden tables and chairs, colourful crockery and the smell of garlic wafting from the pizza oven, it’s easy to imagine you’ve been transported from Greenwich town centre to Naples, which is exactly what owners Fabrizio and Massimo had in mind when they opened back in 2011. Bianco43 ticks all the “authentic Italian” boxes with bruschetta, arancine, pasta, gnocchi and risotto as well as pizza and calzone. There’s also a branch in Blackheath.
4. Tai Won Mein
39, Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BL
If you want to fill up with huge plates of food for not very much money this is the place. Tai Won Mein is a bit of a Greenwich institution and they were doing Asian fast food at shared wooden tables when the Wagamama empire was still a twinkle in founder Alan Yau’s eye.
Soups start at £2.80, with most main course rice and noodle dishes under £7, and freshly squeezed apple and orange juice for £3. At these prices it’s more about quantity than quality. Not surprisingly it’s very popular with local students and visitors. Cash only.
5. The Cutty Sark
Ballast Quay, SE10 9PB
There are certainly plenty of pubs in Greenwich, and lots serving good ‘pub grub’ staples such as fish and chips, pies and burgers. Some are tucked away in side streets like The Greenwich Union
on Royal Hill and The Plume of Feathers on Park Vista, but what particularly marks out The Cutty Sark is its location on the river about 10 minutes walk downstream from Greenwich.
In summer it’s a great place to sit outside, or in winter find a cosy corner inside the 200-year-old wood panelled pub. The best dining spot is if you can manage to get a table in front of one of the bay windows upstairs and enjoy your food whilst watching the boats go by. Or if there’s a large group of you, there’s the Crow’s Nest private dining/party space.
Thanks for reading. We know there are plenty of places we have missed (sorry Rivington etc!) so do share your own suggestions with us, especially as in 2020 we are partying at The Trafalgar in Greenwich THREE times. We are there for our 10th birthday party on March 7th (whoop!) and in July and October too!
See you on the dance floor! (after you've finished eating obvs - though don’t leave it too late or you’ll miss the fab dance line-ups!)
Nikki