The Georgian

Address: 27 Balham Hill SW12 9DX

Website: http://www.georgianrestaurant.co.uk/

Nearest tube station: Clapham South

It’s date night, so part 2 of BYO London sees us visiting the Georgian restaurant in Clapham South for some, well, Georgian food. And that’s Georgia in the Caucasus, not Georgia in the good ol’ US of A, so don’t come here looking for fried chicken and burgers.

For a starter, we shared the Georgian mixed mezze, which consisted of four different cold starters – an aubergine and walnut pate, a leek and walnut pate, shredded beetroot and a grated carrot dish (quite like coleslaw). I was pretty happy with my lot, as I had been unable to choose between the two pates as a standalone starter – but I got to try both.

And I was even happier when the waitress brought out the Georgian cheese bread. Which is exactly what it sounds like – freshly cooked bread filled with molten cheese, slowly oozing out of the cuts made to quarter it, but running as freely as magma from an exploding volcano when torn apart. Delicious.

The only downside to the starter was that we didn’t leave any of it, and were rather full before our main courses had arrived.

The wife had tolma, minced beef and pork wrapped in cabbage, served in a tomato sauce [picture below], while I had mtsvadi (I pointed at it on the menu, rather than trying to pronounce it…). This is a dish of pan fried pork, roast new potatoes and a Georgian salad – tomato, cucumber and white onion [top picture]. Both main courses were excellent, though it was a struggle to finish them.

It’s good value too: £46.50 for the two of us, without a tip (they don’t add one automatically – which I like – and don’t give the option of adding one on card. So take a bit of cash along for them). That got us a starter-for-two, two main courses and a soft drink. And as an extra bonus, there’s no corkage charge.

For places to get drinks, you’re spoilt for choice - there’s a small Sainsbury’s two doors away, an M&S food opposite, a large Tesco about a minute away and, for those who like to buy in bulk, a Majestic within sight.

PS The Georgian is also a café during the day and serves both English and Georgian breakfasts. The Full Georgian – a Georgian take on a full English – is worth a try. Though I don’t know what their view is if you BYO at breakfast…

PPS the photos were taken on my Nokia 6500c. Yes, I am still using a phone launched in 2007.

Negril

Address: 132 Brixton Hill SW2 1RS

Website: http://negrilonline.co.uk/

Nearest tube station: Brixton

Hidden behind shabby shops, a budget tyre outlet and car forecourt, you could easily walk straight past Negril. The restaurant itself doesn't shout come in, either. But do. If you like tasty home-cooked Caribbean food that is.

But before that make sure you nip to one of the plethora of shops for your drinks. There is a Sainsbury's local ­– as well as real local shops – selling beer, wine and rum (if you really want to get into the spirit) on the walk up from Brixton. Plus a Tesco Express the other side of Negril.

Waiting for our friends to arrive, from Sierra Leone – cue ebola jokes – but too hungry to be polite, we ordered saltfish fritters and plantain with fire sauce to start. The fire sauce really is fiery so if you've got delicate tastebuds, like my husband, beware! Needless to say the nibbles were completely polished off before our dinner guests turned up. Oh well, we just ordered some more!

Many of our group went for the goat curry (with a choice of side – although the overwhelming preference was for the pretty delicious festival bread). And with little more than slurping, chomping and satisfied groans all round I can only assume it was good.

I went for the less adventurous but still jolly tasty jerk chicken roti wrap, with more plantain on the side (pictured), while the husband went for the ribs combo with festival and coleslaw. He went home with sauce on his white shirt and a very full tummy but a very happy boy! Especially given we spent under £40 between the two of us – for drinks and a lot of very good food.

For the six of us (five drinkers), who got through three starters, six mains and a handful of soft drinks, the bill came to £107. That includes corkage at £2.50 per drinker, no matter how much one drinks.

The only criticism was the slow service. Two of us didn't get our food until the others had almost finished. But when it came, it was definitely worth it.

So next time you're in Brixton, don't walk past – go in!

Update (29 November 2014) - Negril now has an alcohol licence and so is no longer BYO! But we still reckon you should give it a go.

Introduction

You like good food and cheap drink? You’ll love this blog.

If, like us, you enjoy eating well (whenever circumstances, waistlines and bank balances allow) there is only one thing better than going out for a great meal – going out for a great meal and not paying stupid prices for the drinks to go with it.

That’s where this blog steps in as your new best friend, well if you’re into cyber friends, that is. Otherwise, we’ll just call it a useful companion. We aim to road test, and then write about, the best (and occasionally some slightly less good) restaurants in London that let you bring your own alcohol.

There are plenty of ‘bring your own’ (BYO) restaurants in our fabulous city – more than you might imagine, actually. And they all run on a concept that is very straightforward. You turn up, bring your own bottles, eat lots and have a pretty good time (well hopefully) without the irritation of shelling out for overpriced, often overrated (and sometimes unpalatable) alcohol.  

If you're new to BYO, or even if you're not, this blog is here to help. To give you our no-nonsense, no-frills reviews of London's BYOs.

And if you have any comments or suggestions of places we should try, tweet us at @BYOLondon or send us an email to BYOLondon@gmail.com