Peckham Rye Cafe

After a lovely walk on a sunny winter day, we went to this park cafe. There were lots of other children and buggies in the cafe. Maybe due to this, the floor was filthy and it was hard to find a clean table. There were only two staff and the cafe was quite busy, so it must have been difficult for them to clean up after all those messy children!

There was a very wide selection of sandwiches and lunch-time meals. However, the cakes looked stale and unappealing, hence I did not try one, which is very unusual for me after such a long walk! I had a goats cheese foccacia which came with a side salad and was tasty.

I did not use the baby changing facilities as was a bit worried about the cleanliness after seeing the mess in the cafe itself.

Rating

Food **

Service **

Baby friendly ****

The Rose Pub, New Cross Gate

This local pub was bought over and renovated last year. Since then it has become one of the many gastropubs filling London. However, the food is pretty good, so I met a few friends here for Sunday lunch.

I was quite impressed for the quality. There was an array of tasty sides, and I had the pork belly, which I think is difficult to go wrong. I have had lamb here before, but it was a small piece of meat to share between two, which I do not think was worth it.

I booked in advance and we were given a big table in the dining area. They did not rush us, and so we enjoyed a leisurely lunch. The staff were very friendly.

There were no baby changing, but this is generally a child and baby friendly pub as there were lots of other families. This is especially the case on a sunny day as there is a big beer garden with lots of tables and benches.

Rating

Food ****

Service *****

Baby friendly ***

Camberwell arms

After walking past this pub many times on my way to and from the hospital when I was pregnant, I never thought such enticing food would be inside! It is unassuming from the outside. However, I went with some friends for lunch on a Saturday, and the food was absolutely delicious. Four out of five of us ate a squid dish which was heavenly, although everything on the menu looked great and hence hard to choose from.

There were other families with babies in the pub, and another buggy. At first the staff were not that friendly when my friends asked for a table with space for the buggy, but they warmed up. There was a lot of background noise though, which probably wasn't so great for my young baby. A family with older children (of walking age) seemed to be enjoying themselves, and were very cute.

I did not try to use the bathroom and look for the changing facilities, as I thought that might ambitious in a pub.

Although slightly on the pricey side, I am looking forward to trying their Sunday roast one day!

Ratings

Food *****

Service **

Baby friendly **

Greenwich Pavilion Park Cafe

In the middle of Greenwich park, opposite the observatory, the cafe seems to be a hub of parents and small babies. It's a good resting point after a walk or look around the observatory.

Although I didn't try them, the cakes looked amazing. There was a courgette cake, red velvet cake and chocolate brownies. Somehow meeting other mums always seems to involve eating cake! Maybe it's the excuse of breastfeeding burning more calories, and even though it's so unhealthy, it's quite a nice treat!

Saying that, I had a healthy (ish) jacket potato with tuna and salad, which quite reminded me of lunch working at the hospital. Thankfully it was much better quality than canteen food.

The staff were friendly, there was lots of space for buggies and the baby changing room was roomy, although you do need to ask someone to unlock the door.

I would definitely go back! Next time, however, I might actually have some cake.

Rating

Food *****

Service *****

Baby friendly *****

Waterstones cafe, Picadilly

After venturing on the tube for the first time alone, we went to the waterstones restaurant. It is on the top floor, with great views, and there was a  lift gutting to the top.

The staff were friendly and put us on a table where they thought there would be space for a buggy. It was in the passage between two tables though, so there were going past all the time with trays of food, leaving me slightly paranoid that something was join to drop on my tiny baby.

We ordered a club sandwich and a pulled pork burger, which were good portion sixes and easy and fresh.They seemed to have a good collection of cakes, although we shared a chocolate parfait which was very rich and delicious.

There was a parents roo with a big chair for feeding and clean baby changing facilities, downstairs on the second floor.

Overall a good place if stuck in the west end with a needy baby!

Rating

Food ****

Service ****

Baby friendly *****

Nandos Greenwhich

My friend Emma told me that Nandos was very baby friendly, so we decided to try. I am avoiding very spicy food as I think it effects my baby;s stomach, although I have read there is no evidence behind this. However, Nandos has so many sauces, this wasn't a problem!

The food was quite good, typical peri peri chicken. I particularly liked the chips with a spicy salt.

There were good baby changing facilities, and although they were upstairs, there was align. The staff had to unlock it for use. Talking about the staff, they were friendly and put us in a booth with space for both our buggies, and there was no problem breastfeeding at all.

Rating

Food **

Service *****

Baby friend;y  *****

Dulwich Picture Gallery cafe

Our very first outing was to Dulwich picture gallery. I had nit been before but had heard good things. The garden looked lovely but we couldn't enjoy it due to the rain.

This being my first baby, we didn't leave the house in time for lunch, and arrived at tea time. The waiter was friendly enough and tried to find a table with space for the buggy to be out of the way. He ended up putting us on a table for 2 with the buggy between two tables. We ordered cream tea with sandwiches. The tea and cake were fresh and tasty, but the portion of savoury sandwiches was very small, and I couldn't manage a piece of cake and a scone!

However, the other customers were snobby, rude and did not appreciate a young mother and baby. I certainly did not feel confident enough to breast feed, and had to run to the car in the rain to do this.

The baby changing facilities were fine though.

Ratings

Baby friendly **

Food quality ***

Service **

Tate Modern Restaurant

It was my Mum's birthday, and although originally I thought it would be a good opportunity to try the restaurant at the Shard, where they have lunchtime deals, I decided that it might not be the easiest place to go with a 3 week old baby! Being a new mum I was learning all the time, and did not feel confident to face potential snobbery.

After a little internet research, we decided to try the restaurant at the Tate Modern and combine it with a visit to one of the exhibitions.

We went upstairs in the lift, and the waiter was friendly and gave us a table in the corner. The views over the river and St Pauls Cathedral were stunning, and there was plenty of space for the buggy. I did feel comfortable breastfeeding, especially due to the position in the corner where they had placed us. 

There was a deal for 2 or 3 courses. For a starter we shared a lightly smoked salmon, which was simple and tasty. I had a vegetarian beetroot and goats cheese risotto as a main, which was slightly bland. My mother had a steak, which is unusual as normally she is almost vegetarian in her eating habits, but it was not anything special.

Overall, the service, view and location of this restaurant were very good, and the Tate Modern is baby friendly (although baby changing was downstairs, not on the same floor). However, the food was very ordinary, but enjoyable enough.

Ratings (out of 5 stars)

Baby friendly **** (4)

Food quality *** (3)

Service *** (3)

I never would have thought that going out, during the day, to do simple things such as eat and drink, could be at all difficult with a baby. After a bad experience a few days after my baby girl was born, the complex nature of dining out with baba dawned on me. So I have decided to review all the cafes, restaurants and markets that I go  to,  for qualities such as access and spaces  for a pram, baby changing areas, friendliness of staff, and of corse, food and drink! London is filled with places to eat and fun activity, so I hope this is useful to the many mothers and fathers out there who don't believe life with a baby means being confined indoors.