The Begging Bowl — Restaurant in London

THIS IS NOT A PAID REVIEW AND I AM BY NO MEANS A FOOD CRITIC OR BLOGGER. PLEASE READ ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WHILST YOU SIT ON THE LOO OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING. MANY THANKS!

I truly have lost count of how many times I have been recommended to visit this Tapas Style, Thai inspired, restaurant. Many friends of mine who's palate and judgement, I trust my tongue's life with have told me to visit The Begging Bowl for years. I don't buy in to "hype" of a lot of modern cuisine that's backed by Celebrity or Billionaire bank funds. These restaurants spore like funghi, usually in London postcodes where the price per square meter of land, is more than the yearly wage of a supermarket employee "boujiness", scantily clad escorts and "sugar babies" need not exist in any establishment that I eat in. Often times I rarely venture out of a handful of my regular eateries across London. Many times in the past I have been let down by overpriced food dressed like a cheap tart being served by unfriendly staff that hate their job. Management not being able to handle their manner around staff due to the high pressures and demands that surround the world of food, especially if you want to execute it well.

FLIPPING WELL DONE THE BEGGING BOWL and ALL ITS STAFF. THE BEST DINING EXPERIENCE AND FOOD I have had in years! Literally from start to finish the execution of food and service was FAULTLESS. Every plate of food that came out left the table demolished and I was left wanting more if my stomach could have handled more food.

This place wouldn't be what it is right now without THE WONDERFUL DIAMOND of a manager, Annie, who alone, would make my review have a 6* if possible; her very warm and friendly greeting as we entered in to the "homely" conditions of The Begging Bowl and advising us to take probably the best table in the house (at least it was the warmest on a very cold evening) As it was obvious after being asked by Annie, we were new to The Begging Bowl. Annie guided us through the menu, giving us recommendations and easy to understand descriptions of the flavour profiles of each dish. THE FOOD TRULY SURPASSED our expectations, presented in a clean fashion and a high level execution of "lick your plate clean" Thai inspired food. Highly recommend the whole deep-fried seabass (as long as you don't mind head-on fish) and also the Pig Cheek curry, my food partner devoured the chargrilled Artichoke curry which was delicious although a little on the sweet side for my palate. Annie gifted a sample of the prawn wrapped in betel leaf, which was a real flavourful mouth of food.

A CREDIT TO ALL THE STAFF ESPECIALLY: Beth, Ebon and Gwen who assisted Annie and the very talented kitchen team to a faultless dinner service.

ANNIE THE WONDERFUL, is a perfect example of a Front of House Leader! Many in the trade could learn a thing or three from Annie and the front of house team at The Begging Bowl. The continuity of service is something rarely experiences without usually getting annoying. I would really have loved to have sat down with all of the staff for dinner, that's how great they made our experience. Every need we had was truly SURPASSED.

KITCHEN TEAM, KEEP UP THE MAGIC!

Thank you The Begging Bowl, I will be back for more yummy...

Located about a 10-minute walk from Peckham Rye train station, this Thai restaurant features a modern interior with a charming glass conservatory-like ambiance. While some reviews mentioned noise levels as a concern, our Saturday lunchtime visit was quiet and comfortable. I imagine it might get warm during the summer months, but the atmosphere was pleasant during our visit. Service was attentive and efficient throughout.

Our group of six decided to order every single dish on the menu, which gave us a comprehensive taste of what the restaurant has to offer.

Drinks: The standout cocktail, Purple Hayes, was visually stunning and had an intriguing flavor, served elegantly in a martini glass. On the other hand, the Tiny Roni was underwhelming—essentially a basic drink with mild flavoring that failed to excite.

Starters: The Spiced Peanuts and Cashews were excellent, with bold and intense flavors that made for an addictive snack. The Betel Leaf Starhill dish was another highlight, combining fresh betel leaves with toasted coconut, peanuts, ginger, and other toppings for a beautifully balanced and delicious bite. The Chive Cakes, crispy on the outside with tender strips of chive inside, were also fantastic when dipped in soy sauce. However, the Pickled Beetroot with Artichokes was a disappointment—a very small portion with unremarkable flavors.

Mains: The standout dishes included the Grey Mullet with Prawns in Yellow Sauce, the Kale and Vegetable Dish, and the Steamed Sea Bass served with a lovely, flavorful sauce. The vegetarian Golae Peanut Curry with Celeriac on Banana Leaf was also excellent—rich, creamy, and satisfying.

On the other hand, some dishes fell short. The Grilled Mackerel, Vegetable with Mushroom and Apple Aubergine in a Liquid Sauce, and the Venison Dish were all average, lacking the complexity and vibrancy of the other mains.

Desserts: The Palm Sugar Ice Cream was tasty, though slightly too sweet for my liking. The Vietnamese Coffee with a Shot of Rum was a pleasant end to the meal. It’s best enjoyed without fully stirring in the condensed milk, which keeps the sweetness balanced.

Overall: This restaurant offers an intriguing twist on Thai cuisine with some standout dishes and creative flavor combinations that set it apart from the usual fare. While a few dishes were average, the overall experience was enjoyable, and I would highly recommend it for those seeking innovative Thai food in a...

I hate to give a less than enthusiastic review of one of my neighborhood restaurants, but I write this in the hope that management will read it and improve the customer experience.

I visited the Begging Bowl tonight with family visiting from out of town. My partner and I had been once pre-Covid, and despite feeling at the time a bit underwhelmed by the quality of the dishes relative to the price, we decided to give it another shot.

We told the waitstaff upon ordering that one member of our party has a spice intolerance, and asked for guidance on which dishes wouldn’t be spicy. We were told only to avoid one dish and that the rest would be fine. The food came, and while most of it was quite tasty, six of nine dishes had chilies in them and were by any standard spicy.

Having made the waiter and then the manager aware of the situation, and kindly asked if anything could be sent out for our guest that she could eat, we were at first ignored and then told that we had enough dishes that weren’t spicy, that this was a Thai restaurant and that we should know what to expect.

I’m sorry, but I’ve been to many restaurants specializing in Thai, Indian and other cuisines noted for their use of spice that are easily able to accommodate tolerances to heat and moreover dietary requirements. The bill was £240 for four people, and despite my telling the staff it was our guest’s birthday, nothing was done to recognize this, despite the fact that she had basically only eaten rice for the meal.

While the service was otherwise efficient and attentive, this is an appalling way to treat customers. Hopefully improvements will be made - otherwise, we will not...