ralphation

So... apparently the council can remove the blue paint to reveal the mural underneath easily(http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,169941,page=5). However, the blue paint is still there. Anyone have any idea what is going on or have the council just fobbed off the people that they're accountable too?

Bugger. That's disappointing to hear. I had a great night out there albeit a while back. Good value food, deliciously cooked and the service was impeccable - competent, polite, professional and friendly. Shame it seems to have gone the way of the vast majority of places in London that think customer service involves turning the lights on and unlocking the doors.

I thought this about a visit to The Montpelier a few weeks ago, posted on the thread about The Duke... "Actually, I'll tell you where is shite; The Montpellier. Great pub and really friendly staff. Big screen for sport and all that. However... Food is disgustingly priced. Tasty but ?2.50 for a small ramekin of chips to which they then add a service charge even if you eat at the bar is an outrage. Only ever two staff there. I was in there last Sunday watching the footy. I sat for over an hour at the bar before either of the staff came anywhere within range. When I finally caught someone's attention, she said shed be over in a second and then didn't reappear for the remaining hour I was in the pub. Shame, cos they're really nice staff. Just seems the parent company are only interested in screwing money out of the place. Lastly, the place seems to turn into a creche on Sunday afternoons. Now, I remember having to sit in all sorts of lousy shacks out the back when we went to the pub with Mum & Dad as kids but having hordes of mewling unattended brats streaking about the place isn't brilliant. I don't blame the kids but if you own one of them, can you not keep them at your table and tell them to pipe down when they start screaming? If they do want to go for a wander, can you not watch over them without standing right in front of the big screen and blocking everybody else's view? Nobody came to the pub to see your kids let alone the back of your head." Latterly, I went in again to watch a football match as The Wishing Well, my local, was showing another match. When I got in there, the Montpelier had no customers but the barman still didn't want to change the channel. He begrudgingly offered to change over as I was the customer but I thought his attitude sucked and started making my excuses. Then one of the barmaids (not the short English one who is always faultlessly polite) thought a fair way to resolve it was to play rock, paper scissors with the barman but only because she didn't want to watch his game either. She lost so his match stayed on. All this in a pub with no customers... If I had been the manager and seen that, I don't think either member of staff would be working there for much longer. Appalling service. Then again, looking at how much they try to extract from their customer's wallets the rest of the time, maybe it isn't surprising they only get the dregs of the local bar staff. I doubt I'll be going back when Hooper's and The Gowlett offer much better service and atmosphere between them. This is the sort of business that is cropping up more and more in the area. Like Petitou next door, you get some nice stuff, but it is massively overpriced. Hopefully a recession will sort the wheat from the overpiced chaff. I could happily see the Montpellier go to the wall. I'm tired of amateurish attempts to charge West End prices just because your food (when it does arrive) arrives on a large white plate and wasn't microwaved whilst laying on substandard service. Anyone who wants to know how to run a gastropub should go for a meal in The Narrow in Limehouse. There's a reason why Gordon Ramsey is as as successful as he is and it has little to do with hurling expletives at TV cameras. Maybe some of the jokers down here should club together for a consultancy session with him.

Best Brownies - that's had its own thread and everything.

Wonder if buying the truffles is enough to actually elicit some decent service out of the ED Deli staff.

Avtually, I'll tell you where is shite; The Montpellier. Great pub and really friendly staff. Big screen for sport and all that. However... Food is disgustingly priced. Tasty but ?2.50 for a small ramekin of chips to which they then add a service charge even if you eat at the bar is an outrage. Only ever too staff there. I was in there last Sunday watching the footy. I sat for over an hour at the bar before either of the staff came anywhere within range. When I finally caught someone's attention, she said shed be over in a second and then didn't reappear for the remaining hour I was in the pub. Shame, cos they're really nice staff. Just seems the parent company are only interested in screwing money out of the place. Lastly, the place seems to turn into a creche on Sunday afternoons. Now, I remember having to sit in all sorts of lousy shacks out the back when we went to the pub with Mum & Dad as kids but having hordes of mewling unattended brats streaking about the place isn't brilliant. I don't blame the kids but if you own one of them, can you not keep them at your table and tell them to pipe down when they start screaming? If they do want to go for a wander, can you not watch over them without standing right in front of the big screen and blocking everybody else's view? Nobody came to the pub to see your kids let alone the back of your head.

Thanks, I'll pass your compliments on to its creator.

That's what Neville Chamberlain said. Next thing they'll be renaming the park Goosestep Green and there'll be a concrete wall round Peckham Rye with checkpoints and watchtowers.

As a Peckham resident, this whole Nunhead vs. ED thing is a bit like being a Londoner watching a Manc and a Brummie argue about which is Britain's best second city. Or, like being a parent in a car with two kids fighting in the back on a long journey. Why don't you all just meet on the Rye and bash each other up with rolled up Guardians to sort it out? You could even make chariots out of those off-road Hummer pushchairs you all own. When I lived north of the river, the only time I ever heard about the north v south London issue was from south Londoners with chips on their shoulders. Why can't you people all just get along?

Just wanted to say that I took four friends here for Sunday lunch today. My girlfriend is veggie and as previous posts had stated that meat and veggie roasts were offered we thought it would be fine. However, the only (hot) main vegetarian course offered was a mushroom gratin which she was happy to order. When it came, it was a small pudding bowl of mushroom pasta. Whilst it tasted fine, for ?7.50 she expected a little more. She asked if anything else came with it and was told she should have ordered a side of veg. She said that there wasn't any on the menu so the waitress brought a menu over and walked off. Still no side orders on there. My girlfriend gave up and ate the food. The plates of roast lunch were huge, as they should be, and this made my girlfriend's dish look even more paltry. Everyone said that the meat was delicious but as per usual the veggie option was added on as an after-thought. One of my friends mentioned this to the waitress and she didn't seem that interested. It's a shame because the guy who owns this place is clearly having issues attracting customers. I'd really like to see the place succeed because think it's a lovely room with nice atmosphere.

Franklin's brownies only taste of treacle. The problem with ED Deli is that you have to engage with the ED Deli staff to buy them. The brownies may be sweet but the experience is bitter. I've never been served with a smile in there. Last time I was in, thinking surely this time they'll be polite seeing as how the shop is empty and all, I was 2p short of the money I needed. Admittedly this was my fault having read the wrong price label. However, I asked if, rather than go all the way to the cash machine, would they be willing to do me a favour and let me off the 2p. The jobsworth said she had to check with her boss. The boss sort of flung his arms around in the air like I'd forced him into selling the whole business for a tenner and the jobsworth came back telling me it would be fine but "only as a one off" (which was delivered in a stern schoomasterly tone). As if this was likely to lead to me coming in everyday and haggling them down 2p on every purchase I made citing precedent. Anyway, back to brownies. My flatmate and I have recently experimented with making brownies and finding the easiest, quickest and tastiest recipe possible. We have found a few good ones that taste way better than Franklin's, cost bugger all to make and take, from going to the cupboard to turning off the oven, less than half an hour craft. As such, all other brownies just seem like a massive waste of money.