Nightingale

Came here for a cuppa and a cake. There was a nice atmosphere and we were served quickly.
The carrot cake was amazing!
Only downside is that they don’t take card. Only a small problem, forewarned is forearmed.

My friend and I came here the other day and sat in the beer garden and had breakfast because it was so sunny! We both had a smoothie (i had the bananna and strawberry) and she had the orange and mango! Mine was delicious! We also both had the porridge with strawberry and bananna! So I got a strawberry and bananna overload! The porridge took forever to come out but by the time it did, it was worth it. Gorgeous.

Most important thing first: They do NOT except credit cards… which meant we had to go back out and get money from the station nearby, as I’m the modern type of girl, which has only plastic. Same for my friend. Good news: they believed in our honesty and that we would return to pay the bill … which we did.
Next to the staff, the place is also nice. It’s not very big, but has some seats outside (back and front) for you smokers out there. It has a mixture of normal café chairs and some super comfortable arm chairs. The menu has a decent choice of food, starting from soup, over quiche, to wraps and cakes. I only tried the soup … it was OK, but nothing to go back for.
I think I will tag this as a cosy place for a coffee and a chat, and maybe next time I will sample the cake. I will keep you posted on that.

this place has gone downhill. i used to go quite often as i lived nearby, the smoked salmon & avocado bagel was truly great, they put some kind of special pesto on it that really gave it a bit of something extra. the service was often a bit scatty and the place a little tatty and there were usually zillions of kids around but it was usually pretty busy even on weekday afternoons, and the food was excellent.
i’m about to leave london so i decided to go there one more time after quite a long gap. wow, it’d really lost something. there were only a couple of babies there and most of the tables were empty, despite it being lunchtime. the table i chose had a really bad balance problem and wouldn’t stop rocking, it also hadn’t been wiped, i had to ask them to do that. i ordered a bottle of mineral water, they clearly didn’t have any in the fridge so got a warm bottle from the cupboard and then put it on the counter, with a glass of ice, where it sat for about 10 minutes, despite my table being about 6 feet away. i was going over to get it myself when they remembered. my bagel, on the other hand, came out incredibly fast. when it did the special pesto had gone, in fact it was very dry as there was no liquid at all, not even lemon juice, and they’d added extremely greasy deep fried potato wedges (which baffled me, why would someone who ordered something relatively healthy like a bagel with oily fish and a salad want to be given tons of greasy chips?) which just got in the way.
then the avocado was moudly. i called the waitress over to tell her, and she took it back to the chef, who extracted the off parts of the avocado, cut up another one and put that in instead. he didn’t bother with anything like starting again from scratch.
just as i started eating the chef, whose kitchen is right in the middle of things, decided to start — i think — washing up, and there were very loudly clattering plates for a good 5 minutes and everyone was watching as if to say «really?» but he just carried on oblivious.
the waiting staff were really slow and seemed to forget things, the chef produced mediocre food which he didn’t seem to care much about and then made a racket. the table was dirty and the rest of the place not much better. which is a shame as it used to be really nice.

Happened to chance upon this café /​restaurant one evening (so was very quiet and no kids as previous commenters have ‘complained’). The food really impressed, maybe because we weren’t expecting too much as it seemed to specialise in more bunch-​y fare.
The steak was very good — cooked to perfection — & very tasty (crucially not overcooked /​burnt) potato wedges. Also tried the Irish cod and mashed potato (a little bland but well prepared). Staff very friendly — and they stayed open despite being slightly out of hours without rushing us until we finished our meals; even offering desserts and coffees. A nice little rustic place all in all, that belies it’s South London surroundings.

This is a really cute café. Food is very yummy (I recommend the wraps! They are grilled). Very pleased with the coffee as well. Can fill up during the day though and is a place where moms and their kids hang out sometimes, so if you’re not into kids where you hang out, I am warning you!

Overpriced trendy fare, but good quality and good service in a pleasant surrounding.

The food at the Nightingale is amazing — but don’t go here if you are in a hurry. The service is slow, especially when they are busy (which is most weekends)
Each time I have been I have had the roast vegetable wrap and it is excellent. The desserts are wonderful as well. Also, avoid ordering soft drinks because they are very overpriced.

Breakfast being the meal I love the most, I am always on the look out for a new favourite breakfast serving restaurant. Mmmm… Nightingale does not quite make it. The atmosphere is nice, there is plenty of room to catch up on the weekend papers and the service and coffee is good. The breakfasts are cheap (between £5-£7) and it seems therefore, nothing special. My smoked salmon and scrambled egg was just that… oh and a lemon quarter (I believe they forgot my toast) it looked like something I would would quickly whip up just to make sure I had food in me rather than enjoy. It was nice enough, but I think I would rather do it myself. My boyfriend was a little luckier in his choice of egg and smoked haddock… he got toast and 3 poached eggs!
Other than that, they also serve a continental breakfast… it’s a good place to meet up with friends and chat. And the cakes in the cabinet look amazing and will be the reason I return. I want to try every single one.

This place is OK for a quick coffee but if you stay any longer the yummy mummies’ little brats will get you!

Best café in Balham. Bertie and Boo is great, but the Nightingale is far more chilled, grown up, and serves some proper food. If you like your cafes a bit refined, head here, if you have a 2 year old tearaway then please don’t ruin it for the rest of us and head to Berties instead!

I’ve recently moved nearby, to this laid back rustic little café. Because of it’s proximity, I decided to consider it as my new regular hang out. The food is excellent. Tuna steak is a favourite of mine and they have two dishes that are excellent. The chef is very friendly and the atmosphere is cozy, especially if you can grab the big leather couches in the front. The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is the service. You may have to wait a while for things. The first time I visited I ordered a Pecan Pie but after 10 min never received it and just asked for the bill. It wasn’t on it, so I assume she forgot. The next time I only ordered soup and it took 25 min. after going to the counter and reminding the server of the order. Thankfully I wasn’t in a hurry. So, be mindful if you are. Otherwise Top-​notch food and atmosphere!

A cracking little place for brunch. Went there on a weekday, when things were a little quiet, but a great interior and good atmosphere. Breakfast is reasonably price for decent portions — full English brekky is the way to go.
Service is decent enough and the coffee is just okay, unfortunately. Improve the coffee and four stars for sure.

This is a really nice little café in Balham. If you manage to bag one of big leather sofas it’s perfect for a lazy Sunday morning breakfast with the papers. The menu is pretty varied; the cakes are decadent and the hangover-​fixing fry ups are good. It also does a selection of pasta main meals, omlettes and salads.
Prices are pretty reasonable and you get decent sized portions. Service can be a little slow but that usually when it’s very busy. It’s really nice in the Summer when they open up the windows and you can sit outside.

I admit it. Food-​wise, I’m having a good time at the moment, and this was extended with my visit to The Nightingale, a little café/​restaurant just south of Balham Tube.
Sitting outside on the pavement in comfortable chairs, perusing the menu, I was suddenly taken by surprise by seeing a breakfast option of smoked haddock and poached eggs. This, by the way, is my favourite breakfast. But could they do it right, I wondered?
By god could they, and then some. I don’t know where they source their haddock from, but it is absolutely gorgeous. Combine this with perfectly poached eggs and a toasted baguette served in a basket, and you’re talking about the best breakfast experience out there. My friend’s leek, goats cheese and tomato quiche was the best I’ve ever tasted, and even the coffees rocked my world.