Veranda

I didn’t have much expectations for Veranda especially when it was in such a quiet area of Brixton but I just love it when you less expect something and it blows you away. Entering into a large venue of warm red, beautiful paintings and smiling staff it was a good start and even more so when we notice a whole family of around 15+ people of their cuisine’s people celebrating their grandma’s birthday there. It gives a good sign that something is attracting these people to choose Veranda as their birthday venue.
Staff had a humorous side which is always uplifting and were ever so attentive and efficient in answering to our requests and checking up on us to see if we’re okay without being too disruptive. Even when we asked for tap water when he handed out the drinks menu his response was ‘perfect!’ and with a smile. We felt very welcomed. The only downside was their the food service was very very slow but they did keep us informed that there was a problem with their ordering machine sending messages to the kitchen.
But what really was the highlight of the evening was the food itself. Even though we rushed a bit it did not stop the kitchen chef to cook our order properly with attention to detail. Now I cannot recommend the grilled prawn starter enough. Being a seafood fan never have I had a prawn as big and plump as the palm of my hand but grilled perfectly with the shell on or full flavour. It was firm and bouncy and seasoned perfectly to give a very sweet taste to it and the spicy sauce just added that extra kick of flavour needed to set it off.
Even the ackee and salt-​fish money bags were presented beautifully, perfectly deep fried pastry so it was not greasy at all and it was that creamy, savoury filling that gave it that great contrast of texture from the crunchy pastry on the outside.
For mains we had the 3 fish curry which had notes of different flavours, very mild sauce but delicious. Once again it was seasoned perfectly and it had that same variety of prawn again from the starter. It went very well with the rice and peas we ordered.
The fillet steak was properly the least favourite of mine as they didn’t understand what medium rare meant and cooked it well done making it very tough to eat. However we got through it due to its flavour which was delicious but just shame about it being over cooked/​
But unbelievably the most simple side dish of Macaroni cheese pie was my favourite of the evening. I have never had one in a Carribean style but now I want the recipe. Pasta layered with a delicious mild cheese holding it together with a deliciously grilled top giving that smokiness to it. It was al dente and it was that texture of firmness yet slightly chewy that got it ever so addictive. The peppers gave it that extra edge of flavour and as it was a dry dish it was not sickly as most macaroni cheeses out there. I could have just eaten that itself. Definitely recommend.
So food was slow but if it meant that I got the deliciously prepared food I did then I say it was very worth it. Quality does shine here and it can be seen by the ingredients used and the flavours each dish brings out. Everything was beautifully presented and the staff were a joy to have serving us. It is a bit pricey for the cuisine but for a treat for someone and taking up the set menu for £20 pp it isn’t bad at all. I would just go back for the cheese pie alone.
A great meal overall.

I booked Veranda a while back on a Groupon offer of 3 courses anything else eg. drinks, service extra. When we arrived the music was playing, nice lighting and Veranda was filling up. We were immediately seated and given a menu without individual prices and no drinks menu! When the waitress brought the drinks menu she immediately asked us what we wanted to drink. The drinks menu we were handed only had cocktails on it and very expensive. This was for my husband’s birthday and we decided to have a glass of white wine and they only had the one Sauvignon Blanc which fortunately we like. When the wine was served it was warm not even chilled! We didn’t complain.
As someone who does not eat meat but fish my choice was limited with the main meal. There was one fish dish a sea bass which is a fish I can buy anytime. Nothing special. But there were 5 meat dishes for the main. The mains were served on their own and the limited side orders were prohibitively expensive at £3 to £4. We ordered 2 sides hard food and rice and peas. They were served in tiny bowls. The hard food had 2 tiny pieces of yam and a third of boiled green banana. The mains were tasty but disappointed with the size of sides.
I asked for hot sauce and instead got sweet chilli sauce had to ask again.
For dessert we chose ice cream (didn’t stipulate flavour) and exotic fruit crumble which the waitress told us had pineapple and mango.
The ice cream was mediocre and tasteless and the exotic crumble had large pieces of apple. Could not find any exotice fruit in it. We left it.
We had a nice evening despite everything but I would not go back there again as I feel we were ripped off with the pricing of the sides and the quantity. They had 6 people behind the bar which did not necessite so many staff and 2 waitresses and a DJ. This restaurant is over-​staffed and the sides over-​priced with warm white wine. I don’t mind paying for good service and portion sizes but this was just ridiculous which is a shame as it could be a good place to go but I will not be returning any day soon.