Sometimes eating out in London can be a bit of a gamble. Will your steak be overdone? Will your chips be frozen? Will the waiter disappear after he takes your order, or will he suddenly become your new best friend, incapable of leaving you alone for five minutes?

A group of restaurant owners in Balham have decided that dining out at decent restaurants shouldn’t be left up to chance and have joined together to promote dining out locally. They’ve come up with Balham Bingo, a loyalty/discount card that – once you eat at all six restaurants – gives you an even bigger discount. The restaurants, you, your wallet – everyone’s a winner – which sadly doesn’t often happen in actual bingo.

Here’s how it works. Pick up the Balham Bingo card at one of the six participating restaurants: Dish Dash, Tacuba, Lamberts, Harrisons, The Fat Delicatessen or Trinity Stores. Get your card stamped, then dine at the remaining restaurants, getting a 10% discount at each one. Get a stamp on each of the squares – a blackout, for the hardcore bingo players amongst us – and you win an even bigger discount of 20%.

You can use your Balham Bingo card until the end of March, for dinner Sundays to Thursdays and lunch Mondays to Fridays, and if you get your 20% discount you have until the end of August 2010 before it runs out. Each of the restaurants involved are independently owned – no chains allowed! – and when you dine with them, you’re supporting local businesses.

Eat more, save money?

Bingo.