The bar/restaurant in the crypt below the Mass nightclub/St Michael’s Church complex, Babalou offers a chance to mix Chinese, Indian and Thai food in special surroundings.

The Venue
The crypt retains its stone floor and decorative columns, but although there are a few dark corners to slink into, the atmosphere is anything but spooky as warm, yellow lighting fills most of the space. On arrival, take a bar stool or a sofa near the entrance and enjoy a pre-meal drink, before being seated at the simple wooden tables for your food.

The Atmosphere
A suitably Brixton-like melting pot of European and Asian clienteles of literally all ages, some in couples and others eating en masse with their extended family. The atmosphere is informal and laid back but with a polite air too. It’s not unusual to find a jazz band playing or other live music on either, so you might need be prepared to raise your voice at times.

The Food
Three menus to choose from, and the chance to mix and match your way through all three. The Indian menu boasts crispy onion bhajis (£2), vegetable samosa (£1), and the usual papadum/pickle/chutney starters. Tandoori main courses include chicken on the bone (£5.95), mixed grill and naan (£9.95), king prawns (£8.50), and a host of curries styles including dansak, biryani, bhuna, rogan josh, korma, balti, vindaloo and jalfrezi (£5.95-£8.50).

If Chinese cuisine is more your thing, there are small but tasty vegetable spring rolls (£2.50) and crispy chicken wonton soup (£3.50) among the starters, a host of noodle dishes (£4.25-£5.75), chow meins (£4.25-£4.95) plus a plethora of noodle soups, rice noodles and chef‘s specials. Meanwhile, the Thai curry menu offers such delicacies as Thai fish cakes (£3.50) and generous, steaming portions of vegetable, chicken, beef or seafood cooked in green, red, panang or massaman style (£4.75-£5.75), as well as a roast duck curry at £5.95.

The Drink
Whet your appetite with a wide variety of bottled beers including Guinness, Peroni, Sol, Stella, Budweiser and Becks (all £4), a glass of champagne (£7), or a Pimms, Smirnoff vodka or a champagne cocktail (£4.50-£6). Glasses of house white and red start at £3, with bottles starting at £13 and the top end wines rising to £19.

The Last Word
If not quite something for everyone, Babalou certainly offers a wider variety of cuisines than many restaurants and bars, and does it all in style.

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