SOUK has had something of a revolution. Tightening up their door policy and concentrating on pulling in the right crowd, it’s now an excellent early evening dinner and drinks option or late night party spot.

The Venue
SOUK is undoubtedly a beautifully put together venue. Located in a prime position near Clapham Common tube, inside it is akin to an Aladdin’s cave with golden metallic gongs for tabletops, luxurious leather seating complete with huge cushions for snuggling into, atmospheric candlelight and Bedouin-style lampshades casting a warm glow over the yellows and oranges that make up the colour scheme. A large bar is more than capable of handling busy periods and a DJ booth is tucked away at the back of the room so it still feels a part of the space without dominating it. It’s a balance that works well. A unisex toilet complete with burning incense can be a little disconcerting at first but the large, clean, well-decorated cubicles are certainly better than most single-sex loos.

The Atmosphere
Although the door policy has been tightened to stop the wrong element coming in, there are no door Nazis at SOUK. Jeans and trainers are allowed just with a smart twist and the crowd is mainly made up of trendy locals without pretension. The bar is generously staffed so you feel looked after, and if you’ve acquired a seat with table service, you don’t spend half your night stuck at the bar. In the early evening, couples and friends catching up over dinner and drinks sets the scene but as the night moves on into the early hours a club like atmosphere takes hold. The music is pitched just right with chilled house music to start at a reasonable level, slowly increasing in intensity and volume as 11pm and beyond arrives. It’s a very good blend that creates a great atmosphere for dinner, drinks and dancing. And with some big name DJs and house nights planned it’s establishing itself as a big player on Clapham’s party scene.

The Food
Far from being an afterthought, the food at SOUK is actually extremely good quality, incredibly fresh, locally sourced and, best of all, very reasonably priced. The menu is divided into sharers and main courses with deals like three dishes for £11.95 or five dishes for £18. For sharers, the duck rolls arrive in a crisp, light pancake with a generous portion of rich, meaty duck and a delightfully deep plum sauce. The king prawns are plump, perfectly cooked and retain their delicately sweet flavour whilst the Moroccan kofte is well seasoned, pitched at just the right spice level and cooled by a creamy tzatziki. Also worth trying is the soft shell crab (£6.95), which is a generous portion in a light, perfectly seasoned batter revealing surprisingly fresh, plump crabmeat beneath. And it doesn’t stop there. For mains, the pad Thai with prawns is an exceptional example of the popular dish for just £6.95, arriving as a large portion of fresh noodles with a generous helping of large, well-cooked prawns, a sprinkling of peanuts and just the right amount of chilli. The beef red curry is also excellent with the perfect balance of seasoning and spices, a deep coconut aftertaste and a good portion of tender beef pieces. It’s hard to see how they keep their prices so low when the obvious quality of the ingredients is so high.

The Drink
The main focus of SOUK’s drink menu relies on the cocktails, and with good reason. Priced between £8 and £10 they offer a few innovative mixes alongside the classics like their hot, well-mixed Bloody Mary. A creamy Friar Tuck tastes like toasted marshmallows with a strong hit of Frangelico but it pales in comparison to the star of their drink menu – the avocado martini. A strange choice, perhaps, but one that will surprise. Tasting rich, sweet and creamy you will hardly be able to believe that the main ingredient is avocado. It also comes with a health warning – you’ll gulp down five before you realise it does actually contain quite a strong hit of alcohol - you have been warned.

The Last Word
SOUK has been a fixture on Clapham High Street for years and it’s good to see that after a temporary blip they have come back fighting and have put together a fantastic offering on one of the most competitive high streets in London.

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