The Fat Delicatessen feels almost uncomfortable in its Balham location, offering delicious bourgeois deli food to those who like that sort of thing.

The Venue
Continuing Balham’s upsurge of trendy shops and restaurants, The Fat Delicatessen is a foodie’s dream, peddling its organic wares to the wealth of respectable patrons. Those who make the pilgrimage are well rewarded and can unfurl their Guardians over a fair trade coffee in comfort. There are low sofas with soft leather upholstery, pleasantly positioned toward the large window to the shop’s front which allows for nicely relaxed reclining. If you’re looking for something a little more formal there are a few tables and chairs that are good for eating the more robust offerings, but it’s still comfortably casual. Obscure brands of stuff you’ve never heard of line the walls whilst freshly made produce offers itself seductively from the counter. And those in the know coo with delight.

The Atmosphere
Being a deli, The Fat Delicatessen feels less like somewhere to dine and more like a place to sit for a coffee and maybe grab a sandwich, which is odd considering the wealth of delicious food on offer. However, with many a takeaway option and even outside catering, The Fat Delicatessen clearly has other ways of making ends meet and doesn’t need to confine itself to being a restaurant – indeed it wouldn’t suit it. With this many people just popping in for bits and bobs, any more seating would simply be wasted. Consequently, there’s a vibrant feel to the place, helped by an unpretentiously cheesy London radio station entertaining guests, and but of course, ensuring the natives are kept happy. If you do decide to eat in, which is certainly recommended, you’ll encounter excellent table service from cheery staff who seem to know the menu well.

The Food
The Fat Delicatessen offers a suitably plump selection of seasonal dishes, fresh produce, prepared meals and more. Billed as a tapas style affair and, although the food is from all over the Mediterranean, the idea of a flexible menu remains. There’s such a varied choice that this is a good way of trying a selection of the things on offer and won’t leave you feeling like you’ve missed out.

If you’re an indecisive eater and tapas isn’t your bag, then you can always go for one of the mains. The hand-made ricotta and spinach ravioli with rocket, balsamic and parmesan is a delicately balanced delight (the combination of lightly drizzled balsamic over melted, high quality parmesan and al dente pasta really works), even though some might deem it a little light for a place with such a name. However, if the chocolate brownie is ordered this is probably a blessing in disguise. It looks almost average until the fork slides through and you realise you’re dealing with something very special indeed. Deliciously rich, it tastes so sickeningly magnificent you’ll happily ignore any notions of sense and demolish the lot.

The Drink
As befitting a deli like this, there’s a good wine list but the surprising thing is there are some genuinely excellent prices. A crisp Chardonnay is the cheapest, but doesn’t taste it, and is a good accompaniment to a light lunch. For those looking to be a little more extravagant, the wine list ascends to some really good bins that still won’t break the bank. There’s an adequate selection of beers and soft drinks too, including a sterling cup of tea.

The Last Word
With enough delicious options to keep the foodies happy, The Fat Delicatessen is a nice little spot to grab some quality Mediterranean fodder.

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