65 Rosendale Road,
Dulwich,
London,
SE21 8EZ
(020) 8761 9008
The ViewLondon Review
Stylish and inviting, the Rosendale is an attractive traditional pub with a food and drink offering that goes beyond the call of duty.
The Venue
Recently taken over and reopened by Renaissance Pubs, an operator rightfully lauded for their food-focused pubs, the Rosendale sits on the pleasant tree-lined Rosendale Road. It has a stylish exterior surrounded by a huge outside seating area, with chunky wooden benches offering plenty of space to sit. The interior is just as welcoming; it’s a large space, with the bar to your right as you walk in and the more formal restaurant area to the back of the pub. It’s a nice set-up – if you want to dine, you aren’t in the middle of all those just there to drink, but you still benefit from the relaxed, chatter-filled atmosphere. The sumptuous furniture and décor helps the large space to feel airy and warm simultaneously, and open brickwork at the back of the restaurant gives the place a rustic feel. Paintings of birds adorn the walls, and there’s a whole wall dedicated to butterflies.
The Atmosphere
There's a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, and the professional and attentive staff remind you that you’re in a place that cares about its customers. Lively background music keeps the spirits up, but doesn’t dampen conversation. Drinkers and diners keep the place busy throughout the week, and the huge outside area will bring punters by the dozen in summer months.
The Food
A succinct but impressive list of dishes is enough to get your mouth watering. Snacks such as scotch egg and coronation mayo (£3.50), vegetarian mezze plate (£7.50) and Welsh rarebit (£3.50) can be ordered to quell rumbling stomachs at the bar.
The main menu is a little more experimental, with some truly knockout dishes. Starters include ham hock and chicken croquette (£5.50) with a sharp and tangy piccalilli, and a super-smooth and creamy chicken liver parfait (£6.25) served with onion marmalade and toast. Squid and cuttlefish with chorizo, fennel and rocket (£7) is another tempting choice. Moving onto mains, Josper grilled seabass (£13) served with samphire, crayfish and rouille is a delicious seafood dish, with perfectly cooked fish, and, for those who love their meat, guinea fowl breast and confit leg (£13) served with creamy leeks and peas and potato fondant is the ideal choice: tender meat, crispy skin and satisfying veg – it’s pretty much faultless.
The portions are generous, so you may struggle to leave room for dessert, but the Sicilian lemon posset with shortbread (£4.50) is a good choice – even for full bellies. If you’re up to the challenge, the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream (£4.50) and the banoffee pie (£4.50) are not to be missed.
The Drink
A good range of beers, including cask ales, Peroni, Heineken, Guinness and Amstel, keep regular pub-goers happy, while the wine list has everything from a fresh and crisp white to a ripe and rustic red. The wine is reasonable, too, with small glasses starting at £3.40, large at £4.80 and bottles from just £13.90. You can even get a carafe (500ml) for under £10. A select range of cocktails is also available from £7.
The Last Word
Superb food in a great setting with plenty of atmosphere and enviable outside space, the Rosendale stands out as one of Dulwich’s finest pubs.
The Rosendale has been reviewed by 3 users