72-74 High Street,
Beckenham,
Kent,
BR3 1ED
0871 971 5066
Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.
The ViewLondon Review
A recent study concluded that women derive as much pleasure from having lunch with their female friends as they do from a night of passion (ahem) with a man. Pity, then, the poor fellows in Beckenham…
The Venue
The delightfully named Friends of Mine, on Beckenham High Street, is busy on a Saturday lunchtime, predominantly with groups of women, young and old, all cheerfully a-chatter. The décor is simple, with wood flooring and tables and white walls adorned with a red butterfly motif. At the desirable window tables, where you can people watch — that other favourite female activity — the cream leather seats spin around, which is rather fun.
The Atmosphere
Friends of Mine is not huge but, while it is not full on a Saturday lunchtime, there are enough diners to provide a happy hum that rises above the bass of the background music.
The Food
FoM’s menu is eclectic to say the least - it would be an exceptionally picky eater who couldn’t find something to their liking. From tasty sandwiches (served skyscraper-style on toasted focaccia), to main-course salads including honey-glazed goat’s cheese or smoked mackerel and beetroot, there is plenty to tantalise the taste buds.
There are four platters, just perfect for sharing with the girls. The Mediterranean, which includes houmous, tzatziki, guacamole and feta cheese; the hunters, with peppered beef, chicken satay, chorizo and Sicilian sausage; the seafood, with prawns, salmon and smoked mackerel, and the Asian, with duck rolls, crab cakes and chicken satay, with all the platters ranging from £17.50-£21.50. Some of the items on the platters are included in the small plates selection on the menu. Notable among them are the duck spring rolls, which are supremely flavourful and hardly need the rather treacly hoisin sauce they come with, although it does add a sweet stickiness. The tartare sauce that accompanies the crab cakes is wholly redundant, however, and is really rather odd. Surely a sweet chilli sauce would be more apt? But not to detract — the little cakes are about as close to perfect as you could get, with just the right background heat.
A burger should not be perfect, at least not to look at: if it is, it’s unlikely to be handmade. Full marks to Friends of Mine, then — their version is cooked to your liking and pleasingly rustic in appearance. It is charmingly presented on a wooden platter with little pots of beautiful chips and coleslaw and a dinky tray containing ketchup, mayonnaise and chilli relish. Those gorgeous chips are handcut and piping hot. A generous portion also accompany a hefty sirloin steak (£16.50), which is cooked exactly as requested and is as good a slice of cow as you will find anywhere. It comes with a lovely mixture of at least four different types of mushroom. You can choose between an accomplished Bearnaise or potent peppercorn sauce, but if you ask nicely you might get both.
Dessert wise, we all know the virtues of chocolate, which appears here in the guise of a brownie served simply with vanilla ice cream. A lemon tart — which is more tart than sweet, as it should be — is delicious and accompanied by fresh raspberries. A Pimm’s and strawberry ripple with crushed meringue billows with clouds of cream and is a clever take on Eton mess.
The Drink
Assuming those female friends must have a designated driver, FoM offers 125ml glasses of wine, which is very good of them. If you’re sharing a cab, however, why not indulge yourselves? A Pinot Grigio Blush is a lovely quaffing wine, particularly on a sunny day, and at a mere £19, you could easily do another. If quality wins over quantity, FoM has a decent list at decent prices, including a Gavi di Gavi at £26, a Sancerre at £32.50 and a Chablis that looks terrific value at £29.70. Among the reds are a McGuigan Merlot (£16) and a Kiwi Pinot Noir at £24.50. House red and white changes each month and is £14.50 for either.
The Last Word
Friends of Mine is a treasure, as true friends are. Boys, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Friends of Mine has been reviewed by 10 users