The transformation of Balham into foodie central continues with the addition of this Sri Lankan gem. It’s affordable and tasty - not your average curry house, and well worth venturing south of the river for.

The Venue
Hop & Spice benefits from a funky fit-out that makes it stand out miles ahead of any of the neighbouring eateries. Proper wood floors and big hanging bronze lamps give a rustic yet cosy feel, and the bar area boasts Bollywood movies projected onto the exposed brick walls.

The Atmosphere
The restaurant is quite small, but it’s incredibly popular and regularly packed to the rafters with hungry and happy punters. Clientele are mostly Balham locals, generally fitting into the ‘young professional’ bracket, but there’s room for everyone in here, from big groups celebrating birthdays to couples looking to share lingering looks over the candles.

The Food
The Hop & Spice menu is based around thalis – a bit like Indian tapas, or a pick and mix of main meals. Depending on how hungry you are, you can order three to five small dishes like masala potato, with big chunks of spicy and creamy potato, or Kerala coriander chicken, with herby and spicy chunks of chicken in a spicy sauce. They’re tiny but tasty, and don’t be fooled – they will definitely defeat hunger. The curries come in little pots alongside a mound of whatever rice you fancy. A flaky chapati fills you up and tastes fantastic, and a fluffy naan is just as good. If you’ve got room, there’s some pretty special desserts like Kandy Mess, a Sri Lankan take on Eton Mess that uses passion fruit and mango mashed up with crispy meringue, or sticky brownie with cinammon spiced clotted cream.

The Drink
The drinks menu boasts an impressive range of beers from all over the world, so connoisseurs can sample a stout brewed down the road in Wandsworth or the house beer all the way from Sri Lanka. There’s also a small selection of wine and a full bar of spirits and mixers.

The Last Word
Fantasic and well-priced Sri-Lankan cuisine, friendly staff who fall over themselves to help out and advise on good dish choices and a relaxed atmosphere combine to make a successful restaurant that looks set to be around for a very long time.

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