On our last night in London, "Guy Fawkes Day," we watched fireworks and then ate at this restaurant, which had always appeared to be crowded whenever we walked by, which was often, at varying times of day. It's a very good value for London, and as it's at the southeast end of Gabriel's Wharf, it does not have the dead-on river view the Riviera Cafe has. Like the Riviera Cafe, this is casual, but seems to attract a wider range of clientele, more casually dressed than that at the Riviera. Service was quicker and more friendly than at the Riviera, the menu offered more choices, with a focus on Italian pastas as well as many different pizza toppings, and there seemed to be less tourists and more locals at this restaurant. Months after our meal here, I discovered this restaurant was part of a chain, like the Riviera Cafe is, for it was highlighted in a brochure I received from the British Tourist Authority.

Our waiter, a transplanted Jamaican, chatted with us, asked us where we were from, told us a little bit about himself, and in general made us feel welcome, yet wasn't tardy in bringing our food. The room was full of laughter and people seemed to be having a good time, as well as good food. After we'd had our meal, we understood why the place was always crowded - a pleasant experience. We are conservative in our pizza toppings and so we did not succumb to the rather unusual toppings offered on the menu, from black pudding (shades of my Irish grandmother!), to Peking duck and Mexican lime chicken. Instead both of us ordered pasta, which was excellent - my pesto sauce was especially good, filled with pine nuts. The Southwark locals seemed to have adopted this chain restaurant as their own spot on the trendy wharf, which is also interesting to stroll for interesting art galleries and gorgeous river views, especially when illuminated at night.