Proving his decision to introduce French cuisine to Croydon was inspired

Not renowned for receiving restaurant award nominations, Croydon makes its inaugural appearance in Time Out’s 2008 shortlist for Best Local Restaurant in the guise of Le Cassoulet.

But what does this have to do with Chiswick? The link is Malcolm John who created quite a stir in Croydon after opening Le Vacherin’s sister restaurant Le Cassoulet.

His second venture was immediately bestowed with glowing reviews and hailed as “the sort of restaurant that makes you want to move to Croydon (well, almost).”

“Or if you already live in Croydon, it should make you feel very smug indeed - because it knocks most new high-profile, central London restaurants into a cocked hat,” wrote a Time Out critic not long after the restaurant opened. “It's got real joie de vivre, the prices are fair, and - above all else - it's a proper French restaurant with proper cooking.”

Time Out’s Eating & Drinking Awards, now in their nineteenth year, celebrate the best of the capital’s diverse eating and drinking scene by naming the best local restaurants, the top cheap eats, the finest eco-eateries and the latest London hotspots.

Judges visit all establishments anonymously, but diners’ opinions counts too. To vote click on this link. The closing date for voting is August 31st; results will be announced in September.

August 8, 2008