In East Dulwich, London, there is a street that just seems to keep adding quality food establishment after quality food establishment. Its name? Lordship Lane. For those in the know there truly is no reason to shlap into central London for good food and drink. On this wonderous street already, are to name just a few: The Palmerston - fantastic gastro pub, Franklins - amazingly good value neighborhood restaurant, The Sea Cow - wonderfully laid back eaterie serving sea food how ever you want it, Liquorish - style bar extraordinaire, and The Bishop - excellent pub and foodie haven complete with pub dog 'Clarence'. Added to this several fantastic Indian restaurants, Thai restaurants, Mexican restaurants and you are truly well catered for.

Black Cherry
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Located at 21 Lordship Lane Black Cherry looks really inviting from the outside. Painted black with its name in white letters above the door the bar/restaurant that is Black Cherry instantly makes you want to go inside. But if you were to linger outside looking in for just a moment or two you would notice the menus placed in the windows, and perhaps the sandwich board next to the door advising possible customers of the different options available inside. You'd probably also notice people inside at a window seat being served delicious looking food and at that point hurry inside.
When entering Black Cherry the first thing you notice is the up market feel of the place. Its beautiful polished dark wood floors, fresh flowers on tables, very carefully decorated, including flock wallpaper, chandelier and very nice furniture. I recently found out that it is owned by Angela Rush who is a born and bread Dulwichite, who apparently designed her bar with women in mind. Now I know that I can see what she has done as it is a very relaxed place for women to meet and enjoy themselves. It is also a place which is able to move seamlessly from the quiet place to enjoy a cuppa, cake or light breakfast/lunch that it is during the day to the stylish place to enjoy a cocktail that it becomes at night.

What's for tea Mr Wolf?
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I've had the pleasure of eating at Black Cherry on several occasions now. The first couple of times I just went for a pot of earl grey and a piece of the delicious carrot cake (£3.50) Then I decided to go a bit crazy one lunch time and went for the amazing lamb burger served on fresh tomato focaccia bread with thick cut chips (£9) two weeks ago, I had the wonderful doorstop sausage sandwich, which featured plump thick herby sausages and satisfyingly thick chunks of white crusty bread, and for £3.50 filled me up just right, oh and last Sunday I went back to cake again. So I feel I can vouch for the fact that the food is fabulous.

Brunch
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Scrambled eggs served with Scottish smoked salmon served on wholemeal bread £6
Scrambled eggs with chorizo sausage served on wholemeal bread £6
Sausage Doorstop sandwich £3.50
Bacon Doorstop sandwich £3.50
Eggs Benedict with smoked bacon with hollandaise sauce £6.50
Granola with fresh fruit, muesli, yogurt and honey £3.50
Fresh blue berry pancake served with syrup £4.50

Starters
Cream of mushroom soup served with bread £3.50
Salad of smoked salmon, king prawns with saffron and tomato dressing £4.50

Mains
The aforementioned lamb burger, which was amazing tasting, the lamb was just so good! £8.50
Linguine with crab, wilted rocket with cherry tomatoes cooked in a white wine and garlic sauce £8
Cumberland sausages cooked, mustard mash with red wine gravy £7.50

In addition to all of that I think is worth mentioning is the great selection of teas. I'm a earl grey girl but there are all of the options you'd hope for, including of course a black cherry tea and they also serve really good coffee.

After dark
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What you will see of an evening in Black Cherry is a real mixture of dress code. There are those in little black dresses enjoying the excellent cocktail list and there are the usual trendy/scruffy looking folks too. They still provide table service in the evenings which is fab in my opinion especially when other places get packed out and rather unappealing. If you were to fancy something special then why not try the Black Cherry Caipirinha at £6 a glass, or like I did the grey goose vodka martini. Yum…They also have a very good wine list priced from £13.50 for Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc from Largesse in France.
Black Cherry also specialize in lagers including Vedette, Duvel, Hoegaarden & Boon Kriek - which is flavored with, black cherry, you sense a theme emerging.