Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in South East London

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best service in South East London? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Luna

4.8

4.8 (20)

£26 to £40

European

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

A local wine bar, bottle shop and restaurant located on the cobbled streets of the historic Shad Thames. Whether you’re coming in for a few glasses, a bottle or dinner, we look forward to welcoming you!

To learn more about us, visit our sister restaurant Legare, where our shared passion for quality and craft continues to thrive.

Top review

NikolausGold

Dined 3 days ago

One of my favourite restaurants in London. Superb food, great wines and amazing service. I shall return many times

El Alquimista

4.9

4.9 (84)

£41 and over

Peruvian

Greenwich

About the restaurant

Peru is one of the world's most celebrated culinary destinations, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, exceptional biodiversity, and vibrant flavours. Inspired by this remarkable tradition, El Alquimista brings the spirit of modern Peru to the heart of Greenwich.

Our bar features premium Peruvian Pisco, artisanal infusions, carefully selected wines, and signature cocktails inspired by the Andes, the Amazon, and Peru's Pacific coast.

Executive Chef Walter Pineda, born in Peru, has honed his craft in some of London's most respected kitchens, including Le Pont de la Tour, Maze by Gordon Ramsay, and The British Museum. His cooking combines the soul of Peruvian cuisine with the finesse of modern European techniques, creating an elegant and memorable dining experience.

At El Alquimista, Walter's vision is to celebrate Peru's extraordinary culinary heritage while embracing the finest seasonal British ingredients.

Top review

Axel

Dined 3 days ago

Easily one of our favorite restaurants in London and a proper hidden gem. The food is outstanding, the cocktails are some of the best in the city, and the service is excellent. This was only our second visit, but it was every bit as good as we remembered. Always love it when the chef comes over to say hi and explain the dishes too, such a nice touch. Already looking forward to coming back.

Discover more

Experience

El Alquimista & Viñas Queirolo| Exclusive Tasting

Experience

Autumm TASTING EXPERIENCE

Cinnamon Culture

5.0

5 (495)

£26 to £40

Indian

Chislehurst

About the restaurant

Cinnamon Culture is a fine Indian dining restaurant. It is the perfect setting in which to sample contemporary Indian cookery.
Here you’ll taste tantalising homemade chutneys, delve into stunning starters and enjoy the kitchen’s breathtakingly creative plated main dishes, created with one eye on the traditional and another very much on current and up-and-coming trends. Unusually for an Indian restaurant, Cinnamon Culture places much of its focus on its dessert menu, allowing for further inventiveness in twisting together Eastern and Western ideas.

Top review

Angela

Dined on 27 Sept 2026

Lovely experience for birthday celebrations yesterday evening- good menu choices , lovely good presentation & tastes Always a favourite for a special occasion

Peckham Bazaar

4.8

4.8 (445)

£26 to £40

Balkan style

Peckham

About the restaurant

Grilled food and mezze plates inspired by the Balkans, paired with a unique selection of Eastern Mediterranean wines.

Our menu features Albanian, Turkish, Greek, and Iranian dishes, all cooked simply over an open fire in a relaxed, comfortable setting. The menu changes daily, reflecting not just seasonality but bringing to London the freshest and most authentic taste of the Balkans possible. We cook over charcoal and source the freshest produce, fish and meat from the markets.

“The scent of meat grilling over charcoal evokes balmy summer evenings...the best Greek Food in town”
— Fay Maschler, Evening Standard.

“It’s like every great restaurant you’ve been to on a Mediterranean holiday, refined and condensed into one warm, welcoming room. A quiet neighbourhood classic....entirely merits its reputation.”
— Ed Cumming, The Independent

Top review

David

Dined on 28 Sept 2026

Really (really) delicious food. A perfect little gem of a restaurant.

Cyprianis Petts Wood

4.9

4.9 (406)

£25 and under

Mediterranean

Chislehurst

About the restaurant

Cyprianis Mediterranean Bar and grill has been created by Nick Constantine, a well known restaurateur around the Kent area. We offer 21 day dry aged steaks, we offer a fantastic set menu which is available Monday - Friday lunchtime and Monday - Thursday dinner time.

Monday - Friday lunch: 2 courses £24.50, 3 courses £29.50
Monday - Thursday dinner: 2 courses £29.50, 3 courses £35.00

Sundays are a family day at Cyprianis, we offer a set roast menu - 2 courses for £29.50, 3 courses £37.50 which includes our prime Black Angus rib of beef.

Top review

Jane

Dined on 12 Sept 2026

We go here alot with my grandfather and 5 year old (since he was a baby) and family. Waiters are always very attentive making sure everyone has what they need and comfortable. Great with any allergies or requests. Alot to choose from, specials are always good. Kids meals have flavour but not too over powering which is great as I find alot of places do kids meals without any flavour. My grandfather and husband will always have a soup to start, these are constantly changing so there is a different one each visit. House wine is very nice. We always enjoy the food and come back time and time again.

Aqua - Bromley

4.7

4.7 (2009)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Bromley

About the restaurant

Following the success of Aqua Meze Bar & Grill in buzzing South Croydon and Galu Mediterranean Bar & Grill of leafy Nork in Banstead, Surrey. Founder Chef Dasos Charalambous has returned his culinary expertise to his routes on Bromley’s East Street to present Aqua bar & Grill at the former Hollywood bowl site.
Dasos has worked in some of London’s finest hotels but seized the chance to head Galu and open Aqua Meze bar & Grill. His two decades of expertise and Greek heritage will bring you a unique contemporary fusion of Greek, Italian and modern Mediterranean dishes.
Our gorgeous, fully renovated premises offer a warm relaxed atmosphere where you’ll be able to have a west end dining experience at the convenience of our locality. Our attentive and welcoming team of staff will ensure your experience at Aqua will want to be repeated.

Top review

Lucy

Dined 2 days ago

Great food, lovely service and lovely quiet part of Bromley centre. Will definitely be back

Fish Union

4.8

4.8 (446)

£26 to £40

British

Chislehurst

About the restaurant

Located on Royal Parade, Chislehurst, Fish Union Bar & Grill brings British food and drink at it's best. Owned and operated by renowned chefs Richard Kirkwood and Andy Roberts, previously of J-Sheekey's and Wright Brothers.

Featured in the Good Food Guide, the restaurant’s fresh seasonal incorporates fish direct from Rye harbour, British oysters and incredible meat from Carnivore butchers alongside vegetarian options.

Everything is sustainably sourced and freshly prepared on-site, complemented with hand-selected wines, beers by Hawkstone & Dalston's 40ft brewery, and great cocktails using local ingredients such as White Cliffs Gin from Pleasant Land distillery in Kent .

Top review

Suzy

Dined 4 days ago

Delicious food and attentive service without being too much. We had blackened cod and lobster and chips and both were cooked to perfection. Nice atmosphere for a special birthday dinner. 100% would come again

Discover more

Experience

The Humble Oyster returns!

Experience

Squerryes sparkling wine dinner with Tom Surgey

Utter Waffle Herne Hill

4.9

4.9 (583)

£25 and under

Modern European

Herne Hill

About the restaurant

Utter Waffle - a gem within the South London brunch scene! We opened our Herne Hill restaurant in 2021, and since have become an institution in Herne Hill's small but awesome food scene. Since our launch, we've collected a small cabinet of trophies and awards, and have even cooked our savoury waffles on Masterchef, Sunday Brunch & Saturday Kitchen!
Our busy brunch restaurant serves everything from fried chicken & waffles and our signature avo smash, to bottomless brunch & craft beers. For those with a sweet tooth - fret not as the desserts are pretty good too - (we're even the proud winners of The Best Dessert in the UK (British Street Food Awards)), so there really is something for everyone!
We pride ourselves on a super-inclusive menu and ability to cater for those with dietary requirements; We're co-owned by a coeliac, don't handle any gluten on-site, plus we boast loads of vegetarian and vegan options too! So what are you waiting for!?

Top review

Georgina

Dined on 27 Sept 2026

Such a treat brunch meal out with friends. Great staff, happy to welcome dogs in. Absolutley delish range of waffles on the menu and they easily cater to veggie, vegan and dietary needs. Brilliant spot right on the edge of the park.

Discover more

Experience

25% Off Brunch - Early Bird Discount

Experience

Hot-Desking Spot

Trivet

4.7

4.7 (304)

£41 and over

Modern European

London Bridge

About the restaurant

2026: retained 2 Michelin stars!

Trivet derives from the age-old cooking utensil - an iron tripod placed over fire to support a cooking pot or kettle - reflecting the warmth and balance which forms Head Chef Jonny Lake and Master Sommelier Isa Bal’s values for the restaurant, as well as their working relationship.

From the very beginning of the creative process, Jonny, Isa and the team think about how food and drink work together. The menu features their explorations of ingredients, dishes and drinks from around the world, inspired by the culinary history and diversity around us. The wine list is set out chronologically, following the historic beginnings of wine to present day, with over 350 wines from classic producers to the New World, as well as acknowledging the root of viti-vinoculture with wines from Georgia, Armenia and Turkey.

As well as the welcoming main dining room, Trivet has a terrace, wine bar and private dining space.

Top review

MarkGold

Dined 5 days ago

Impeccable and creative food that’s also comfortable and relatable. Polished, friendly service that puts you at ease.

Discover more

Experience

TRIVET ft. A. A. PALARI with Salvatore Geraci

The River Gardens Café

4.8

4.8 (114)

£25 and under

Café

Greenwich

About the restaurant

River Gardens Café is located in front of the iconic River Thames, boasting outstanding views of the city just a short scenic walk from the Cutty Sark ship.
You can expect to feel a warm atmosphere from the moment you walk in with art and décor to take you back to what used to be Lovells Wharf. We have an extensive terrace space which is great for catching the last glimpses of the of the beautiful scenery whilst the sun sets.

We have a variety of dishes from breakfast, brunch, dinner and festive meals which are freshly prepared by our team of chefs every day. As a local café we strive to accommodate everyone, thus making us the perfect spot for a little bite, a catch up or a full meal. As a family run business we understand the unity of family, dogs are family and therefore we are dog friendly! We look forward to serving you soon.

Top review

Pierre

Dined on 25 Sept 2026

The personnel is extremely friendly. The food is excellent . We were there for the tea time . Do not be put off by the cafe because of the scaffolding in front of the cafe. Go in.. the ambiance and decor are great. One of our highlights of our London stay!

Discover more

Experience

Afternoon Tea

Explore Diners' Choice best of South East London

Explore more Diners' Choice lists