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Croydon - nightlife, accommodation, things to do and general chat

Ah yes - there are several Indian restaurants on London Road which would suit vegan palates. I like Dosa'n'Chutney, for example.

There are also restaurants in South End, which is a bit of Croydon I don't often go to these days, but there is a selection of different ones, some of which are excellent and many of which would suit vegans. In fact, I need to start going to South End again!
 
Hoss said:
Hey Maggot that's just round the corner from me and it crossed my mind as a recommendation - I've not yet eaten in but have bought a couple of samosas and pakoras from there to take away. Very tasty. Reminded me of stuff I ate in India rather than generic Indian/Bangladesh curry house snacks.


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That's just what I did. I haven't eaten there for years, and it's fairly small and not that atmospheric, but if the food's great - who cares!
 
Maggot the place next to it does great snacks and as well. Take away only...they sell by the 100gm bag, stupidly cheap as well. Got through quite a few bags of samosas when I was decorating my house [emoji58]


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Guineveretoo said:
Sunday Lunch at the Oval Tavern which is near East Croydon. Assuming they have started doing it again - I tried to go there on my birthday weekend and they were not doing proper Sunday roasts because it was still summer in their eyes!

The Mantanah Thai in South Norwood is wonderful and excellent for vegetarian and vegan food.

Am struggling to think of anywhere else, since Peppertons closed (years ago) - I tend to go to Crystal Palace when my vegan friends visit.

Of course, any Indian restaurant can do vegan food - Zafran on Lower Addiscombe Road is good. But not as good as the Indian Dining Club, which is not in Croydon or South Norwood :(

HTH
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Peppertons was weird.
 
Guineveretoo said:
In what way?

it was my favourite restaurant by a long way and Celestine was a wonderful host and a wonderful person.
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I must have gone at the wrong time / times then. Was Celestine the man?
I remember I had pasta there once. It was hardly cooked and there was almost nothing on it. Half boiled penne with a little something sprinkled on top. It was probably the worst meal out I have ever had. I sat in silence with this guy just staring at me.
When I paid I didn't have any change so paid something like a fiver or a tenner extra (can't remember). . . he never brought the change, assuming I suppose that it was a very generous tip.
 
ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
I must have gone at the wrong time / times then. Was Celestine the man?
I remember I had pasta there once. It was hardly cooked and there was almost nothing on it. Half boiled penne with a little something sprinkled on top. It was probably the worst meal out I have ever had. I sat in silence with this guy just staring at me.
When I paid I didn't have any change so paid something like a fiver or a tenner extra (can't remember). . . he never brought the change, assuming I suppose that it was a very generous tip.
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Yes, Celestine was the owner and chef. The restaurant, and the work it did with the community, was his vision, as it were. He wasn't the best organiser, but his food was gorgeous. His family helped out sometimes. His wife is an artist and works at one of the national art galleries. The restaurant was also a gallery and displayed art by various artists including his wife.

I can't imagine what the dish was that you had - everything I ever ate there was wonderful, although he did, later on, sell food which was more mainstream, to try and build custom, but I never ate any of that, because I had my favourites. In fact, he kept two dishes on just for me (or so he claimed).

He would not have assumed it was a generous tip. He probably just didn't realise how much you had given.

He ran support groups for young people, including school groups, but more specifically trying to help young fathers learn how to care and how to look after their children and their partners.

But I don't know why I am defending him - the restaurant has long gone. Unfortunately.
 
Dan U said:
Mr Boxpark and Inside Croydon having a bit of a ding dong on twitter atm
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Sure are.
Don't know about Downes' sources, but the fact that Wade has set the starting rent for Croydon at the current Shoreditch level leads me to think there might well be more than a grain of truth in the notion that he's shyster.

btw, who are you on twitter?
 
Guineveretoo said:
Yes, Celestine was the owner and chef. The restaurant, and the work it did with the community, was his vision, as it were. He wasn't the best organiser, but his food was gorgeous. His family helped out sometimes. His wife is an artist and works at one of the national art galleries. The restaurant was also a gallery and displayed art by various artists including his wife.

I can't imagine what the dish was that you had - everything I ever ate there was wonderful, although he did, later on, sell food which was more mainstream, to try and build custom, but I never ate any of that, because I had my favourites. In fact, he kept two dishes on just for me (or so he claimed).

He would not have assumed it was a generous tip. He probably just didn't realise how much you had given.

He ran support groups for young people, including school groups, but more specifically trying to help young fathers learn how to care and how to look after their children and their partners.

But I don't know why I am defending him - the restaurant has long gone. Unfortunately.
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I'm sure he did great stuff, he was highly recommended by my artist neighbours. . .and I knew about all the other stuff you mentioned from what they told me, but I didn't see anything other than the terrible dish I had and him seemingly acting a little odd. Maybe it was a bad day? Why wouldn't he have counted what money I gave him?

The one I miss is Polka. Polish restaurant with 50 types of vodka run by an odd Chinese lady. Tottaly yummy food but the worst service known to man. If you were in there and another couple turned up, you knew you would be there for hours. Somehow the shit service was half the fun.
 
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ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
The one I miss is Polka. Polish restaurant with 50 types of vodka run by an odd Chinese lady.
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I remember that place - only ever went there once about 15years ago, for my birthday with family and loved it. Got quite smashed sampling vodkas, stepped merrily outside and stumbled into the road, pulled back on to the pavement by my dad, narrowly avoiding getting hit by a car. That sobered me up very quickly. I don't remember the Chinese lady but definitely remember a guy who I assume was Polish and the (joint)owner, perhaps a husband and wife team?

I remember eating borscht and some sort of meat/veg stew thing. And lots of vodka. Shame it's gone, really. No idea why they closed down but if it was lack of trade then it's a rather cruel irony given the sizeable Polish population in and around Croydon.


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Hoss said:
I remember that place - only ever went there once about 15years ago, for my birthday with family and loved it. Got quite smashed sampling vodkas, stepped merrily outside and stumbled into the road, pulled back on to the pavement by my dad, narrowly avoiding getting hit by a car. That sobered me up very quickly. I don't remember the Chinese lady but definitely remember a guy who I assume was Polish and the (joint)owner, perhaps a husband and wife team?

I remember eating borscht and some sort of meat/veg stew thing. And lots of vodka. Shame it's gone, really. No idea why they closed down but if it was lack of trade then it's a rather cruel irony given the sizeable Polish population in and around Croydon.


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Pretty sure it was the lack of trade, never any buggers in there except for the wife and I. Like I said before though, if someone else did turn up you were not going to get out of there before 11 or something. Crazy. We would just try and keep ordering vodka shots to keep ourselves busy, but somehow that was hard enough. You know there was actually a load of seats upstairs too!!
I think the chinese lady came later (I think there was actually a name change as well). When I first started going it was obviously some polish guys.
I must have really loved the place. I worked home from work one day to see that is was closed, and I felt genuine pain and sadness. I know for years afterwards I would go on and on and on to my wife about how I wish I could still go to Polka. The food must have been great, but it's so long ago now it's hard to remember.
I did buy a polish cookbook after it turned into another low quality chinese place (as if we needed more), but I couldn't get the same taste. Now and then I buy the polish dumplings etc, but again, it's not quite the same.
I wondered for ages if the Chinese restaurant that took it over was some kind of triad front. It was barely ever open, but usually had a guy peeping out the window. Never any customers to be seen, and it somehow stayed open for a few years.
 
Thats terrible, just hope everyone is not hurt too badly.
Sandilands would make sense; steep hill and sharp turn. :(
 
Guineveretoo said:
This is, indeed, scary.

I didn't even know that trams could overturn.

I hope there are no serious injuries. But the fact that the media are still being kept at a distance after several hours suggests it may not be good news. :(
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Sirens have only just stopped down here. My street has been jam packed full of cars at a stand still. I assume a mix of rush hour traffic and a diversions are to blame. This morning it sounded like Trumps Armageddon had come early.
 
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