why is it so tricky to find the perfect easy-lazy neighbourhood restaurant? by easy-lazy i mean the kind of place you can go to when you’re tired, need smile-inducing food served by a friendly face, in a place with the kind of energy that carries you towards relaxation and a willingness to face the world again.

the area of south london where i live is blessed with lots of good restaurants but i’ve yet to find this kind of place on my doorstep. thankfully, though, i’ve found exactly this not too far away (and it’s en route from the office so is just fine for stressful weekdays).

it’s in balham, it’s been there for almost a year (the anniversary of its opening is next month) and it’s called the fat delicatessen.

newly opened 32 has its roots in favourite gastropubs the anchor & hope and the eagle. add chef/food writer tom norrington-davies and a link to st john, another much-loved london eaterie, and you know you’re going to be in safe hands.

we visited 32 for lunch and were the first to arrive at noon. no matter, we were seated in one of the window booths and settled back, with the sun pouring in, to enjoy a meal of simple, well-executed dishes.

i’m not a big fan of traditional french food so whenever someone raves about a french restaurant i’m usually looking for the get-out-clause that means we can go somewhere else.

however, this week i was a brave girl when my friend john suggested meeting up at gastro in clapham. gastro is often described as “a piece of france in south london” or an “authentically french dining experience.” for me, up until now, it’s been a place which does ridiculously strong coffee (i’m a coffee-wimp), has french-speaking staff and, despite the lovely decor, especially the rustic square wooden table that would be great for a gang of 10-12 friends, not somewhere i’ve wanted to eat.

well, that’s one new year’s resolution sorted out – last week we had supper at locanda locatelli. and we had a fabulous time!

we decided to go for an early booking so we could completely indulge and not feel too full of food to sleep - serious greed was definitely at play as i planned our visit.

aperitifs of prosecco for david and an orange champagne cocktail for me kept us company as we came to terms with quite how greedy we were going to be. starters, pasta and mains were all lined up with an eye to dessert and a hand in the bread basket… (superb bread of course, with grassy olive oil for dipping)