Herne Of The Century

So, we finally made it to The Herne Tavern for lunch and it was just fantastic. Our friend Chris says we're too easily pleased, but that's just not true when it comes to lunch (or, indeed, dinner. Or breakfast, actually). But how was it good, you ask? Well:

1. We had a really nice table properly set for four adults and three children waiting for us.
2. Our order was taken within five minutes.
3. The children's food - organic cumberland sausage and thin-cut chips, hello East Dulwich! - arrived in the blink of an eye.
4. Silvana couldn't decide what wine she wanted, so they poured her a taste of a couple to try.
5. Our lunch turned up soon after and it was delicious. Crispy, fluffy spuds, thick cut, pink roast beef, great crunchy, towering yorkshire puds, sweet carrots and crunchy beans. Great gravy. Fresh horseradish. We sat and enjoyed every mouthful in an air of blissful, unhurried calm thanks to
6. The garden. It's a proper sandpit, slides, things to climb on, trees to squeeze around belter. Scrap, Lily and Olivia spent the majority of the afternoon running around barefoot and only returning for an ice-cream or a drink of water.
7. After our main course we wanted to move outside, so all our stuff was moved and we enjoyed pudding and cheese and coffee (which was very good coffee, too) in the sunshine.
8. You can't smoke anywhere in the building. Well, I gave up a week ago today, so I'm all for this kind of thing (*makes punchibly smarmy face*).
9. It was £120 for seven people and everyone had everything they could have possibly hoped for (and more).
10. I gave up counting after nine.

Lily's dad Steve said he'd like to have all his weekend meals here from Saturday breakfast to Sunday tea and I can see his point. If you have small children and have gobbled down too many lunches in an attempt to get everyone sorted before the shouting and moaning thrashing about start (don't you hate trying to get another mouthful in while paying the bill and putting someone's coat on?), come here.

If you don't, go somewhere else because you'll not like it at all. It's a playground with a fantastic pub attached. Isn't that just the best idea you've ever heard?