The Pepper Tree - Clapham
Long standing Thai restaurant right by Clapham Common has recently opened up it's vegan options by creating an entirely vegan menu.
I've actually had experience of this restaurant before (about 8 years ago), and back then the waitress actually laughed at me for requesting something veggie in a Thai restaurant, it's pretty amazing how much things have changed...
Inside the seating is casual and simple with people sitting along benches. It's also clean and pretty with flowers on the tables and an open kitchen at the back.
The placemats are menus but request the special vegan menu from the staff, the options are now pretty extensive...
Vegan Options:
Starters:
SWEETCORN CAKES
Crispy, sweet and sticky, with sweet chilli sauce and crushed peanuts
DIM SUM
Water chestnut, black fungus, sweetcorn, and beancurd
CLASSIC SPRING ROLLS
Stuffed with black fungus, cabbage, carrot, and vermicelli noodles
Mains:
GREEN VEGETABLE COCONUT CURRY
Garden pea, courgette, aubergine, mixed pepper, mushroom, fresh green chilli, lemongrass, galangal and sweet basil
RED VEGETABLE COCONUT CURRY
Butternut squash, sweet potato, courgette, aubergine, fresh red chilli and sweet basil
MASSAMAN
Jackfruit, pineapple, potato, galangal, five spices, and tamarind sauce. Simmered in coconut milk, peanuts, shallot and chilli
SPECIAL FRIED RICE
With mixed vegetables
VEGETABLE AND CASHEW NUT STIR FRY
With spring greens, mushroom, asparagus, silken tofu, toasted cashew, baby corn, pak choi, garlic, soy sauce, carrot and peppers
PAPAYA SALAD
Shredded green papaya, carrot, lettuce, ground roasted peanuts, garlic, chilli and lemon dressing
DRUNKEN NOODLES
Baby corn, courgette, tofu, carrot, mushroom, pak choi, soy sauce, chilli, garlic, sen Yai fat noodles, and bamboo shoots
PAD THAI JAY
Rice noodles stir fried with asparagus, pak choi, courgette, French beans, sweet radish, beansprouts, tamarind sauce, crushed peanuts, spring onions, and mixed peppers
They also do some fresh raw juices, I had the 'clarifying' one which was apple, carrot and ginger, it was delicious, tangy and went really well with the spicy food.
The classic spring rolls were well packed, crispy and freshly made. They also had a lovely sweet chilli dipping sauce. They were large for a starter, and would definitely be shareable if you weren't super hungry. I loved the presentation too, check out the purple flower that arrived on the side of my plate!
The Massaman curry had a delicious creamy coconut flavour, it was cooked with delicious Thai spices, and tangy tamarind mixed with the coconut milk. There were so many textures in there too, lots of crunch from the topping and from peanuts that were all the way through, and there was such a wide variety of mixed veg in there. I've never had pineapple in a Thai curry but the tangy sweetness went so well with all the other flavours.
It was also so beautifully presented, on a wooden tray with the rice in a separate bowl (see above picture of full meal), and the fresh herbs on the top.
The staff were pleasant and attentive without being overbearing and it was a really pleasant place to sit and eat in. Prices were pretty standard in general, my main was priced at £8.95.
It's casual but pretty setting would suit so many different occasions from solo eating to date nights. I would recommend it to eat in and I'd most definitely go back.
Overall Ratings:
Staff: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Taste: 5/5
Food Presentation: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Address: 19 Clapham Common South Side, London, SW4 7AB
Opening Hours: Monday 1200 - 2230; Tuesday - Saturday 1200 - 2300;
Sunday 1200 - 2230
As always, these posts are based on places I've visited on www.myveganradar.com - the London Vegan Food Map, based on tube stop, and are my own opinion.