56 WESTOW in Croydon

Absolutely phenomenal, if i could give more than 5 stars i would, service was top notch, lovely decor and atmosphere, and the best meat alternative ive had in my ten years of being veggie, will definitly be coming again!

Service was fast, friendly and attentive. The small plates we had were tasty. The problems started with the large plate and side. It felt like every dish wasn’t balanced, either being too salty or far too sour. In particular the patatas bravas. The red sauce and the aioli were both incredibly sour and unpleasant. The potatoes themselves were cooked well and would have been tasty had they not been over seasoned. Wouldn’t eat here again. Points lost for atmosphere because the gents toilets are unpleasant. Two narrow urinals cramped together, right next to a cubicle - the door of which opens outward. So I had the pleasant experience of using the urinal and trapping in someone that had been using the cubicle and who had to wait for me to finish my business before being able to leave.

Cool space, has a nice outdoor space. The steak was bad, chewy and not cooked evenly. But just go for a drink and you'll be grand

Very great and awesome service. The food was looking gorgeous and was absolutely amazing and delicious.

Lovely atmosphere, however the food was nothing special… the service was slow and we had to wait 35 minutes before asking the waitress to take our order.

everything about this place is great. you get what you pay for

Lovely pub restaurant and really enjoyed the roast dinner, but we were constantly being reminded that we had to give the table back by a certain time by 2 different members of staff. One time I had a mouthful of food and felt extremely frustrated and rushed. Some plates were cleared away before everyone had finished. The place was almost empty but we had the largest table which was obviously needed 2 hours after us. We felt a bit regretful that we’d booked here for friends who’d travelled 1.5 hours from north London - wasn’t quite the experience we were going for. Not at all the Sunday bustly atmosphere you’d expect and certainly not the service that encourages people to return.

I absolutely love this restaurant. The food is always so well flavoured, the atmosphere is great, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. There are so many great restaurants in the area, but we can't help but keep coming back here (5 visits and counting)! We always get the dukkah courgette and artichoke; it's delicious. I can't think of a restaurant I've been to with food I've enjoyed more. There are lots of VG options, too. (Also, an incredible range of cocktais.).

Love it here! Me and my husband come every chance we get. Such warm and friendly vibes. The staff are so lovely and the food is truly wonderful. Wish they had fresh orange juice but hey ho. The cocktails are some of the best I've had. The Singapore Sling is my go to.

So so happy to have a ‘special’ restaurant in Palace, I can’t wait to come back. Food was beautiful and lots I’d never tried before, love the decor, really kind service. Love all the different parts of the restaurant, private booth looked really cool and the takeaway wine and charcuterie :) chose to come here with my parents over heading into town and all so glad we did!

56 Westow serves some of the best food I've ever had. We eat here as often as we can. They have an incredibly extensive cocktail menu as well. Highly recommend

Went with family for Sunday Lunch. Very good food with large portions and vegan / vegetarian options. Nice airy brasserie style dining , which I'm sure was known for years as "Joannas". Good wine and beer selection.

Great selection of dishes. Friendly attentive staff. We'll be back soon.

Best Sunday roast in the area very friendly stuff

great place for a romantic night or for a groip of friends. Lovely cocktails, we had the charcuterie board and cheese board to snack and it was fabulous

Fabulous décor, very lovely staff. Food was good, but a tiny bit slow for a lunchtime. The large amount of hard surfaces make it very echoey inside, which is probably great for a party night, but not good if you want a conversation during the day. Well done, worth a visit!

I’m not a local, so I was a bit worried when I turned up with 5 friends for brunch on a Sunday and it wasn’t that busy. But they put us in an enclosed booth which was really cool and the service was very good and friendly. Food was well priced and some interesting options.

Fantastic rebirth of an iconic Crystal Palace spot. Honestly great food off the grill, extremely friendly service (it was a treat to meet one of the new owners) - think of this as your ideal place for a lunch treat. Update: second visit, also phenomenal. Great Bream Meuniere - get the cabin/booth if you can. I would heavily advise attending this place if you are local.

Main dishes were ok dessert was not that good, but cocktails were good. Food was average, but the steak was very good and I would recommend that.

This was the best breakfast/service/atmosphere I have had out in London ever. I can't wait to come back for dinner. Thank you!!!

Had breakfast there amazing food will b bk

One of the best Sunday roasts in my life ❤️

This is a general review, as we are regular customers. While the food is usually excellent, I needed to send a steak back twice in one evening. The steaks were recently added to the menu and the chef needs to practice the whole rare-medium rare business, as well as the choice of cuts. HOWEVER, the waiter and the waitress servicing our table on that evening were extremely professional about it, they made sure that the experience was rectified, so a shoutout to those two examples of the highest professional standard. Otherwise, the food is usually superb. Great experience with the sea bream and also the meatballs in the almond (?) sauce (I hope the latter makes a comeback to the menu). We are regulars and will keep returning.

Outstanding will go again soon.

Came for Sunday lunch but hadn't made a reservation. They were very welcoming, accommodating us at the communal table near the kitchen. The roast was one of the best I've had in a long time. Generous portions, perfectly cooked porchetta, great selection of veg and incredible gravy! My husband loved the vegan roast seitan. Also, the best virgin Mary I've ever had - they even gave me the recipe. Staff could not have been friendlier. We will definitely be back!

What a find!! We didn’t have a booking but they accommodated us very amenably. I can honestly say it was one of the BEST Sunday roasts ever. Delicious roast pork but it was the veggies that really impressed. Roasties, heritage carrots and much more. Everything was seasoned and flavoured to perfection and the portion size huge plus extra gravy on tap. The vegan roast (pictured) was also a huge hit. Delightful service in a really cosy, welcoming atmosphere. Cannot recommend highly enough. Thank you for saving my hangover!!

I find it hard to rate places 5/5 but this place deserves it. Very impressive. Our waiter, I think his name was Harrison, was exactly what you wanted, polished, professional,,chilled and non-intrusive. We hadn't booked on a busy evening yet he managed to sit us with a great view of the london city skyline, one of the best seats in the restaurant. Onto the food. It was fantastic, good portion sized and reasonably priced for the flavour and quality. Starters- Bruschetta- I've had many bad but this was excellent. Generous fresh toppings but the way the bread was cooked meant it wasn't soggy. A little touch but amateur chefs get this constantly wrong in other restaurants Chimigaro (spelling)- succulent pork. Very good. Dinner- Aubergine. Most restaurants de-bitter the aubergine that reduces the taste. They kept the flavour and didn't overcook. It worked well with the miso drizzle and goats cheese, lots of strong flavours that contrasted well. Lamb merguez focaccia. The merguez was one of the best I ever tasted. The focaccia wasn't soggy or too doughy so you could pick it up and eat like a wrap without the contents falling out or it disintegrating. Again, a minor point but inexperienced chefs would forget or ignore this important detail. We will 100% return and trust it will keep up its excellent quality cooking.

We visited with our children for brunch on quite a quiet Saturday morning just before Christmas. The pancakes were excellent and the English breakfast went down well. The staff were so lovely and kind as unfortunately our youngest wasn't having a good day and they as we might, he was crying quite uncontrollably. They were very understanding which I thought was very kind and we did eventually manage to enjoy our meal. Thank you so much, it meant more than you could know.

Great service, perfect for large groups too. Had our Christmas gathering here with friends. Amazing cocktails too!

From the warm welcome, the delicious cocktails, super attentive staff and the exceptional quality food every detail beautifully considered! We booked the booth for a team celebration and were all in awe of the team at 56!

What a find 😍 the food is delicious, good amount, fair price and excellent quality and taste, not a big selection but enough to please most people, service was very friendly, tiny bit slow and they missed one of our mains as they forgot it but to be fair we were already so full we didn't mind, hopefully a one off. Definitely will be coming here often.

One of the best restaurants I've visited this year. The ambiance is superb and the food is of the highest order. Harrison answered all our questions and was brilliant with helping us order a suitable range of dishes.

Absolutely loved this independent restaurant and bar. The team took over from the family Joanna’s and have paid tribute by leaving the fabulous booth and menu stables. Every dish is a classic but bream is supreme. The cocktails are superb. Go as soon as you can, support local businesses and have a fabulous time.

I came in on the off chance with my 2 yr old granddaughter for lunch on Sat 25th Nov. We instantly received a warm welcome. Staff recommended a couple of small dishes that were perfect and generously proportioned, they also tasted wonderful. My granddaughter was offered a colouring book and pencils. What we couldn't eat was packaged up in a takeaway box, with a little extra in. It was a lovely, relaxing experience, tasty food and friendly staff.

Really like what they've done with the inside, very cosy and lovely atmosphere. Really good food and excellent service, definitely be back.

We came and enjoyed three superb cocktail rounds. Our mixologist bar tender was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and made us a range of off the menu drinks to suit our tastes. Will 100% be returning and also trying the food to!

The best roast dinners in London! Excellent food all round, a wide range of great cocktails and faultless service.

We booked for the Sunday Roast. Both the lamb and the pork were delicious. And with a generosity of perfectly cooked vegetables, too. The pudding was delicious as well. We'll definitely be returning to 56 Westow. Thank you - and to the charming and efficient waiter.

I went here on a date and the moment we walked through the door we were greeted with open arms. The service is amazing and the Sunday roast was exceptional. I highly recommended this place for anyone in search of quality food

When you want to share a good review so the business does well but you don't want too many knowing about it too! As far as roasts go, this place is really, really good. I hope the same quality and standards are upheld over time.

Very nice food, great desserts, lovely sazerac, and great service too. Not necessarily the place for a light dinner, as even the snacks/starters are pretty rich, but definitely one to remember.

Excellent food, but we had to always attract the waiting staff to order & chase up our food, even when it was quiet.

Had a great dinner at 56 Westow! Really good service, lovely atmosphere and the food was great - different and more interesting than the usual menu. The cocktails are quite unusual would like more fruity based ones on the standard menu but they will make any cocktail. Would happily come back.

As a mixologist myself I know what a good cocktail should taste like. Alas, after one insipid wishy-washy cocktail at 56 Westow we fled nextdoor to the Cocktail Embassy for the remainder of the evening.

Crystal Palace has a new best roast! Chicken was so moist, everything else delicious and very generous portions. Staff were top and looked after us very well despite us turning up with a dog and a baby in a pram. Check it out!

Came here on a Friday night and Harrison couldn't have been more attentive or helpful! What wonderful staff you have :) Fab cocktails (huge selection in a very cool book!), yummy snacks and lovely relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely be coming again!

Impeccable service. Amazing cocktail selection and bar snacks. Great vibes too!

Great place. Chilled vibes. We were given the private both... so cosy and perfect for a catch up with the girls! Cocktails... basically they have it all. Whatever you want made they make it... the food was phenomenal! The lamb is a MUST!!! The best lamb I've ever had! ❤️ Will be back for date night x

Had a lovely brunch. Food was delicious. Special mention for Harrison whose service was charming and attentive. Thank you for a lovely morning!

Wonderful place and service. Monica

Food was great - service however was terrible. Took for ever to order any drinks - staff too busy chatting, left after our starters as it took so long. The food really was great - shame the service let down the experience.

The food is deeply average, especially considering what’s being charged for it, and the service is amateur hour.

My wife and I visited for the first time since the change to 56 Westow, and we absolutely loved it. The service was excellent (shout out to Abi in particular but everyone was great) and the food, drink and ambience were really special. It's so nice to have a destination evening spot in the triangle again and we will be back with friends very soon! Thanks!

Fantastic roast - really a bit special. Service was amazing, really knowledgeable and to a high standard Amazing cocktail menu - we had the sustainable espresso martinis - perfect choice! All of this to a background of great tunes by a DJ. Really love this place ❤️

Spectacular food and cocktails in a beautiful setting. Such a delicious selection of carefully curated plates of food and lovely caring service. What a fantastic new addition to the triangle

Delicious lunch, very fancy food and huge cocktail menu. The waitress Abbie was very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Had a lovely afternoon. Relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. Food was absolutely delicious. First time visiting...will definitely be back.

Loved the place. Impeccable service, unusual but excellent food menu and both coctail menu and wine list are great. Just what crystal palace needed

Really excellent - tasty food and great service

Very, very good ! The dishes are very originals and si delicious. Atmosphere so quiet and service so kind. I recommand without problem !

Food exelant, waiter friendly and very helpful, good atmosphere .I will certainly dine here again

Been keen to eat here since they opened and it really didn't disappoint! Just there for a random wee scran and have left more than satisfied. Huge portions at a great price... What more can you ask for!? The anchovies on the homemade bread with capers was absolutely bangin. Great job team!

Well thought out decor and very warm welcome from the get go. Varied menu and food freshly made and appetising. Great lunch! Will surely go back soon.

We had the best Sunday roast at 56 Westow!! Pancetta and lamb roasts are delicious with perfect potatoes, a crispy Yorkshire pudding and a nice take on the usual veg. Highly recommend!

Fantastic food and service. The slow cooked lamb was a real highlight, as were the welcome cocktails (dying to know where the berry liqueur was from!), and the doughnuts were AMAZING! However, unfortunately we'd have to think twice about returning due to dogs being allowed. The table next to us had two dogs which barked a few times (expected) and then one puked all over the floor (unexpected and very off-putting). It really ruined the experience and just was not the sort of thing you want when enjoying a meal, so I wouldn't risk it again. Really sad as we enjoyed the food and the staff were lovely.

We had a great night here. Lovely bar with delicious food and tasty cocktails.

Relaxed atmosphere with attentive and prompt service, a well thought out menu that delivered what it promised and an excellent wine list. In addition, it's a nice place to be, tastefully decorated and you can converse with ease. This is what a restaurant should be.

First visit for lunch with my mother a few weeks ago. We arrived early but this didn't pose a problem. Food proved to be delicious and the kitchen was open to our choices rather than being totally dictated by the set menu, (rosemary potato & sides instead of polenta). Although it was midweek and the restaurant wasn't full, the atmosphere and ambience was friendly and we didn't feel like we were rattling around an empty space. All staff we encountered were welcoming and helpful. Most importantly, mother loved everything, and she has previously been a regular when the space was Joanna's and does not mince her words if she's unhappy with anything. We will definitely be returning, probably to try out their Sunday roast as the lamb we had for lunch was great, we left totally filled to the brim!

Blown away by the food and service. Loved the chef telling us the details of the special and the special of sardines was just amazing - incredible flavours 🤩 Def be back.

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Went here yesterday (table of 4) for my birthday and from the minute we walked in the staff were excellent. They are knowledgeable in creating cocktails (highly recommend the ale smoked old fashioned) and attentive with the menu, any questions or requests and they will sort and explain. The food quality and flavours are exquisite with a good selection of small plates and mains, (the meatballs, homous and pork belly are a must). Hats off to the chef/owner and service staff who made it a very memorable birthday experience - I'll definitely be coming back!!

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Feel very lucky to have this on my doorstep!

Excellent service made way for an enjoyable meal. The smoked aubergine was overcooked, but that was the only dull note. Loved the griddled courgettes and the lentil side dish. My daughter enjoyed the bream. And we saved space to share the brownie sundae. Delish. Glad to see the restaurant very busy on a Tuesday evening. Best of luck to this new addition to Crystal Palace eateries in the familiar space of Joanna's dining rooms. x

Ate here a to celebrate my partner getting a flat and everything was perfect! Had an amazing view of the London Skyline from atop the Crystal Palace Hill. Great food accompanied by friendly and attentive staff plus a beautiful decor and atmosphere make this a greta place for date night or a cleebratory meal. I will 100% be back here soon! Make sure you book a table so you dont miss out!

I was really hoping that this new restaurant (replacing the formally loved 'Joanna's') would be equally as good as Joanna's, but sadly I did not find the food that impressive... The tomato on ciabata starter was not very flavoursome... and the meatballs although they looked delicious, had an unusual taste. The Pan fried bream however was very lovely and tasty! The menu lacked some staple options like a good grilled steak... and our cocktails also did not hit the spot!.. they were weak and lacked punch. There was also no champagne on offer by the glass... which felt like the restaurant downgraded from the upmarket standards of Joanna's. However, I'd like to try this place again to see if my experience was a 'one off', and maybe try some different dishes... but with Cocktail Embassy a few doors away and new restaurants opening up all the time in Crystal Palace, I think 56 Westow need to do a bit more if they want to have the same long tenure and success of their predecessor, Joanna's. They also are not giving access to the small car park at the back anymore... which in busy crystal Palace was a real 'God-send' for customers...

Bring your own napkin as theirs is inadequate for wet dishes such so tiger prawns in sauce. Bring a recipe for a Bloody Mary, as a tomato juice with garnish needs some ingredients. The service was with a smile but the tiny paper napkins brought the marks down for me. The celeriac puree was lovely, but there was too much oil in the greens- a hint of oil would have done the trick. Sea bass was excellent but roasties were undercooked. Had a lovely glutenfree gravy specially for me. On the whole, quite a pricey meal. Some of the music was jarring.

Such a gorgeous art deco style restaurant and bar in the heart of Crystal Palace. We went for the Sunday roast and both the porcheta and seitan dishes were phenomenal. Staff catered to a nut free meal. Cocktails are great as well!! We’ll be back.

Outstanding service, food and drinks. A brilliant addition to the Crystal Palace triangle.

The menu is limited but what we had was very nice. Bream, potatoes and lentils. Bream was cooked beautifully.Decent Sauvignon. Previously, the Sunday veggie roast dinner wasn't great and music was too loud, far more enjoyable second time around.

Ate here for the first time this evening. The food was delicious and the staff very friendly. Will definitely be back. Thank you!

Rough afternoon for me. No beer on tap, no beer/cider bottles. Asked if we could run over the road and grab a bottle of beer and pay corkage. Denied. Not everyone wants a wine or spirit with their food. Limited kids options. When the food arrived I was less than impressed. Meat not cooked well, pork was chewy. Gravy the same consistency as water. Veg hard. I left it and left. It’s a shame, but I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth after leaving here. EDIT IN RESPONSE TO ELENA: Correction, my table was still charged for my roast, even though I sent it back. I then went back to the restaurant to complain about this. I spoke to a young bloke who was far from helpful. Kept telling me that my table was “happy” to pay for my meal (astonishing that it was even left on the bill in the first place). He then refused to refund it to me, which ended up in a heated discussion which I have on camera. My partner then came and they finally agreed to refund me. Over a week later I’m yet to have this “offered” refund.

Great food, pleasant atmosphere and a very friendly service 🫶

We had a lovely evening at 56 Westow, the food was tasty and varied. The meatballs are amazing! Cocktails also a highlight and the surroundings are relaxed and welcoming. We had a great time that was made even more memorable by the fantastic service from our Scottish waiter (sorry we didn’t get the name). Will be back!

Visited on Monday evening at 22:05. I remember the time as a guest had just arrived (late) from New York. We'd been turned away from several other venues in CP (kitchens closed) and so were grateful and delighted that at 56 Westow the chef agreed to reopen the kitchen and feed us! Service from all members of the team was warm, smiling, kind and welcoming. The food was excellent (slow cooked lamb, orange salad and chicherones) and the wine recommendations spot on. This was my first time at this new venue, but definitely not my last. WELCOME TO CRYSTAL PALACE

Very disappointed bring back JoannaS The menu is basic the presentation is awful basic pub grub

Been a few times since it opened as so many great dishes to try! The sea bream is a personal highlight. Lovely staff and ambiance. Great addition to the triangle!

Dined here tonight with one of my good friends and feel compelled to write a review as the food was amazing. I had the meatballs and my friend had the lamb, the flavours were on par with the best I've ever tasted and portions sizes great, cocktails were beautiful too. I wouldn't hesitate to return at all and can't wait to bring my husband here. Was sad when I heard Joanna's had closed down but this place is a welcome addition! It's perfection.

I've eaten at 56 Westow a couple of times now and have had a wonderful meal each time. The decor is super stylish. It feels intimate but not overcrowded, love the super cute micro-off license. There is a booth for private parties and a bar at the front for snacks and drinks. I loved the food, cocktails and service. I sat at the sofa by the bar and watched the evening over the city view while I had a cocktail (the margarita is to die for) and waited for my friends. The food I've had each time has been great. The first time, my friends and I ate every starter as a sharing platter and a few mains. We had some fussy eaters and everyone was catered for. The second time was a smaller more traditional sit down meal. Both times the food was amazing and the staff were happy to bring the food at the pace we wanted. Highlights from the starters included: Chicaronnes, gordal olives, chorizo, charcuterie, sliders, gateaux piment. I'd love to give you a highlight from the mains but they're all mouthwatering. Deserts - you must try the doughnut. All in all, ill be back to eat the rest of the menu soon!

Friday dinner - food cooked to perfection and all ingredients of great quality

Beautiful food and great location, with a view over the city from the front window.

Obsessed with the brown butter fish! Lovely atmosphere, and the staff are amazing.

Great food, good for sharing (although quite small menu). Lovely place with great atmosphere and service.

Wow... Cannot rate this place highly enough. My friend and I popped in for a quick lunch and something to drink. The quality of the food was amazing, the iced coffees were so refreshing and very tasty and the cocktails were wonderful. The fact we could sit outside but not be crammed on to the pavement made the experience even better. And a big thank you to Amelia who served us and made out cocktails. Her friendly banter and professionalism as well as her knowledge of the food and drink on offer make her a real asset to the business and made our time there today even more enjoyable. We will definitely be back and will definitely be recommending 56 Westow to our friends and family.

Unfortunately the food arrived before the Aperitifs - put a bit of a "dampener" on the evening to say the least.

We have just been to 56 Westow for the first time today to celebrate Father’s Day and we were absolutely delighted with our visit! From the first communication with the reservation the service is fantastic. A team that you can tell actually care about what they do. They are attentive, kind and just very pleasant! Jason was particularly lovely! The ambience was just right with lovely upbeat music that was cheerful for the occasion. The decor is a tweak on the old Joanna’s style which is familiar yet new to mirror the change in restaurant which is so welcome to the triangle! We both had a roast, a porcetta and a lamb… both so delicious! The vegetables are fresh and full of flavour and not just an after thought. Roast potatoes were so good! Not overcooked and reheated like most places! The sides of leeks and cauliflower cheese were wonderful additions! I would recommend these even though the roasts are massive but yes, the extra sides are naughty and just delish! The Donut with honeycomb and the brownie sundae are decadent and utterly indulgent and a wonderful way to finish such a lovely meal! Thank you to all involved in making today so special. We will be back to try the rest of the menu. I really hope this place is a huge success. Just what Crystal Palace has been missing.

Phew! So relieved to see that the space left by Joanna's has been filled so well. We (party of four) tried the roasts menu and were very impressed. The tiger prawn starter was a highlight, as were the cocktails. Love the atmosphere and music too, and hope to be back soon.

Incredible food here - amazing flavours and a great atmosphere. Very supportive and welcoming staff. Strongly recommend.

Had an amazing evening for my mums birthday, which was a surprise. Ten of us and children were all looked after so well, even getting colouring in items for the kids. the food was plentiful and delicious. particularly loved the humus, albondigs, the bream was my favourite. plenty for veggies and mixed groups. cocktails delicious and the sparkling Canterbury rose amazing. Price was reasonable will definitely be back! I know joanna’s was a real staple so it feels nice to have something back in its spot! x

Have dined at 56 Westow three times so far! Absolutely love the food and cocktails! The lamb special was out of this world delicious! Staff were very warm and welcoming. Am looking forward to checking out the Sunday roasts! Would highly recommend. A local gem. Will be back!

We had an absolutely fantastic time here. Food and cocktails were amazing and was also super reasonable! Our favourite dish was the lamb and polenta chips!

Already in love with this place. You have to get the slow cooked lamb. Polenta is so crispy and delicious. I would eat the chicharrones every day. Walked past the other and saw some roasts and they looked incredible, can’t wait to have one!