Rapscallion is a worthy Sequel

This review was published in December 2001

Tucked away off the High Street, opposite the Clapham Picture House, Rapscallion is extremely popular with the pre, and post, cinema-going crowd. So a lively atmosphere is pretty much always on the cards.

It's small, but it doesn't feel cramped - floor-to-ceiling mirrors give the place an airy feel. It's simple - plain walls, long steel bar - the only decoration is a vase of exquisite flowers that reach almost to the ceiling, and a formidable selection of spirits stacked up on the back wall.

Rapscallion is supposedly the poor relation to the bigger, better-known Sequel on the other side of the street. But it's no less an eaterie. The atmosphere is definitely more bar than restaurant - many chose to perch at the bar rather than take a seat at a table, and the menu - there's a hint of the pacific - is exotic to the right side of silly.

Spangled emperor fish with macademia nut crunch on choi sum and kafir lime juice with japanese rice (£12.25), Piquillo peppers with cannellini beans on beetroot quinoa (£10.40), Red onion marmalade tart with ash goats cheese and mesculin salad (£4.75) - just reading the menu makes you feel like you're on a far-flung island.

But don't worry - the bill will bring you down to earth. It's not the food that eats into your wallet - it's the drinks. So set some money aside, because once the staff start talking spirits, you won't be able to say no.