It is easy in the restaurant business to get things wrong. So when a venue gets everything right, from food to wine to ambience to staff, the relaxation caused by being perfectly served is imbued by actual joy.

And what is this heady place? Tis Green & Blue, a deli, wine shop (that does deliveries) and restaurant found in East Dulwich, south London.

The atmosphere I was hoping for was romantic and by Jove, romance is what I got. The small, circular tables were remotely spaced enough for the laughter of merry ladies to feel distant and for extra amour, there was candlelight. Our waitress was thoroughly charming and recommended wines without flinching when I mentioned that uncouth term: ‘budget’.

G & B’s menu is dominated by The Nibbles, an exhaustive selection of meat and vegetarian titbits from the deli next door. To nibble, we ordered balsamic onions (£2), grilled courgettes (£4.50), falafel with humus (£6) and roasted artichokes (£5). All were delicious but the true revelation came in sweet and refreshing balsamic onion form. These tiny balls retained the succulence and crunch of their eye-watering friend, the pickled onion, but with a treacly balsamic glaze in place of acidity.

My choice of wine normally involves evaluating how cheap I can go without every sip invoking a grimace but this time I went for a 2007 Pinot Gris (normally priced at £23.75) whose exoticism stayed on the palette for what felt like days. The subtle, smooth, light flavour has caused me to appraise my policy on wine, as when a drink is that tasty you don’t bolt it. A single bottle lasted my date and I for over three hours.

If The Nibbles are the Steve Buscemi of G&B’s menu (prolific and varied) then The Mains are the Daniel Day Lewis (limited output but packed with quality). I chose the pie and salad (£8.75) which on the day contained roasted vegetable and feta cheese. The flavours just kept on coming  and involved a heady mix of flaky, sweet, tender, rich, salty and warming sensations. My date chose the savoury tart and salad (£5.75): a parsnip and carrot creation that was crisp, had a hint of spice and was cooked to perfection.

Even the accompanying salads sung with flavour, the lettuce was fresh and crunchy and the sprinklings of dill and chives gave it a bit of a kick. Every mouthful was satisfying.

A final nod must go to the novel concept of ‘Chippage’ which I discovered whilst perusing the menu. For the price of £3 per head you can bring your own food to G & B and be provided with plates and cutlery. Perfect if you fancy a change of dining scenery but your bank balance says ‘no’…

Green & Blue
38 Lordship Lane
East Dulwich
SE22 8HJ

Tel: 020 8693 9250

www.greenandbluewines.com