"This old-school French classic in Balham is the type of place you might go to for a fidgety third date before finding yourself back there on your 50th anniversary. Chez Bruce is a certified mainstay, all white tablecloths and servers you want to adopt, plus the bread on arrival is some of the best you’ll find in London. If you’re able to keep your eyes off each other, the food—comforting and rich hare cavatelli, or a breathalyser-adverse rum baba—is reliably delicious, too." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna