Boulevard, South Croydon

I didn't expect to find this place on this website, as previous visits had led me to believe that this is a restaurant - no more, no less. But a more attentive visit last week led me to discover that, according to their business card, it is actually a restaurant, café and bar. As a restaurant, I rate it highly. The food is excellent and real value for money with Starters at £3-4, Mains £7-8 and desserts £3-4. I had Ostrich in a Crème Cassis sauce and it was outstanding. I've eaten here many times and always found the service very friendly, the atmosphere relaxed and the food top notch. However, as a bar it doesn't work for me. Drinkers are confined to a row of stools along the bar or some café style tables outside (perhaps some indoor tables are set aside on quieter nights, but I rarely see anyone there just for a drink anyway, so I can't be sure). Beer is limited to bottles such as San Miguel, Budvar or Stella, but the wine list would presumably be the best place for non diners to find a drink worthy of their visit. Come for the food by all means (9/10), but I'm afraid as a place to just have a drink it doesn't work and I could pick several other places nearby that would be preferable in that sense (hence the low rating for the purposes of this website).