George Lane in South Woodford is fast becoming spoilt for choice on the restaurant front. The latest edition - PARADE GASTROBAR - will do nothing but enhance that reputation. Perfectly located opposite the George pub and the Odeon, within just two months of opening it already appears to have established a reputation for itself - the night we visited there wasn't a table free.
It has a an expensive feel about it too - with beautiful black slate flooring, chocolate brown leather chairs, dark khaki walls and a long bar dominated by a glitzy over the top chandelier. The pristine kitchen is open plan, with two young t-shirted chefs, heads down and firmly focused on producing some of the best food I think you will taste around here at this moment in time.
I was won over immediately by my starter - a fresh crab and guacamole combo that was superbly put together. It was sparkling fresh, elegantly presented as an inch thick 'ice puck' of flaky white crab meat, topped with a thin disk of ripe avocado, mashed and spiked with just the right amount of hot red chilli. Splashes of really good, verdant green olive oil around the lip f the plate completed the ensemble. Just perfect - worth every penny of its £6.00. Grilled Saudi Tiger Prawns with chilli and lemon (£6.50) were judiciously cooked and vanished before I could get much of a taster.
To follow, a whole grilled sea-bass, served with caper-berries, slow-roasted tomatoes and black olives (£15.00) was a treat. There are a couple of vegetarian options, including bubble'n'squeak, topped with a nice poached egg, and dressed with warm, mustard lentils (£7.50). Nice - though the purists amongst us might have preferred a bit more greenery in the mash. Maybe next time we will give the wild mushroom risotto a try.
The main courses are wide-ranging - we looked on enviously at a five-spiced crusted swordfish on noodles and a straight-up chargrilled ribeye of Angus beef with all the trimmings at the next table. We made sure we got our order of chunky chips though! (£2.75).
Not much to choose from on the wine front - but a bottle of Pinot Grigio was fine for £12.50.
Desserts are all priced at £4.25. We could have had a double chocolate brownie or rhubarb and apple crumble, but settled happily on a plate of banana caramel sponge to share, with good expresso coffee.
Ambitiously, the PARADE GASTROBAR is open all day - the breakfast and lunch menus are more straightforward, but if the quality of the cooking is as good as the evening, then its defiantly worth popping in here any time of the day. We liked it a lot.

Parade Gastrobar at
17 Electric Parade
George Lane
South Woodford
Tel 0208 530 2010