Not quite electric, but there's some buzz at the Power Station

Battersea Power Station may be a local landmark, but I'm not sure I would name my restaurant after it. It's a stunning building, but that whiff of dereliction, its failure to find a purpose since it stopped burning coal nearly 20 years ago, aren't the kind of associations you necessarily want.

That said, we had a pretty good meal there. It's a neighbourhood cafe and restaurant handily located over the road from Battersea Park rail station and just a couple of minutes from the park. If the summer ever materialises, a lazy afternoon in the park followed by some Mediterranean flavours in the Power Station bar and restaurant might be a great way to spend a day.

We didn't sample much of the menu, just a mezze platter which was unexpectedly heavy on the cured meats - thin Parma-style ham, salami, and cured beef. There were deep fried bits of octopus, some tasty spinach and cheese pastries (I told you these were of the moment), and a couple of meatballs. Plus, of course, hummus, tzatziki, olives and pitta bread. The dips were quite acceptable but blander than some.

At the next table a couple of ladies were enjoying their sea bass fillets in prawn and garlic butter. There are Greek classics like moussaka and kleftiko, plus Greek-style pasta dishes (I liked the sound of the makaroni me kima, "similar to the Italian bolognese, only better".) There are lighter dishes like burgers, you can get takeaway, and they do roasts on Sundays.

From the outside it is easy to believe it's no more than a cafe, but if you venture towards the back you find a casual but quite nicely done restaurant. I'll certainly be back to test it out more fully.

Power Station Bar and Restaurant
161 Battersea Park Road SW8 4BU
0207 7200 632
powerstation-bar-restaurant.co.uk