400 Rabbits, Crystal Palace

Official photo

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy, so last week we took a trip to Crystal Palace. Also, we were invited by sourdough pizza joint 400 Rabbits (30-32 Westow Street).

It's the kind of simple, playful, bright and tasty restaurant that Brockley ought to have but doesn't.

We tried the beef and chilli pizza, our dining companion had the courgette and garlic. Sourdough is infallible, so the base was perfect, and the topping ingredients were generous, without being overwhelming. A good pizza restaurant makes it look so easy, it's hard to imagine how anyone could get it wrong, and yet many local places show just how badly it can be done.

Unofficial photo, obvs

The desert and drinks menu are similarly simple and effective. Pudding? They've got ice cream - a few flavours, all gorgeous. Beer? A decent selection, albeit on a menu that features one choice per page, so you're constantly flipping back and forth to choose between Beavertowns and Weird Beards.

And that's it: Nice people, nice food, nice atmosphere, carefully curated drinks menu. Indistinguishable from pizza magic. If you're in the area, you should go. Otherwise, pray that Noak, which seems to be going for a similar effect, delivers the goods.