“The cheapest negronis in London.” That’s what the article said. I was sold. A newcomer to the negroni scene, I’d been an instant convert since trying them in the summer of 2015. Other cocktails paled in comparison with the bittersweet mix of vermouth, gin and Campari. The only downside is that they never seemed to be on a happy hour cocktail list.
Tim met me at Rye Wax in Peckham. This café-come-record shop-come-bar sits in the basement of the Bussey building. Dimly lit, with compact wooded tables resembling those all-in-one dinner seating sets that children have, their happy hour runs from 6-8pm most weekdays. We plumped for Old Fashioned’s and grabbed seats near the bar. Within minutes of them arriving I’d drunk mine. Bugger. I’d planned to stay here an hour. That’s the thing with cheap dating, you have to eek out your drinks.
“Right. Shall we just go and see if the restaurant can get us in early?”
“No rush babe” my boyfriend replied. “Just because we’ve finished doesn’t mean we have to leave. We can just stay and chat.
“Ohhh. Right”
We talked some more while watching the paper straws turn to pulp in our glasses. Eventually we left to walk the ten minutes to dinner.
Four Hundred Rabbits’ name is something to do with a Greek gods, booze and fermentation. I read the blurb on the website but was distracted by the bit on negronis. A pizza restaurant on Evelina road in Nunhead, this airy space is dominated by a massive pizza oven with tables arranged around it and a small, white washed yard to sit in out back.
We ordered soon after arriving , first the negronis – they’d gone up 50p to £4 since the article was published, not outrageous but every penny counts. Then the food, I chose the courgette and pine nut pesto pizza. Tim had something with chorizo. When they arrived fresh from the oven I almost didn’t want to eat mine as it looked so pretty. Paper thin strips of courgette crisscrossed over the yellows cheese below with liberal dabs of fresh green pesto. It was delicious, I tried some of Tim’s but preferred mine, and didn’t want to share, he sensed this and didn’t ask. Good man.
I really enjoyed the meal. The nursed negronis and little white yard conjured up memories of sun soaked evenings abroad. What’s more, when the bill arrived we had slid in under £30 with tip. Winners!
The damage
Old Fashioneds x 2: £10
Negronis and pizzas x 2: £28.88
TOTAL: £38.88
The romance factor – Good for a causal midweek date though I would have liked double the amount of drinks. I foresee alcohol is going to be an issue in future…
Dirt Cheap Dater 