South Croydon Community Association

Restaurant Review: Truro

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by

josemsl
in

In March 2024 members of the SCCA had their first meal at ‘Truro’ a restaurant in South End, South Croydon, formerly Pizza Express. It’s an unusual Indo/African restaurant that opened a few months ago and I’m still thinking about the incredible flavours their chefs created.

Where does the name Turo come from?

In 1860, the Truro sailing ship sailed from Southern Asia to Port Natal, South Africa. The resilient South Asian community that landed fused their wonderful Indian flavours with that of Africa and now those flavours have travelled to Croydon.

On arrival we were offered a delicious FREE mini cup of spicy sweet potato soup to enjoy while we read the menu. Our choices included an amazing nut & pear salad and ‘Brai’ (a South African BBQ) cooked lamb chops. We then had a massive platter for 2 people, which was ample for 3 of us. The platter was a mix of prawns and chicken on a bed of rice with amazing toppings and spicy sweet potato chips. As we could not agree on the topping our lovely young waiter suggested having both the gorgeous spicy chilli & spices and lemon and garlic. The desserts were fab but to be honest I was too full to have one on my own so we shared.

  • Food – 10/10 – amazing flavours, the prawns are stunning, but limited options for vegetarians.
  • Portions – 10 /10 – absolutely huge.
  • Drinks – 6/10 – they are a NO alcohol venue but, as I’m a non-drinker, I can say their mock cocktails are really delicious.
  • Service – 9/10 – charming waiter.
  • Price – 8/10 medium, special deals available.
  • Decor – 10/10 newly created modern interior, great for groups or couples.
  • Atmosphere – 8/10 chilled, back ground music, busy but not noisy.

Comments

One response to “Restaurant Review: Truro”

  1. Hamna Yusaf avatar
    Hamna Yusaf

    I visited this restaurant as a party of 7, having pre-booked our table online. From the moment we arrived, we were told by the waitress that we had the table for only 2 hours. While this may be policy, it was repeated to us multiple times — even before we had a chance to place our order or settle in.

    Despite the constant reminders about the time limit, it took over 20 minutes for our order to be taken. Then again, before the food arrived (which was delayed), the waitress reminded us yet again about the 2-hour limit. I had brought my visiting relatives out for a meal, and it was frankly embarrassing and uncomfortable to be repeatedly rushed in this manner.

    Eventually, I had to speak up and tell the waitress that I found her repeated reminders rude and unnecessary. The service overall was poor and unwelcoming. When I went to pay, I refused to pay the service charge. The waitress offered a 10% discount as a goodwill gesture, which I declined — I paid the full amount for my meal out of principle.

    This restaurant is clearly not equipped to handle slightly larger groups, and the waitress in particular would benefit from some serious customer service training. Unfortunately, I had an awful experience and will not be returning. I would not recommend this place if you’re looking for a relaxed or enjoyable dining experience.

    Reply

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