The Exhibit

Reviews

• Tres romantic

  Came here last week and was pleasantly surprised. Have been to the bar on the ground floor quite a few times but never the restaurant which is on the 1st floor overlooking Sainsbury's car park. I always thought it was a bit of a strange location but actually the restaurant with its exposed brick and long wall of windows felt really airy and light. And the view wasn't that bad- felt nice to be so high up. The menu is quite like a brasserie menu, small but caters for all. Gi went for the sea bass which she said was lovely and I went for the feather steak which is served rare. I would probably go for the sirloin next time - as the feather wasn't as tender as i would have liked. Sorbet ice cream was divine though. Service was great and i liked the candles which gave the restaurant a romatic glow. Definitely will come back to try the rest of the menu - especially as i've got 50% off with the tp card!

  Ilovelucy
  Review Date: 11/05/2008 Report review
• Cracking Private Cinema

  I was very fortunate to win a cinema for the night in Balham. I clicked on the button on The Exhibit's website and some how managed to bag myself a night at a very swanky cinema on Cowie's doorstep.We walk past The Exhibit most weekends when we inevitably pop into Sainsbury's 5 times because we keep forgetting things, or Cowie runs out of grapes! It's a very smart, imposing building with a magnetic quality that makes you want to investigate. That's what got us hooked. I've never really wanted to watch the films they screen. But the beauty about having a cinema all to yourself is that you get to choose the film.At first this really exciting. Then it becomes scary. Finding a film that 24 people are all going to like and not have seen is almost impossible. So do you opt for an old classic that everyone has seen and can recite all the lines like Top Gun, Gladiator etc. Or do you go for a newish release that most won't have seen and will look great on the big screen?We went for the latter and watch American Gangster. It was one of the toughest choices I've ever made. Made tougher by the sheer idiocy of Blockbuster. Despite having a live membership in Nottingham they wouldn't let me hire a video in Balham. They could try but I'd have had to have known the post code for the Blockbuster on Lenton Boulevard... unlikely. So sir. Do you have proof of your address such as a utility bill? Of course not! Do you? Madness. Somehow I managed to emerge 15 minutes later clutching a copy of the DVD but my temper was rubbed raw. No wonder Love Film is doing so well.The Exhibit has got a great bar with very friendly bar staff. The crowd is very cool without being pretentious. And it is supposed to be great in summer when they open out their terrace.Unfortunately we were too late on a Sunday night for food so we just had olives and nuts whilst watching our film and sipping our beers. Bliss on a Sunday evening. It would make a great place for a party as there are quite a few bars in the building. As we left we stumbled into a stand up comedy night and somehow managed to emerge un-teased which was the only disappointment to the evening!We're all delighted to have discovered such a cool haunt and are super keen to return.

  Browners
  Review Date: 12/04/2008 Report review
• A very cool place

  I remember when they first started to refurbish this place, and it's quite amazing what it turned into.For a start, although central (in Balham terms), its location could hardly be less picturesque - it overlooks the local Sainsburys car park and is next to Balham train station. Despite this, they have managed to create a very trendy and friendly place, including some nice outside spaces.On the ground floor there's a trendy but still friendly bar, serving drinks and bar snacks. The first floor is an excellent but affordable restaurant, serving what I guess you'd call modern British food. And finally on the third floor, there's a small and comfortable cinema showing a variety of films. Especially recommended are the "dinner & film" type deals, a cheap way to get an early dinner and catch a movie straight after.

  Mario
  Review Date: 11/03/2008 Report review
• Good Bar nice fish tank

  Went to the exhibit on Sat night after a 4 year absense, maybe its now appealing to my older man needs, but I had a great night, comfortable sofas and a fish tank, not too busy for a sat night, looked like it had a good restaurants and cocktail bar also, but could not get into these.

  680

  Phil G.
  Review Date: 25/02/2008 Report review