i first heard of this restaurant after reading some reviews in the press and unlike many other diners who had been to the ivy and wanted to compare this, i had not been to its more famous sister restaurant. however, i kept it in mind as a place to explore if i am ever back in the chelsea area, and sure enough, one weekday just a few weeks later, i found myself exactly there to meet a friend for lunch.
we parted with tradition and decided not to make any bookings for a retsaurant but as my train was pulling in, i suddenly remembered this place. what's the likelihood of getting a reservation at 0 hours notice, i wondered. but as it turns out, the likelihood is rather good! we jus turned up on a monday lunch time and asked for a table for 2 and were seated immediately.not in the garden area i must add, beggars can't be choosers. but we were quite happily placed in a corner table with a view of the buzz of kings road.
our waiter on the day had a unique sense of humour, not one that the two of us necessariy warmed to but it irritated me from the outset when my friend asked for tap water and the waiter serving us stared at her as if she had just spat in the water. i'm sorry but if i can drink tap water in my own home, then i'm certainly not too snobby to drink it when i'm out, unless of course you are implying that it's not safe to drink it in your restaurant (in which case you probably should be shut down) so i draw a line at waiting staff who could win trophies for their stuck up behaviour.
we were both in the mood for a sandwich/bready hearty lunch and i couldn't get past the fried fish burger. definitely not the healthiest thing i could have ordered i'll admit that but the batter was light and i was told later that it is beer battered. i could not quite finish the chips and frankly, these were quite unmemorable in taste so i did not waste my calorie allowance on them!
we probaly did not need a starter or nibbles but the truffled arancini sounded very tempting after recently returning from tuscany where truffle is so prominent. and i was impressed to find them served piping hot and seemingly freshly made with that potent scent of truffle filling our table.
when it came to ordering desserts, we pondered over whether to stay put or to explore one of the neighbouring cake shops. i couldn't be more glad that we decided to take the lazy option, stay put and choose to order the chocolate honeycombe ice cream bombe with salted caramel sauce that unfolded as the hot sauce was poured over it.
i first had a dessert like this at gordon ramsay petrus and then on a second occasion at bob bob ricard (and my 3rd was abroad) so it seems that these unfolding chocolate spheres are rather en vogue) but this was hands down the best of the lot with the beautiful saltiness of the caramel sauce contrasting with that indulgent crunchy sweetness from the honeycomb. it was quite a rich dessert, which i was glad to be sharing but it was a delicious way to round off our meal.
it was a nice enough meal overall though it was costly cosidering we basically had nibbles to share, desserts to share, a main each and a non alcoholic drink. i liked the main dishes but i certainly cannot say that they wowedd me - for a really delicious fish burger, i would much more highly recommend fish dog
s at brockly market but the chocoltale bombe here was a standout, though i'm not sure i would come all the way back for it.
as for the service, it was another example of a chelsea restaurant where many of the staff need to learn what customer service actually involves and little effort was made on their part above and beyond the forced pleasantries required.