Jason E.
Yelp
Within the craziness that is London, this is a quaint oasis!
We came here just before 10 on a Saturday night, enticed by a simple yet inviting interior, and fun-looking regulars enjoying themselves to a glass or two at the bar. Thankfully, we arrived just before the kitchen closed, too!
They offer an extensive wine list, obviously, with multiple pages of bottles. We were aiming for different wines, so didn't spend much time surveying the full list of bottles, but maybe next time. Thankfully, they also offer 4 or 5 selections each of red and white by the glass, and even a few special selections from their cellar.
I ordered a lamb stew, and my wife ordered something with pastry crust and butternut squash. Both dishes were simple, yet flavorful and marvelously cooked. Superb!
For the wine, my wife ordered a South African Chenin Blanc at first. I had a Loire Valley-red of the Gamay grape which was quite tasty, and then moved on to a Borolo from their special selection of cellar wine-by-the-glass.
I won't dwell on the wines themselves, since they likely change often, but a quick story on my wife's wine. Chenin Blanc, being a big-deal grape in South Africa, seemed like a good choice with her meal. However, the particular example was almost undrinkable, very sour, and with a vomit-like aroma. It opened up a bit with her food, but still was not great. When the gentleman behind the bar stopped by to check on us and discuss the wines, she politely suggested her wine was not quite what she was looking for. A few moments later, without asking, he brought a different glass over for her to try, compliments of the house. Awesome! Maybe he was flirting with my wife? I don't know, and I don't care because, hey, free booze!
Overall, a really top-notch experience of food and wine. The atmosphere was relaxed and unpretentious, something which I think is hard to find in London.