Motcombs

Whether you find Motcombs confused or simply eccentric, it seems to work – ‘a wonderful place for lunch’, exclaimed one reader who was also bowled over by the ‘prompt & polite’ service. This terraced brasserie/bar certainly appeals to a wide audience, who pitch up for a mixed bag of dead certs including deep-fried prawns with chilli sauce, vichyssoise & crab linguine. A red neon sign directs customers down a mirrored staircase to the quirky dining room, which combines eclectic paintings, vaulted archways, more mirrors & an open kitchen to vaguely oppressive effect. Locals & business folk sit cheek-by-jowl, enjoying pan-European dishes such as smoked salmon with grapefruit & ginger, lobster risotto flecked with coriander, or steak tartare ‘extraordinaire’. Prices match the postcode, & the wine list goes heavy on the Champagne.