Ransome's Dock

Long the favourite of wine lovers from across London, Ransome’s Dock had become a little staid, the menu of reliable Elizabeth David-style classics like a comfortable old jacket the loyal clientele had worn for years. Recently, however, this pretty riverside restaurant has been to the tailors & had a rather snazzier version run up. You’ll still find the eel fillets with buckwheat pancakes, the very good calf’s liver with smoked bacon & colcannon, & the Welsh lamb navarin, but in the waterfront conservatory, there’s now a tapas menu, too –habas fritas, chicken brochettes with satay sauce, tortilla – which has given the place a new lease of life. A focal point in summer is the very attractive waterside terrace. It’s something of a hidden gem, with much to enjoy.
WINE LIST: Even if you already know a lot about wine, you will learn something new from reading the list at Ransome’s Dock. Detailed & very informative, it has obviously been written with passion & it prides itself on listing interesting wines at low margins. An excellent selection of half-bottles, too. BEST BUY WHITE 2009 David Baverstock Herdade do Esporão, Alentejo, Portugal, £25. BEST BUY RED 2009 Domaine de la Porte du Paradis, Saint-Amour Le Cru des Amoureux, Beaujolais, France, £23.50.