Harrison's

The newly opened Harrison’s may look similar to its former incarnation Balham Bar & Kitchen but the arrival of restaurateur Sam Harrison of Sam’s Brasserie in Chiswick has brought welcome changes. His formula is simple: clean, grown-up interiors with white walls, blond-wood tables & sleek banquette seating; welcoming & well-drilled staff; & a thoroughly tempting menu on which homely British classics sit alongside warm Mediterranean flavours. A pair of crisp crab cakes bursting with shards of white meat is served with a punchy chipotle aioli, though an £8 price tag is a little steep given the small portion. Well-sourced ingredients & unfussy preparation prevail, from a man-sized Harrison’s cheeseburger, which made its accompanying fries appear rather anaemic, to a nourishing chorizo & chickpea hotpot infused with smoked paprika. Pricing tips Harrison’s just into ‘book in advance’ rather than ‘swing by’ territory, but this hasn’t deterred the crowds of chattering twenty- & thirtysomethings.