Carvosso's at 210

Eating in – at someone else’s home – is the new eating out, apparently. Well, until that secret invite drops in your in-box, Carvosso’s is the next best thing – a home-from-home, functionally comfortable with fresh, inviting food.

This former Chiswick High Road police station/court house (long shorn of its austerity and menace, of course) does a great, fixed price 2 course Menu, for £13.50, (£15.50 for 3 courses) which was bang on the money, as I was starving. I started with a generous bowl of Leek and Stilton soup that was as good as I had hoped: hot from the stove, tasty and filling. Especially with the springy brown bread.

Next came the Beef Stroganoff with steamed rice. Again, perfectly spot on for taste, but could have been a tad hotter. (Maybe it’s just me.)

One thing about Carvosso’s is that the bill will make you smile and it won’t be with irony. Considering the quality, the prices are more than reasonable. The waitress was a joy – clued-up, attentive and she even laughed at my jokes. What a star. The waitress AND the place.

Carvossos’s At 210 (Chiswick High Road) is neither super trendy, or uber slick. Of course, this is part of its charm and possibly what gives it an edge on places up the road, or down the street. The atmosphere was so relaxing that it lulled me into a far longer lunch than I bargained for. Coincidence, or strategy? You tell me.

The dining room is airy and light with the added bonus of a courtyard, for al fresco dining. There’s a little too much wood for my taste, but this is perhaps due to it being a former police station which, I guess, does add certain quirkiness to the grand scheme of stuff.

What’s particularly good, here, is the fact that the old police cells are available for private parties. This must surely be the best prison food in England.

The menu is wonderful. It starts with the likes of Beef Carpaccio with rocket and Parmesan: Proscuitto, calves liver and thyme pate, Grilled Aubergine, with buffalo mozzerella, to mention a few. For a main course you can have Roast Grouse; Seared Barbary Duck; or Grilled Dover Soul. Exactly what you’d want when the weather is rolling imperceptibly towards Autumn. My brother said he thought the food was ‘thoughtful and considered’ and he ought to know, being a chef. The set ‘Menu of the day’ (at £13.50) was brilliant. And I ought to know, being a greedy pig.

It’s always interesting to visit an area one hasn’t set foot in for a few years and discover somewhere new has opened; especially when the place in question is as appealing as Carvosso’s At 210…Chiswick High Road.

I’ve no idea when this place opened, to be honest, but I’m glad it has. A former police station, Carvosso’s is bordering on Gentleman’s club territory, but it’s relaxed enough to not have to go through the rigmarole of joining one. It’s a place where you might take your aunt, when you’re trying to borrow some money. It’s also a good place for meeting friends; new ones, old ones and friends you haven’t even met, yet. In short – whether you’re peckish, or famished – this place is worth a shot.

The food is good value, tasty and unpretentious. I stuck to the “Menu of the Day” (£13.50) option and kicked off with the Leek and Stilton soup, followed closely by a main course of Beef Stroganoff, with steamed rice. On leaving I felt slightly bemused as to why I’d never tried Leek and Stilton soup before. It was a delicious ‘winter-warmer’ that just makes sense, on a cold day. The Stroganoff was equally delightful, generous and well made, with the sauce just the right side of sweet. (For me it was, anyway.)

Service was prompt and friendly and the garden was exceedingly inviting. With Carvosso’s, Chiswick High Road seems to have found itself a perfectly-pitched eating place. Recommended.

I recently went to Carvossos for lunch with a work colleague. What a great place. It was a warm day and we decided to eat alfresco in the attractive courtyard. The atmosphere was so relaxing, it felt as though we were on holiday rather than our lunch break. The menu was fairly extensive with plenty of classic British dishes but we opted for the set lunch menu. The food was excellent and well presented and at just £13.50 for 2 courses real value for money. Will definitely be going back.