Sean's Reviews

Had my boss take me there as an end of year catch up and hadn't had the chance/excuse to go, so was a little nervous as to how he would receive it. The decor is great, high ceilings with big windows are always going to guarantee light, and the open pipes & ducts contrast with the highly polished brass etc really well. The kitchen is very open with several areas and these are reflected on the menu with cold/hot/barbecue options, all of which offer shellfish, fish and meat in equal amounts. We went for the cured meat starters, much of a muchness, then the Yellow Fin Tuna Loin. Wow, what a dish, full of taste, texture, a bit of spice, really something new and refreshing. We were suggested the green beans to go with it, delivered on time and very nice – I appreciate the staff not ramming multiple other additions on us. Dessert continued in the same vein as the main course, my ginger cheesecake (a little light on the ginger) set off wonderfully with a blackberry sauce, my boss' lemon and polenta cake really moreish too. The wine list was extensive and yet also offered across the price range and the atmosphere was great for chatting (enough background noise not to feel self-conscious!). Will definitely go again and highly recommend for lunch, both business and pleasure-driven!

Went there last night as a follow up boasting session to mates after a lunch I had a few weeks ago, but unfortunately it seems I may have been looking through rose-tinted glasses/beer goggles. While the pub has great lighting and the tables are well spaced, there is a distinct lack of ‘pub’ feel to it, it is basically a restaurant with a bar (which they were quick to get us off) as opposed to a gastropub.

The menu has some great starters, indeed the pork pie that I remembered was still there and as good as last time, but the main course selection really let it down and therefore I was pushed towards the grill. The stand out thing about the ‘grill’ section is unfortunately the prices, sirloin £27.50, rib-eye £29.50, fillet £31.50 which put it more expensive than any Gaucho Grill. Surely at these prices then I was going to get an improvement – this is a Wimbledon pub after all, not a City restaurant. Alas, my sirloin was basically half fat, as was another of our table, the skate was overcooked and the fillet was described by the wife as ‘pretty tasteless’.

Overall our meal for 6 came in at over £430 and we all left disappointed. Value for money is definitely not good, but the ‘prime’ reason I won't be returning is the quality of the meat.

Went there last night for a meal with friends we hadn't seen for awhile after reading a recommendation in The Week. Tables are very close together and I do believe that the couple on the table next to us didn't talk all night but just listened to us, a little unnerving, and the proximity definitely affected our enjoyment a little. The food is amazing though once we'd worked out how to order, we had a range of tapas (all big enough so the four of us could taste, but small enough to leave you wanting more) followed by some main courses to share (highlight for me was the middle white pork belly, although the others thought the squid the star) all of which were very good. Wine list was solid and the final price reasonable. I would definitely come again, but will make sure that it is a Thursday or Friday night, hopefully the liveliness will make the shoe-horning of tables less intrusive.