Chez Bruce

Modern European·
££££
·
Gold Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Chez Bruce

Gold Award

“An SW17 legend… sets the local standard… special every time”; local fans never tire of Chez Bruce’s sociable, neighbourly attributes, its high-achieving sense of style or its “consistently superb” Michelin-starred cooking. We also approve of Bruce Poole’s egalitarian approach and the fact that he can produce top-end cooking without eye-watering price tags, fawning service or reverential pomposity.

Eating here is all about having a good time and enjoying great food in surroundings that are underplayed but sophisticated (think neatly laid tables, polished wood floors and striking modern art on pastel walls).

The kitchen’s remit is gusty, generous and immensely flavoursome Euro-inspired cooking – the kind of food that pleases, excites and soothes in equal measure. It’s an ever-changing seasonal feast, but the menu might take you from starters of sautéed duck hearts with pearl barley, roast new season’s garlic, smoked sausage and parsley to desserts such as a seasonally tweaked Arctic roll with poached peach and blackcurrants or buttermilk pudding cheekily partnered by a slice of lemon drizzle cake, lemon curd and strawberries. 

In between, the big-hearted approach could yield prime cuts and earthy platefuls such as wild turbot accompanied by fresh coco beans, cucumber velouté, pickled apple and samphire or rump of veal with ragù-dressed hispi cabbage, crisp polenta, courgette purée and girolles – manna indeed for the well-fed burghers of Wandsworth. Chez Bruce is also famed for its prodigious cheeseboard, and we reckon its “fantastic” assortment deserves much more than a passing sniff.

Brilliant staff and knowledgeable, “old school” service add to the all-round feel-good factor here, while the monumental 600-bin wine list is a treasure trove of classy bottles offering tantalising diversity, style and quality at drinker-friendly prices. In short, Chez Bruce promises “a great night out!”

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Modern European
Ambience
Glamorous, Lively, Luxury, Quiet conversation, Romantic, Traditional
Awards
One Michelin star, SquareMeal London Top 100
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Special Features
Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Celeb spotting, Dates, Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Bruce Poole was born in Guildford Surrey. After several years in hospitality, he started cooking at Bibendum, followed by The Square then Chez Max and finally his very own Chez Bruce in 1995. Since then, there have been many awards, recognising the culinary prowess of this Wandsworth restaurant. That being said, there is no resting on laurels at Chez Bruce. Poole, along with head chef Matt Christmas' sole focus is the business, and as such rarely appears in the media. It's an old school restaurant in the best of ways, where service is extremely efficient while remaining knowledgable and friendly. Regular staff tastings are key, so that every member of the front of house team knows the menu personally. So much so, in fact, that the staff offer other dining recommendations for London and further afield. 

You'll notice from the menu here that the menu is very much up to date. Starters might include miso-glazed aubergine with ginger, puffed wild rice, sesame, shiso and soy or a lobster ravioli with bisque, pickled fennel, brown shrimp and samphire. You will, however, see more traditional first course options like rabbit rillettes with Armagnac prunes and toast, or deviled lamb's kidney with crisp tongue. Similarly, main courses at Chez Bruce are traditional, featuring the likes of veal rump or stuffed pig's trotters. Unpretentiously, this Michelin-starred restaurant also offers options like steak and chips (admittedly a Chateaubriand with hand-cut chips). 

There are usually around seven dessert options like creme brulee, yoghurt parfait with blood orange and pistachio or Yorkshire rhubarb trifle, not to mention the famous 'grande assiette de fromage Chez Bruce'. There is a huge selection of wine here with plenty by the glass, ranging from affordable half-bottles to a magnum Chateauneuf du Pape. Head sommelier Victor Barre is more than happy to guide your choices. 


FAQs

Does the restaurant have a Michelin star?

Yes, it has one Michelin star.

Helpful? 0

Is there a dress code?

Not officially, but most people choose to dress in a smart-casual way.

Helpful? 0

Is there a children's menu?

Unfortunately, young children and babies are not allowed in the restaurant and there are no dedicated options for older kids.

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Meet the team
Chez Bruce

Bruce Poole

Head chef and co-founder

Bruce was born in Guildford, Surrey in 1964. After attending Charterhouse School and Exeter University – where he read History – he entered the hotel and restaurant industry via a one year hotel management course at Westminster College.

After several years working front-of-house, he started cooking professionally in his mid-twenties as a junior chef at Bibendum Restaurant, London in 1990. A year in the kitchen at The Square followed, and after that he worked at acclaimed restaurant Chez Max as sous and latterly Head Chef.

Chez Bruce opened for business in 1995. Nigel and Bruce added The Glasshouse, in Kew in 1999; and La Trompette, in Chiswick in 2001 to the London-based group.


This venue also offers

La Trompette
Restaurant

La Trompette

Location

2 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth, London, SW17 7EG

020 8672 0114 020 8672 0114

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue 12:00-13:45
Wed 12:00-13:45
Thu 12:00-13:45
Fri 12:00-13:45
Sat 12:00-14:30
Sun 12:00-15:00
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue 18:00-21:30
Wed 18:00-21:30
Thu 18:00-21:30
Fri 18:00-22:00
Sat 18:00-22:00
Sun 19:00-22:00

Reviews

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66 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Philip B

02 July 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Judy L

28 December 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Food always delicious, attentive staff, lively athmosphere

Michael S

28 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Outstanding neighbourhood fine dining

Jenni S

24 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Superb

Christopher J

24 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Great Food, Friendly Service

Anon

23 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

It's always amazing - the food, the service! Bruce is there is chat and make you feel welcome, attention to detail is flawless !! Gluten free options amazing for a top class restaurant!!

Anon

23 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

A local institution, where the standards continue to rise each year - never resting on its laurels.  The best cheese, and a wine selection to die for with the most helpful sommelier.  We venture elsewhere, but always come back to CB!

Julie N

23 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

I always leave Chez Bruce feeling that I have had an excellent meal and have been exceptionally well looked after.  The menu is a well judged blend of comforting favourites and interesting variations on seasonal ingredients and the wine list continues in that vein - there are some well loved recognisable names as well as plenty of opportunities to try something a little out of the ordinary.

The service is unfailingly friendly and engaging, and the sommelier team is happy to engae as much or as little as you wish.

An excellent restaurant in every sense of the word.

Jurate W

23 November 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

A lovely neighbourhood restaurant that is also a fine dining. 

Jacy H

20 July 2021  
Food & Drink 2.5
Service 1.5
Atmosphere 0.5
Value 2.5
NO GO PLACE, SPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A FOREIGN ACCENT!!!

I am the leader of a large group, responsible for fine dining and have been with my group, few at time, to the most refined Michelin awarded restaurants in London and have always been treated with respect and courtesy. Unfortunately this had not happened at Chez Bruce. 

I have phoned the restaurant to book 2 tables of 6 people as I know the rules and I was cleared insulted by a receptionist called Amy, saying that Bruce don’t want groups, that they are noisy  and disturb the other clients. This was said in the most unpleasant tone and I’ve just replied that we are a group of mature and educated people and not a group of teenagers. Immediately I realised what was going on and phoned the founder of the group asking her to phone and see if the treatment would be the same with an English accent. She was pleasantly attend and have booked without any problem. A few days before I phoned the restaurant to reconfirm the bookings and Amy replied and immediately recognised my voice and responded  in the same insulting way as before and as a final insult she asked if I want to cancel the booking. I replied  that I would carry on with the booking as there were 11 more people involved and looking forward to it.

At the day of the event, 16th July,  Amy wasn’t there and the staff on duty was very professional and pleasant. I tried to put my feelings at the back of my mind, have not told anyone what’s happened before and gave the best of myself to the group who were, as always, in a very happy mood. As the group is very found of me they did not made any negative comments about the food itself, but to be honest it was not great for a Michelin star restaurant. 

The last move before turning this public was sending an email to Bruce telling him what had happened  but on his reply he was clearly but between the lines, on the side of Amy, so, I don’t need any more words to realise that the prejudice against foreigner comes from him.

The only way I have to protest against it is to spread my words.

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