Good start, but what has happened?
I had always wanted to visit Petersham Nurseries, and although Spring was under my radar for quite some time, the chance discovery came last year. It immediately became one of my favourite London eating places for many months.
I applauded the style and found food fresh, light and just my kind! Chef didn’t shy away from being bold with fresh herbs either (I grow and consume tons.) I recall a particularly good spicy quail dish accompanied by a sweet potato and rosemary mash which pleased the diners on our table. The room is grand, one of the most beautiful and tastefully decorated, flooded with natural light.
Our first experience was very good, second and third likewise, with the proviso that we had been waiting to sample a great bottle of wine. We took friends there and weren’t disappointed, again, except for the wine. Even a burgundy circa’ £85 was somewhat lacking, although I know to get a great burgundy can invariably be very difficult unless you 'in the know' or are prepared to spend £mega, but it did match the food very well.
On the fourth or so visit, I was astounded.
What had happened?
Was chef having an off day?
Was the kitchen under-manned?
Was it just lazy cooking?
Asparagus starter - I ended up with a serious mouthful of grit with the first forkful, so gingerly continued to find that the first spear must have been the one that dodged the washing process. Next came a main which looked as though it had been stewing for days not hours. A piece of roasted fish with a clump of the slushiest celery, which had been unceremoniously dumped from the remains of a stockpot, or so it seemed. Texture aside, I wouldn’t have minded had it been wonderfully flavoursome, but it really was not. I didn't send it back but at the end I did express great disappointment and further commented that my DH’s meal wasn’t up to scratch either.
Staff showed indifference without even an offer of a coffee as an attempt to redress the balance. I cannot be sure whether this restaurant is now on the way down or not, but the lack of concern has made me very reluctant to return. Maybe Skye has taken on too much with her other businesses - Heckfield Place may have been on my destination list, but now I am not so sure. I think I must wait for the reviews to start rolling in before venturing to Hampshire.