The Crossing

There’s a reason that so many places similar to The Crossing exist in the UK. They fall into a bracket of warm and fuzzy pubs that serve really good food to a local clientele. The sort of place you can head for a pint on a Tuesday and an elegant dinner with the in-laws at the weekend.  

The Crossing offers the same draw. With a roaring fire ablaze and a team of smiling faces to greet us on arrival, we were directed toward a cosy corner of the u-shaped room. A focal bar sits at the centre of the space, which feels like a fitting layout for a place that calls itself a pub dining room (note that it leads with the word pub).  

The menu, however, reads like a contradiction to its British boozer outlook and offers a selection of European dishes. Mushroom and spring onion croquettes from the ‘snacks’ section arrived hot, oozing and dusted with parmesan, while lobster bisque delivered depth of flavour and was all the more satisfying for its chunky contents. There were a few faux-pas along the way: slightly undercooked veg in the bisque served with charcoal-blackened bread that was so crunchy it verged on inedible.  

Moving swiftly on to the part that The Crossing clearly does best: main course. Buttery pan-fried cod was pleasingly golden on top, yet pearly white and yielding beneath, and served with a well-seasoned cream-based shrimp sauce. While a piece of fall-off-the-bone sticky leg duck with puy lentils felt generous enough to qualify its £20 price tag. You could spend a little or a lot here depending on how you order, with mains ranging between £12-28. Dessert took us to Italy via a lofty slab of tiramisu – an ample ending to a wholly generous meal. Finally, the wine list offers a decent choice and includes a range of recognisable and more adventurous names of European origin. 

We can easily see The Crossing capturing the hearts of its locals.  

The Crossing is a modern and independently owned pub located within easy walking distance of Barnes and Barnes Bridge, just off White Hart Lane. This neighbourhood spot enjoys a mix of traditional cosy seating areas with low ceilings and soft lighting, alongside lighter airy spaces and an outside heated terrace. 

When it comes to dining, The Crossing serves a seasonal pub menu alongside a selection of craft beers, wines, cask ales and cocktails. You can visit the pub for brunch, lunch, dinner or simply drinks - it caters for every style of occasion. 

The thoughtful seasonal menu has been designed under the watch of head chef Riccardo Rizzo. Ingredients are sourced from local suppliers, along with a number of specialist producers from both Dorset and Wales, and changes with the seasons according to what's fresh that day.

Diners can choose from the a la carte menu, while on Sundays it serves a special roast offering. Although the menu is subject to change, examples of dishes you might expect to try include confit duck leg served with lentils and buttered cabbage, and The Crossing burger which is served with cheddar cheese, onion jam and house fries. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in desserts such as classic tiramisu, or a white chocolate miso blondie.

The Crossing also serves a Sunday lunch menu, which includes free range rotisserie chicken served with roasted vegetables, greens and Yorkshire puddings, as well as grass fed top rump of beef, served with duck fat potatoes.

There are a small number of vegetarian dishes on the menu, which also change depending on seasonality. You may find a wild mushroom risotto, or pearl barley sauteed with courgettes and peppers, served with a lemon yoghurt dressing.