You never really get a true picture of a restaurant when you go in it's first few weeks of opening. Half the staff that greet you on those first few nights won't last the pace, half of the slick little touches all around the gaff will be long forgotten a few weeks in. Whereas once you marvelled at the real linen napkins and the Molten Brown soap in the toilets, often give it a couple of weeks and you'll have a crimbo serviette shoved in a half pint glass and a plunge bottle of Sainsburys "value" clementine & strawberry soap (if you're lucky in some cases). At first you have servers tripping over you, a raised eyebrow brings them running from all directions. Later of course, you can't find a bugger to get a beer off for love nor money.
Such is life (well such is my life anyway) so it was with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation that we went back to Sticks'n'Sushi at the weekend. The trepidation was because there's nothing worse than when a restaurant convinces you it's great, only to bitterly disappoint the second time around. I really hoped that wouldn't happen here, as much as anything else because I've praised it up so lavishly and sent so many people over there over the last couple of months.
I needn't have worried, all the favourable impressions that were made on our previous couple of visits were confirmed very quickly. The food remains lovely (and I've read one or two sniffy reviews which claim you can get better sushi elsewhere) and to that I can only answer not in Wimbledon you can't. Nor can you get a nicer and better run or slavishly clean place to take the family, and you certainly can't get a restaurant which has standards of service which are so impeccably high. These guys are really on it, and the only problem I can see for them going forward is how they are ever going to replace the utterly brilliant Danish people they have amongst their number. A few of the local staff are almost getting to the standards which they set, but this is a steep mountain to climb and I don't envy them the task.
Foodwise we had the usual kind of stuff, Ebby bites (don't ask, God knows), some Edamame beans of which I ate about 3lbs of (get the ones with the dressing on, can't remember what it's called) and all that kind of stuff. I got a chickeny board thingie with all these sticks and wings and stuff (so did my little lad Charlie) and my only criticism would be the pickled cabbagy gear on top of the rice (Kimshee or something like that) was a bit lively for him and it might be better putting it on the side. It didn't matter as I ate his anyway, but it's just a thought. All the stuff on the board was lovely, absolutely faultless. Sarah got this sushi thing which she assured me was gorgeous, while my little seven year old princess got a kiddies box thing which as it turned out was too big for her (get the small one if it's for a nipper would be my advice).
I should also mention we got this "green juice" stuff or was it yellow I don't know, anyway that was zingy and beautiful. Probably got some quite healthy ingredients in it too I shouldn't wonder. For afters, the kids had these ice cream scoops with a chocolate fish inside, I had this fruit cakey thingie with a blob of ice cream (top vanilla ice cream too). Sarah had a mini creme brulee and an esspresso which was just about the nicest cup of coffee I've ever tasted (I finished it off while she wasn't looking). I've heard people say it's a "bit pricey" but I've never felt that when I've been. Here, we had a beer each and had more food than we could finish, and it was around £100 or so with service included. I don't like service charge, but here the service is so good it's hard to complain really.
I really like this restaurant, it's currently the favourite place to talk your parents into taking you if you're a kid at Bishop Gilpin school, and you can see why. The kids aren't daft, Sticks'n'Sushi is flipping good.
Tuesday 17 July 2012
Monday 9 July 2012
The Lawn Bistro-The @14TheFrog review.
My first experience of anything "Lawn" was when one of the staff brought a load of scones (pronounced to rhyme with stone by the way) down from its sister "Lawn bakery" a few weeks back. They were fantastic, just as good as my nan used to make and we had them with real butter and that jam with the checkered lid and the French name. I gave some out to the punters in the pub and they were all over em like a coat of paint.
Clearly something was happening to the green buildings in Wimbledon village. Not only had Lydons been bought out and revamped (no more specials on a tray "we serve the fish on the bone, off the bone, grilled, fried or in a butter sauce") but the old bright green bakery which was awful to be fair, had been made over too. By all accounts the people involved had big reputations and something to prove, so it was with some anticipation that we booked up a table of three at "The Lawn Bistro".
We went during the Wimbledon fortnight, on the second Thursday and the place was predictably busy when we arrived. They recognised the booking which is always a good start (it always amazes me how many places don't) and we were seated in a nice comfy little spot down the middle. We didn't mess about as I was starving, and I ordered up some butter bean houmous with carrot sticks and some mini chorizos while the girls (@NZSezGB & @Chaymondo) dug into the wine list. The little nibbler/starter things arrived straight away, and were fantastic. The carrot sticks weren't poncily cut into the same size and shape, they were big chunks of veg while the dip was really top notch. The little chorizo thingies were lovely too, but stick the whole thing in your mouth at once or you'll do as I did and get it all over your shirt, little @14TheFrog tip there. For the wine we had this English one which @Chaymondo had visited the winery of recently. It was bloody lovely, smelled like Wimbledon Common when it's just finished raining and the nettles are wet.
For starters my wife Sarah had this goats curd salad dish which she loved, Angie had melon and ham (it was a posh version but essentially that's what it was) while I had garlic prawns. Mine came with a kind of tomatoey coriandery sauce and it was really tasty. I'd have whacked a bit of chilli in myself but maybe that's just me. After the starters we got a little taster of the chicken liver parfait which was an unexpected treat. I cannot praise this enough, it was absolutely sensational. @Chaymondo commented at the time that it was like an "orgasm on toast", and although I had to kind of take her word for it I must confess it was stupendously good.
On the mains, Sarah had Sea Bream fillet which was truly a wonderful piece of fish. Angie had a stuffed chicken dish with peas which I instantly wished I'd ordered in truth. I had a Lamb rump dish with couscous which was very good, it's just that I love that French chicken and peas in broth number. I must learn to read the menu properly. In truth I rarely do, merely flicking through it and invariably having little idea what I want when the waiter gives it the old "are we ready to order" and the eyebrows.
We had desserts, the best in my view was my chocolate and caramel tart thingy with creme fraiche ice cream. This was another orgasm by all accounts, this time on a board though and even I couldn't argue. Everyone else's desserts were lovely too although I must confess I can't remember what they were, by now we had had two bottles of the fabulous nettle smelling wine and were onto "pinot des charentes," which whatever it is was most agreeable.
All the servers were smashing, especially a Hungarian lad who looked and sounded as French as Jaques Cousteau and we had a great night all round. Service charge WAS included at 12.5% which is a bit of a gripe, but that said you could hardly grumble given the quality of it and the food. It's not very often these days (or indeed ever) that I've been near someone who has had multi orgasms, and any place which facilitates that has got to be a "must visit".There are now three new places in Wimbledon to be excited about. The Lawn is deservedly receiving rave reviews in the national press and is massively worth some visits. We love Sticks n Sushi too for the family, and the new Australian chef at The Fire Stables in the village is creating a bit of a splash with his traditional food too.
Once an oasis, Wimbledon is finally getting some places to be proud of. The Lawn Bistro 100% deserves it's place at the forefront of those, we absolutely loved it. It's great, go, then go again.
Clearly something was happening to the green buildings in Wimbledon village. Not only had Lydons been bought out and revamped (no more specials on a tray "we serve the fish on the bone, off the bone, grilled, fried or in a butter sauce") but the old bright green bakery which was awful to be fair, had been made over too. By all accounts the people involved had big reputations and something to prove, so it was with some anticipation that we booked up a table of three at "The Lawn Bistro".
We went during the Wimbledon fortnight, on the second Thursday and the place was predictably busy when we arrived. They recognised the booking which is always a good start (it always amazes me how many places don't) and we were seated in a nice comfy little spot down the middle. We didn't mess about as I was starving, and I ordered up some butter bean houmous with carrot sticks and some mini chorizos while the girls (@NZSezGB & @Chaymondo) dug into the wine list. The little nibbler/starter things arrived straight away, and were fantastic. The carrot sticks weren't poncily cut into the same size and shape, they were big chunks of veg while the dip was really top notch. The little chorizo thingies were lovely too, but stick the whole thing in your mouth at once or you'll do as I did and get it all over your shirt, little @14TheFrog tip there. For the wine we had this English one which @Chaymondo had visited the winery of recently. It was bloody lovely, smelled like Wimbledon Common when it's just finished raining and the nettles are wet.
For starters my wife Sarah had this goats curd salad dish which she loved, Angie had melon and ham (it was a posh version but essentially that's what it was) while I had garlic prawns. Mine came with a kind of tomatoey coriandery sauce and it was really tasty. I'd have whacked a bit of chilli in myself but maybe that's just me. After the starters we got a little taster of the chicken liver parfait which was an unexpected treat. I cannot praise this enough, it was absolutely sensational. @Chaymondo commented at the time that it was like an "orgasm on toast", and although I had to kind of take her word for it I must confess it was stupendously good.
On the mains, Sarah had Sea Bream fillet which was truly a wonderful piece of fish. Angie had a stuffed chicken dish with peas which I instantly wished I'd ordered in truth. I had a Lamb rump dish with couscous which was very good, it's just that I love that French chicken and peas in broth number. I must learn to read the menu properly. In truth I rarely do, merely flicking through it and invariably having little idea what I want when the waiter gives it the old "are we ready to order" and the eyebrows.
We had desserts, the best in my view was my chocolate and caramel tart thingy with creme fraiche ice cream. This was another orgasm by all accounts, this time on a board though and even I couldn't argue. Everyone else's desserts were lovely too although I must confess I can't remember what they were, by now we had had two bottles of the fabulous nettle smelling wine and were onto "pinot des charentes," which whatever it is was most agreeable.
All the servers were smashing, especially a Hungarian lad who looked and sounded as French as Jaques Cousteau and we had a great night all round. Service charge WAS included at 12.5% which is a bit of a gripe, but that said you could hardly grumble given the quality of it and the food. It's not very often these days (or indeed ever) that I've been near someone who has had multi orgasms, and any place which facilitates that has got to be a "must visit".There are now three new places in Wimbledon to be excited about. The Lawn is deservedly receiving rave reviews in the national press and is massively worth some visits. We love Sticks n Sushi too for the family, and the new Australian chef at The Fire Stables in the village is creating a bit of a splash with his traditional food too.
Once an oasis, Wimbledon is finally getting some places to be proud of. The Lawn Bistro 100% deserves it's place at the forefront of those, we absolutely loved it. It's great, go, then go again.
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