By SWLondoner staff
I firmly believe there are two halves to the enjoyment of eating out. First and foremost the quality of the food but without good service and a relaxing atmosphere you’re bound to not credit the first as highly.
The Lambourne puts the dining experience as pride of place in its criteria and you can’t help but feel at home and kick-back in the friendly environment.
As a bar and grill, it’s the kind of easy-going place that suits those looking to unwind after a tedious day at work with friends or those who want an informal date, (the exceedingly dim lighting in the restaurant will take care of the romantic atmosphere for you).
Before moving on to food, I would recommend taking advantage of their cocktail menu during the evening. If you don’t already have your favourite, have a chat to the staff and they will come up with something to suit your tastes – there will be something for everyone.
For starters the calamari and five spice duck parcels are varied but nonetheless good choices you can’t regret. The calamari was coated in a perfect, light yet not greasey batter, complimented well by the lime. As someone who isn’t a massive calamari fan as I’ve had my share of rubbery portions in the past, I was quite surprised as to how much I enjoyed it.
The menu has taken a variety of simple and well-known dishes and the duck parcels were a nice Asian addition to the meal. They are served with teriyaki sauce and a chilli-dressed noodle salad which had just enough heat to add a bit of excitement without being overpowering (for those of you who don’t want a heatwave in your mouth).
For mains I went for a sirloin steak and my friend, chicken wrapped in Parma ham – safe choices granted but neither of us left disappointed. My steak was probably slightly more cooked than the medium rare I requested but personally I’ve been used to well-done steaks for a majority of my life so I certainly wasn’t bothered.
However the triple-cooked hand-cut chips were done to the perfection that chips should be and the peppercorn sauce accompanying was the show-stopper of the night.
Alongside my main I had a glass of Argento Malbec which was a very fitting partner for my steak. My friend’s chicken was succulent and tender, thoroughly enhanced by the flavours s of Parma ham, chorizo and roasted cherry tomatoes, with a side of creamy dauphinoise potatoes.
We finished our evening feeling satisfied and incredibly relaxed – the way I like to leave any eating establishment. The dishes were understated and executed perfectly, the variety of cocktails and wines available were more than pleasing and the sociable yet intimate atmosphere all came together to form a very enjoyable night.
In short this is one for those who want an unpretentious menu and an amiable atmosphere where you can simply enjoy good food and (hopefully) good company.
To book a table call 020 8545 8661 or visit their website at http://thelambourne.co.uk/ to use the online booking engine.
