London Appetizer

Live Jazz at Sams Brasserie in Chiswick

Please see details below on some jazz events at Sam's in Chiswick:

Sunday 21st June: Heidi Vogel - www.myspace.com/heidilevo

Performing Brazilian infused jazz and original music Heidi is a singer-songwriter from London. Aged 16, Heidi won the Yamaha National Youth Rock and Pop Awards. Since then she has gone on to perform, record and tour with artists including; Cirque du Soleil, Isaac Hayes, TY, Cinematic Orchestra, Carl Anderson, The Brand New heavies, Afro Elements and Natalie Williams. Heidi is currently working on her hugely anticipated album due to be released later this year

Sunday 5th July: Elisa Caleb - www.myspace.com/elisacaleb

Elisa spent many of her early years in Barbados. When she came to London, she began listening to jazz and fell in love with vocalists such as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

Music had always been for enjoyment and during her college years, she sang in a gospel group and spent much of her time listening to music when she should have been studying!

After college, Elisa went on to read Law at Sheffield University but, not content with a legal career, she began working with The Jo Caleb Trio in 2000, booking them into various venues and clubs primarily as a manager and agent. Her exposure to the jazz scene however took a new turn in the summer of 2005 when she decided to perform jazz professionally rather than merely enjoying it as a listener.

www.samsbrasserie.co.uk
Barley Mow Centre, 11 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick W4 4PH

Harrison's Restaurant, Balham, SW12

 

Harrison's opened up on the old Balham Bar and Kitchen site in Balham back in 2007 and I am pleased to say it seems to be doing rather well.

The wife and I pitched up for dinner on a Thursday evening just after 8pm and the place was more than half full, with a very welcoming buzz - not so noisy that you can't hear yourself think and not so quiet that you feel you have to whisper to your dining partner.  Because the bar and kitchen are in the centre of this largish restaurant (90 covers), there is always pace, vibrancy and something to watch if your fellow scoffers are running a bit late.

The concept is 'informal brasserie' with something on offer at pretty much any time of day.  During the summer months the doors are flung back and Harrison's turns into rather a nice place for a coffee and croissant.  Events for Mums and babies as well as bridge fiends ensure that it stays busy during the day and the evening pulls in the Balham massive. Well not quite.  The 30 somethings will be pleased to hear that this is quite a grown up restaurant - well to do Balhamites with a bit of cash to spend without the rowdiness that some of the pubs on the Balham High Rd attract.  It is somewhere between The Exhibit and Lamberts, two other Balham restaurants that regular readers know I am quite partial to.

There is a cocktail of the day, which makes a great start to your dinner, although the wife and I were very good and just ordered a 500ml carafe of Rose - a French 07 priced around £14 which was reasonable for the quality.  The wine list has something for everyone so you won't go thirsty and for people still drinking bottled water, the eco trendy Belu is on offer.

To the menu...

'Something to Start' included Cream of Mushroom Soup for a credit crunching £5, Goat's Curd on Toast (errmmm), Steamed Mussels, Charcuterie and a load more.  Average starter price £7.50.  I went for the Asparagus since it's in season, topped with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce.  It's always a good testing dish for the kitchen, because there is nothing worse can lukewarm or cold egg and hollandaise.  Fortunately the dish was piping hot, the asparagus was as fresh as anything and the sauce was creamy and not over-powering. Full marks so far.

'Something to follow' included Roast Pumpkin and Ricotta Tortellone, Grilled Salmon Fillet, Free Range Chicken and the Slow Roast Belly of Pork, which I had.  The mains are priced very reasonably at around £13.  The pork was good with excellent crackling.  The Carrot and Swede Puree that it came with was average, as was the apple sauce on the side.  My wife's Calves Liver was excellent.  Both portion sizes were generous and the dishes rich enough that we struggled to find room for dessert.

Puddings were very good.  The sorbets were very fruity and the home-made truffles were delicious.

Harrison's is also offering a 2 course set menu for £14 and 3 courses for £17 so you can't go wrong.

Service was extremely efficient and our waitress was smiley and helpful.

I will definitely be revisiting Harrison's - it's nice to go somewhere that is run efficiently, informally, without pretences or delusions or grandeur and that doesn't cost the earth.  It's only a few minutes walk from Balham tube and worth the trip.

Contact details:

15-19 Bedford Hill,
London SW12 9EX

READ MORE REVIEWS AND BOOK ONLINE HERE

t: 020 8675 6900
e: info@harrisonsbalham.co.uk
w: www.harrisonsbalham.co.uk

Harrison's in Balham hosts new events

Swishing in Balham
Harrison's in Balham is introducing a unique swishing event at their restaurant.

Customers are invited to take along items of unwanted clothing, shoes and accessories which are cluttering up their wardrobes and display them for other “swishers” to poke through, try on and see if there’s anything they’d like to claim as their very own - Essentially, it’s a posh swap shop. The next event, Summer Swish on 13th May, is certain to be another memorable evening where people can obtain items for inspiration such as holidays and summer weddings.

Even designer pieces have appeared at Harrison’s previously with an Alexander McQueen dress at one of the recent events! There’s also a personal designer on hand to provide people with advice on how to accessorize their new finds.

Swishing is fast becoming all the rage so take a trip to Harrison’s and bag a designer piece or two.  Items should be brought in by 8pm on the day. The Swishing will begin at 8.30pm.

The next event at Harrison’s will take place on Wednesday 13th of May. For more information email Jo - comeswishing@yahoo.co.uk

Bridge at Harrison’s
Bridge at Harrison’s has been gathering pace and has gained a loyal following after just a few short months. There are already five regular tables and the numbers are threatening to outstrip demand. Harrison’s provides players, whether beginners or experts, the opportunity to hone their skills in this classic of skill card games.

Every Tuesday Harrison’s hosts a 'Bridge lunch special' which includes a fresh pasta dish and a side salad or soup with a sandwich for just £6.00. Play is usually with a partner but our warm and friendly host, Ned, is on hand to pair guests up.

Bridge entry fee is £4.00. For more information about Bridge at Harrison’s visit www.bridgeatharrisons.co.uk

Four O Nine Restaurant, Clapham, London

On the opposite side of the road to Clapham North tube station, a few steps down a side street, you'll come across a front door that looks like the entrance to someone's flat. Ring the buzzer, announce yourself and you'll be buzzed in.  Up a flight of metal stairs to the first floor and you enter into the main restaurant, a warm, cosy, candle lit entrance hall that has a feeling of secrecy and adventure.  I was loving it already and hadn't even sat down yet!

A nice lady took our coats and showed us to a table in the middle of the restaurant.  8pm on a Saturday night and it was half full, buzzy and very inviting.  We started off with a cocktail which appeared quickly, followed by a bread tray with delightfully warm melted garlic butter on the side.

I chose a bottle of Australian cabernet sav/merlot blend which was blackcurrently, easy to drink and good value at £30.  The menu is seasonal and full of enticing but not too exotic dishes.  My starter was a piece of raw tuna served on a salad & salsa verde bed (£9). It was crisp, very fresh and very tasty.  I chose rib eye steak with chips (£18) as a main course.  The steak was cut into strips and the chips where served in a bowl on the side. Big chunky crisps, crunchy and not greasy.  The steak was served medium rare as requested and was so large I couldn't finish it.  For pudding we shared a chocolate brownie and ice cream.  This was home baked, warm and fudge like and the portion size was perfect for two to share.

Service was excellent, food was excellent, ambience was excellent.  I didn't try the loos but my wife did and gave them 7/10.  Overall I will give the restaurant 9/10.

Definitely will be coming back again.

409 Clapham Rd, opposite Clapham North tube station
Book online here

The Terrace Restaurant, London

The Terrace
Lincolns Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3LJ

It was a beautifully sunny Friday lunchtime so some colleagues and I decided to pop round the corner to The Terrace for lunch.  Although we booked there were loads of free tables but it did fill up a bit after 1pm.  It's a nice, bright, airy space and watching the tennis players on the nearby courts provides an additional distraction.

They are now doing set lunch menu, two courses for £16 and three for £18.  I had a parma ham and salad starter which was adequate, followed by the burger, cooked well done.  You have to order extra chips at about £3, which irked me but the burger was perfectly adequate. The chips were soggy and greasy.

We had a carafe of Chilean red, £15 for 500mls.  Perfectly adequate.

Service was, you guessed it, perfectly adequate.

6/10.

View more reviews on The London Restaurant Review