Sam’s Kitchen opens three evenings a week

Delicious food and warm hospitality

Sam Harrison has always been a bit of a legend in Chiswick. From the days of his first restaurant Sam’s Bistro in Barley Mow Passage, eaters-out in Chiswick have always appreciated his style of dining – excellent, innovative food served with warmth.

Chiswickians were distraught when the bistro closed, aghast when he opened his new restaurant Sam’s Riverside not in Chiswick but in Hammersmith, and resigned by the time he opened his second, Sam’s Waterside in Brentford.

What they wanted was to be able to eat out at a Sam’s restaurant in the evening, in Chiswick, and now they can. Having tried a Sam’s Larder, a grocery store, in Turnham Green Terrace two years ago, and transformed it into a successful brunch place, Sam’s Kitchen, in March this year, Sam’s place in Chiswick will now be opening three nights a week as well as during the day.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday Sam’s Kitchen will offer a set menu in the evenings with one starter, main and dessert, quite distinct and different from either the brunch menu during the day or the menu at Sam’s nearby restaurants in Hammersmith and Brentford. The menu will change each week.

Sam’s trademark, apart from the food, is his hospitality. When he’s there, he greets all his guests personally at the door as if they were old friends, which of course many of them are in Chiswick. His staff are just as friendly. His regulars answered the call last weekend when he tried out his evening menu for the first time, and the restaurant was full.

The food was delicious: a choice of spiced plum bellini, a glass of Gusbourne English Sparkling or a non-alcoholic Rose Garden Paloma as we sat down, a crab starter, venison main course and confection of chocolate for dessert, with cocktails and matching wines for those who wished. Price £55 per person, with added wine pairings an extra £28 per person.

Why crab and venison?

“They are two of my favourite ingredients,” said Sam. “Crowd pleasers, but both things people maybe don’t feel so confident about cooking at home.”

To be more precise, the crab was Portland crab, with Yuzu and White Soy dressing, Tokyo turnips and Black rice. The vegetarian option was a Wild mushroom veloute, truffled Croque Monsieur, and as my companion was a vegetarian who doesn’t like mushrooms, the chef did her a special dish of Crispy polenta with Violet artichoke and a a zesty Romesco sauce.

The main was Saddle of Venison, Pomme Anna, Damson & Juniper (whoever Anna was, I love her way of doing potatoes and would go there just for those alone). The vegetarian option Roast Delica Pumpkin, Spelt Arancini, Chestnut, Varigated kale.

The dessert was a Chocolate and Passionfruit Delice, with White chocolate ice cream.

Images: Spiced Plum Bellini; Vegetarian starter – Crispy polenta with Violet artichoke and a a zesty Romesco sauce; Vegetarian main – Roast Delica Pumpkin, Spelt Arancini, Chestnut, Varigated Kale

The matching wines, should you be considering trying any of this at home, were Gruner Veltliner ‘Burgenland Estoras Weingut Esterhazy, an Austrian wine to accompany the starter; Barbera D’Asti La Luna et Falo, Vite Colte, from Piedmont, Italy with the main; and a Rosa di Monte Torre Moscato, Gorgo, Organic to go with the dessert.

Image: Dinner at SK; Photograph Joanna Raikes

Bookings through Sam’s Kitchen website, on the ‘Dinner at SK’ page.

samskitchenw6.co.uk

Sam’s Kitchen
59-61 Turnham Green Terrace,
Chiswick,
London W4 1RP

During the day, for the brunch menu, Sam offers The Chiswick Calendar’s Club Card members a 10% discount.

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