Rick Stein Barnes

 A guest posting from a loyal Chompers follower.

KB invited me to a birthday bash at Rick Steins at Barnes last week.  He wanted something French so chose RS! 

We arrive in good time so decide to have a pre-prandial G&T at the White Hart a Youngs pub overlooking the Thames.  It was a lovely sunny day and the Bombay Sapphire and Fever Tree ...a good start to the proceedings...so good in fact we have another at RS, a short walk from the pub.

The restaurant is in a courtyard off Mortlake High Street.  I’m don’t know its previous use but the area has recently been renovated  and has a very upmarket feel in keeping with the area.

On arrival the reception desk took a few minutes to find our booking...language problem I think.  We were eventually shown to our table in the conservatory overlooking the river.  So far so good.  The restaurant is almost empty but it is a Monday.  We have 2 hours but clearly this will be ignored.

We order 2 G&Ts, KB again choosing BS, I have the Rick Stein variety.  Very good.

We get stuck in to the menu.  There’s a 2 courses option but given Rick’s reputation for quality we go a la carte.  On recommendation I opt for sea  bass with beurre blanc at £24 whilst KB goes for the pricier troncon of turbot with hollandaise sauce at £45.  We share green beans and new potatoes.  We nibble goujons of plaice as a taster.  Both of us choose the fish and shellfish soup with rouille parmesan and croutons as starter which I’ve sampled before at the branch in Sandbanks and thought to be excellent.  

KB summons the sommelier...it’s his birthday after all so he wants the expensive stuff ..and despite sauvignon being recommended and another wine he opts for an Italian Saove at £51.  I wonder about that choice...and by her looks so did the sommelier. But it’s his call.

Wine and goujons arrive promptly.  Wine is smooth, pleasant not over chilled but lacks character.  Goujons are nicely done.  The soup arrives with accompaniments which I add in full, creating what for me is a tasty thickish mix. Much better all mixed...

After a little while I note the adjacent table arrived after us but get their mains first. The 2 course set lunch I reckon. Then our seabass, turbot and sides arrive. 3 fillets of seabass on spinach bed but the beurre sauce is bland and watery looking.   KBs £45 turbot looks underwhelming and absurdly overpriced. Sides are perfectly cooked and generous.

We decline sweets.  I have a double espresso (more single than double).

The total bill including 12% service charge comes to around £180 of which about £70 is drinks.

How to sum up my 2^nd Rick Stein experience?  Delightful views of Thames,  attentive service, smart presentation.  Generally good food.  But I wonder...this is London after all, and it's a great position by the river. However I’ve recently eaten several times now at Sobofish Bournemouth, a fish  bistro half the price and in my view twice as good ...but no views of the Thames!!  In conclusion I like Rick Stein’s but if you like what’s on the menu, the 2 course option is much better value for money.