The Grove, Hammersmith, Restaurant Review

By Fiona Keating on January 15th 2010

In 2000, this restaurant was voted Restaurant of the Year by The Green magazine. Ten years later, I’m  back to see how things have changed at this popular gastropub. On a bitterly cold lunchtime, I’m cheered by the warm welcome I receive at The Grove. The cream and green décor are soothing to the eye, with spacious high ceilings and I love the fact that I can see the kitchens from my seat as the chefs busily prepare the meals. It’s stylish yet unpretentious. A place you’d feel relaxed enough to stay for hours reading the papers or chatting to the friendly locals.

The modern European dishes are changed twice daily, with a fine choice of fish and at least two vegetarian options.  The pan-seared Argentinean rib-eye steak is by far the customer’s favourite – and I was tempted by this – although in the end I opted for the baked cod fillet. And what a treat it was. The pearly-white fish was very succulent and had a lovely delicate flavour. Lightness of touch was a signifier of this dish, with a creamy golden polenta cake and grilled asparagus which I greedily devoured in about ten seconds flat.

 To finish off, I chose the sticky toffee pudding. I’ve always loved this dish but the last one I had was a complete disaster – a heavy brick of a dessert which I suspect had been microwaved to within an inch of its life. The Grove’s sticky toffee pudding was perfection. A moist, caramel-laden joy to behold. Beware – food lovers will be pining for more of The Grove’s heart-warming dishes.

The Grove Bar & Restaurant, 83 Hammersmith Grove,
W6 0NQ, 020 8748 2966

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