Bom Buraya...calling all SW6 hispanophiles!

I am not sure whether this local favourite on Wandsworth Bridge Road has had a refurbishment, a new chef, new management or just a mini make-over but Il Sitio, or La Cuenta as it was formerly known, is better than ever. 

I previously reviewed La Cuenta (review here) and was somewhat disappointed with the food quality and general ambiance, but things seemed to have really turned around at this authentic Spanish tapas bar & restaurant.  I visited last week with my housemate and we were pleasantly surprised, firstly with the decor and fantastic atmosphere but more importantly with the food.

  

                                         

The bar was buzzing and the staff were jolly and spirited from the moment we walked in, a far cry from the empty, slightly soulless restaurant I visited a year ago. The menu has been pared back to simple yet delicious tapas- a particular favourite being the lucky dip pardon peppers. As my flatmate said, her dad loves them so much because you never know when you will bite into a spicy one and the suspense is as exciting as the taste! 

                                                                 

                                             

The chef may still be the same as previously and perhaps we visited on a bad day last year but the changes that have been made are most definitely for the better. It’s great having a cheap and cheerful, lively Spanish local on our doorstep and I urge you to try it, whether you are a hispanophile or not- especially on Thursday evening’s when they have flamenco dancing! 

146 Wandsworth Bridge Road, Fulham, London, SW6 2UH

And a pub meal in the Pear Tree...

As has been catalogued here multiple times, one of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon is to enjoy a long lunch with friends at one of the many fantastic pubs this little neck of West London has to offer. I love pubs with a bit of a unique atmosphere, an interesting menu and on a day like last Sunday, a well thought-out garden area is a bonus too.

Having been tipped off to The Pear Tree in Baron’s Court a few months ago by a friend of ours on Twitter (thanks, @nadiramakeup) I had been meaning to check it out for a while. A sunny afternoon and a friend who lives on the Picadilly Line provided the perfect opportunity to explore gastropubs new.

A 5 minute walk away from Baron’s Court, the Pear Tree has a very traditional exterior that stands out all the more for being surrounded by a fair amount of 1970s concrete. Once inside, a really traditional shabby-chic vibe is taken on through: all off- white tablecloths, heavy lampshades and a massive mahogany bar front and centre. It feels slightly kitsch, slightly 1940s tea room and it’s a feel that I thought was fun, quirky, and a welcome relief from the usual gastropub formula.

The service was really friendly, and the menu was an interesting mix of pub favourites (such as the roast) and twists on the expected. A decent scotch egg is pretty standard fare amongst Fulham gastro-pubs these days, but the black pudding scotch egg at the Pear Tree was a deliciously rich take on the popular bar snack. However, the twist may have been taken a little too far with the honey and mustard dressing which was served (thankfully) on the side, as I really didn’t think it went well. However, tastes differ and the scotch egg on its own was superb. As were the fish of the day croquettes my companion started the meal with.

The main courses were really hearty and original. I really enjoyed my rolled chicken with parma ham and stuffing, served with a green bean, shallot and quails egg salad. The rump steak with roasted new potatoes and root vegetables got the thumbs up too.

2 white wine spritzers, and bread basket and two fairly hearty courses down we didn’t have space to sample the dessert, but we had a great meal, and judging by the parties at the tables around us, they’re regularly churning out happy customers. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

The Pear Tree

14 Margravine Road. London W6 8HJ

http://www.thepeartreefulham.com/

Not the whole hog...

The Pig’s Ear is tucked away in lovely ‘old Chelsea’ and offers a discreet and unassuming bolthole for residents, locals and those in the know. Having dined there once previously before in the very pretty upstairs room I was looking forward to trying their Sunday lunch offering.

Sadly last Sunday did not compare and it appeared to us that they had let things slide somewhat since our last visit. We could have picked a bad day, or there were some staffing issues but despondently we came away very disappointed. Having arrived and struggled through much debate over our booking we finally were seated in the alarmingly empty room downstairs and starting salivating over the menu.

Unfortunately it was here that things started to go wrong, we waited for 10 minutes with no offer of a drink, so asked our waitress. She then forgot and so we had to ask again by which point we had been sitting there for 15-20 minutes. She then came and grumpily asked to take our order, but we still had not received any drinks! The food itself was good, we shared 6 oysters to start and were impressed by the quality of them, however the service was so poor that this tainted the dining experience.

We asked if we could try an Italian wine before we ordered it, the waitress looked at us blankly and said “let me check”. I then asked if I could have my fish taken off the bone, the answer to this was no after another “let me check”. My fish came five minutes before my guest’s main course and no-one had cleared the empty glasses and dirty napkins off our table from the first course. We had to ask for everything twice and despite the restaurant being practically empty we felt totally ignored. 

There were no signs of management present and our waitress had evidently had zero to little training, a fault of the managers not hers. The final sting came when the bill amounted to £90, one shared starter, two main courses and two drinks each- I appreciate in Chelsea you can pay through the nose but the least you expect for that is experienced, decent service. We won’t be rushing back in a hurry.