Add to the excitement that I still have going out to eat in local restaurants when I can, is the excitement of a 19-year-old son, who was in Level 3 lockdown almost as soon as he started his first year of university in Edinburgh and hadn’t had a restaurant meal in months (yes, I know, First World problems).
Not quite one of the ‘Pollock Prisoners – students in his halls who went on national TV to complain about out-of-date rolls and lack of proper food – as a 6ft 3” teenager, struck down with Covid, he wasn’t overly impressed with his delivery of egg sandwiches for lunch and goat’s cheese salad for dinner. Goat’s cheese salad? I know he’s from Richmond, but how could anyone think that’s a proper meal for a sick but strapping boychild in need of sustenance?
So, we managed to go out for one meal after he got home for the holidays and before Tier 3 locked us down again.
I know by now to book this lovely little Italian well in advance, as it’s always popular (it has 300+ positive Google reviews). The décor is simple, the prices are good and the staff are always friendly, making it great a local.
I have the same dishes every time I go, so started with the king prawns in garlic, butter and white wine, which I know are superb (although you only get four), accompanied by crusty bread to mop up the delicious left-over sauce. My husband had a comfort starter of oven baked aubergine, oozing with tomato and hot, stringy mozzarella. The returning son had big pile of bresaola, rocket and parmesan – better quality meat than the Deliveroo burgers to his bedroom window he’s been having for weeks. All starters were £7.95.
For mains, I had the Vitello Saltimbocca – veal escalope with parma ham– the only restaurant where I like to eat this: tender meat, wrapped in the salty ham and a delicious, sagey sauce £15.50). My husband had the lamb and accompanying ratatouille (£xx)…., which he declared delicious and more than filling. Finn had a wonderfully large bowl of tagliatelle with chilli king prawns, garlic and cherry tomatoes £15.50), which filled a need for prawns and pasta that he’d had for the past few months.
It was a wonderful ‘welcome home’ meal out – good company (well, there have been only the two of us at home recently…), good wine and great food. It was good while it lasted. And, hopefully, by the time you read this, we might be out of Tier 3 again. Just remember to book ahead!
291 Sandycombe Rd, Kew
qverde.co.uk
Find more restaurant reviews here.