Harden's survey result
Summary
Adam Byatt’s “classy” Clapham star is “at the top of its game” and there are only a few restaurants south of the river that give it a run for its money: “a trip always feels special, no matter what the occasion”. “Outstanding”, contemporary cuisine (from a three-course, or four-course menu) is at the heart of a “wonderful”, straightforward formula incorporating “service that’s always on point”, plus the “relaxing atmosphere” of a room whose “exterior view is much improved now the public WC has been demolished and the area landscaped!”. “Really good cocktails” and a “diverse and interesting wine list” complete the picture – look out for vintages marked ‘Chef’s Cellar’. See also Trinity Upstairs and Charlie’s at Browns.
Summary
“Since getting a (long-overdue) Michelin star, the team have upped their game” yet further, at Adam Byatt’s ever-more-outstanding Clapham trailblazer – “a very slick operation”, with an attractive position near Clapham Common. “In many respects it rivals Chez Bruce with the added advantages of more table space and less lead time for a table!” “Exemplary cuisine combines the familiar with interesting novelties without being outlandish or showing off”. “You are made to feel very welcome” by the “unusually well-informed staff” and the setting is “delightfully calm and relaxing”. See also Trinity Upstairs.
Summary
“We are privileged to have it as our local!” – Adam Byatt’s Clapham landmark “goes from strength to strength”, and “at last has a well deserved Michelin star” (though we’re not sure what took them so long). “The whole team are so knowledgeable and committed to providing a memorable meal”, and results are “exceptional” from an à la carte menu that’s more “conventional” than its former multi-course tasting format. “They’ve greatly improved the decor since refurbishing a couple of years ago too, but it can still lack buzz.” See also Upstairs at Trinity.
Summary
“Since the refurb last year, Adam Byatt is at the top of his game”, and his “classy” Clapham ten-year-old – “so much more than a neighbourhood local!” – rivals nearby Chez Bruce as the area’s top gastronomic destination. His “clever” cuisine is “exciting AND completely satisfying” and there’s a “wide-ranging and superb” wine selection available by the glass, all delivered by “well-informed and un-pompous” staff. (“The addition of upstairs at Trinity is working well” too – an “interesting and appealing”, but cheaper option to the ground floor – formula price £43). Mr Michelin Man – “a star must be due surely?” STOP PRESS. Michelin finally provided the much-overdue star in October 2016.
Restaurant details
Trinity Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Excellent, interesting food, charming service and ambience. An exceptional place"
"Disappointing, and very expensive.Not good value for money especially the wine list probably marked up four times. Served by some creepy guy who needs to learn from the French not to be so obsequious. Our order was taken by someone who was annoyingly slow and should be fired."
"Still love this place, amazing food and ambience - continually improving. Marked down on service as offered more bread rolls which never showed up and a CCW that when I looked up the bottle had a bigger mark up than advertised (it was still a lovely bottle!!)"
"Great value both food and wine. Good friendly service, staff who know the food. Delicious bread. Very good tuna tartare. All dishes well cooked and generous. Very good cheese in wonderful condition."
"The best restaurant in this area and well deserving of its Michelin star"
"Beautifully presented food as always, but the puddings misfired. the salted caramel was too salty and the rhubarb lacked any discernible sharpness, which was needed to cut through some very fatty mains. The service which is usually spot on, bored on the obsequious this time. Not a direction I favour."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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| Lunch | £30.00 | £40.00 |  |
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| Dinner | £50.00 | £60.00 | |
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| Drinks |
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| Wine per bottle | £29.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
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| Service | 12.50% |
Harden's says...
Trinity SW4
Adam Byatt is a foodie-world favourite. He first hit the headlines - in a modest way - back in 2002, when his Clapham restaurant Thyme was at the cutting edge of the 'tasting plate' revolution. Then - flushed with success - he moved Thyme to Covent Garden. It failed, however, and he subsequently re-launched on the same site as 'Origin'. Hidden-away on the first floor of a multimedia centre, Origin has still always had difficulty attracting the following its interesting cuisine deserves.
This new outlet takes Mr Byatt back to his 'roots', near Clapham Common (just a couple of hundred yards from the original Thyme). The obvious problem is that Clapham has never proved itself a 'natural' fine-dining destination, and you have to have real innovation or quality on your side to succeed.
Well, on our visit, there was no particular innovation, and nothing about this place was quite good enough. For a start, the setting is below the aspiration level: at £50 a head, you do not want to hear, as we could, a deep-fat fryer bubbling away during your lunch. (Nor to smell it, but that was probably just a ventilation teething problem.) But, in the last analysis, it was the food which let the place down. If customers go to the trouble of seeking out a place like this, they need to be rewarded with intense flavours. We weren't, with none of the half-dozen dishes we sampled really impressed. Even bread, hot from the oven, was a non-event.
Perhaps it was just early days. But we can't help thinking that a visit to Origin, with its handier West End location, would still be a better bet.
4 The Polygon, London, SW4 0JG
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Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm-3 pm, 6:30 pm-10 pm |
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