Harden's says
Chef John McClements, who ran the local Ma Cuisine group for three decades (and also founded the highly regarded restaurant McClements in Twickenham), has come out of retirement to launch this modern French bistro with a focus on affordability, just five minutes’ walk from Richmond station on the Kew Road. John trained at the Gleaneagles hotel. On the menu – affordable meat options rather than prime cuts (such as steak tartare, stuffed pigs trotter and ox cheek bordelaise), plus daily fish specials and also vegetarian/vegan options.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“At last, an excellent French restaurant in Richmond” – experienced restaurateur, John McClement has a big hit on his hands with this incredibly popular yearling: “a quality Gallic bistro in between Richmond and Kew”. It’s not flash at all – “tiny, almost like a converted newsagents” with “lots of hard surfaces, so noisy”; and “the tables are too close for comfort”, according to some reports. But “it has a friendly vibe” and has already won a huge fan club, thanks to its “simple, un-fussy, classically French food cooked really very well”; and in particular due to its “astonishingly good value” lunch menu. “Unassuming, high quality, ungreedily priced – you leave with the warm glow of a happy time well spent. Can’t wait to return!” Top Menu Tips – “beautifully cooked leg of rabbit”; “delightful kugelhopf – traditional and with yeast!”
Summary
Chef John McClements, who ran the local Ma Cuisine group for three decades (and also founded the highly regarded restaurant McClements in Twickenham), has come out of retirement to launch this modern French bistro with a focus on affordability, just five minutes’ walk from Richmond station on the Kew Road. On the menu – affordable meat options rather than prime cuts (such as steak tartare, stuffed pig‘s trotter and ox cheek bordelaise), plus daily fish specials and also vegetarian/vegan options.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Mignonette?
109 Kew Rd, London, TW9 2PN
Mignonette Restaurant Diner Reviews
"It's neither classy fine dining nor a hearty bistro. The food is respectable, but small portions, and the dining area is cramped and very noisy when full. And not that cheap"
"Astonishingly good value set lunch, the highlight of which was a beautifully cooked leg of rabbit."
"Disappointing. The appearance more of a rather drab cafe than a bistro (although I was told that the restaurant would be closing for a refurbishment in the very near future). Food portions not over-generous and not hot enough - not helped by unheated plates. (The chef did apologize for a dish that had to be returned because it was barely warm. Surprisingly, even though the replacement food was hot, it was also served on a cold plate.)"
"Such a lovely little brasserie. Food honest and true. a good selection on offer from the Set menu and the A La Carte offerings are good too."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £26.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
109 Kew Rd, London, TW9 2PN
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm |
