Barnes, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

This “lively and enterprising pub” is “tucked away in back streets near the railway” among the cute terraced cottages of ‘Little Chelsea’ in Barnes; and is thriving under the ownership of a group of well-heeled locals (including F1 legend David Coulthard). With “smart service”, it is “very popular at weekends”, but now only opens at lunchtime from Friday to Sunday. It is dog- (of course) and kid-friendly, and there’s a nice courtyard at the back for summer evenings.

The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zep… they all recorded here, but now the studios host a successful indie cinema with a membership club and bistro, featuring an attractive terrace on the Barnes main drag. It’s a popular local rendezvous for coffee and a bite, but perhaps sees no need to up the standard of the food – “such a shame, as it could and should be so much better”.

“Very high-end food for a pub” in a special setting – an upstairs dining room with a balcony overlooking the Thames – has made this handsome year-old tavern a “great addition to Barnes”. “The score would be higher but the grub does not always hit the highs”. Founder Joe Grossman is a local boy who owns burger chain Patty & Bun: this is his passion project. Top Menu Tip – “have all the starters and share the lamb shoulder”.

“The back garden is gorgeous in the summer and very family friendly” at this “lovely local” on the outskirts of Barnes as you head into Sheen. Restaurant investor, Christian Arden relaunched it in 2021 during the tough Covid times and the place has never perhaps attracted as much PR as it deserves for its steaks (cooked over open fire in the garden BBQ), pizza and other fare; and his “fabulous team always really look after the locals”.

“HomeSW15 continues to go from strength to strength” – a neighbourhood brasserie (with terrace) amidst a traditionally lacklustre selection of restaurants on the wide pavement leading to East Putney tube. “Craig has led his team throughout the last several years and does a fantastic job, knows all the regular customers and has been the only person in the last decade and a half to get this site to work effectively”. And now the same magic is winning hearts in Barnes at HomeSW13 – “a new version of Church Road” (RIP) but “cheaper and more cheerful”. “The makeover has resulted in a higher energy and more flexible local and the team’s slightly more relaxed approach works well”. It helps that “the food is really good” too – it’s looking like this site is at long last recovering the high mojo it had for so long when it traded as Sonny’s (long RIP); if with a more “informal style” of cuisine from an “all-day menu spanning brunch, lunch and dinner”. Top Menu Tips – “lovely cauliflower bite snacks; top-notch Jerusalem artichoke soup… the blade of beef with garlic mash is suitably unctuous; and the chicken schnitzel with Asian slaw is also good”.