The Petersham Restaurant, Richmond offers a slice of calm & seclusion and is one of my great culinary finds of 2018, so much so that I have been back twice in the last 2 months. It offers you a highly civilised space to enjoy food with friends, with fantastic views over The River Thames.
The Petersham Restaurant
The Petersham Hotel
Nightingale Lane, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6UZ
www.petershamhotel.co.uk/restaurant
As you walk up Richmond Hill from the town centre you are entering a slice of period London with majestic views over The River Thames and Petersham Meadows a landscape made famous, by artists and romantics for it really is pretty special. Even at night it’s a slice of heaven with lights twinkling in the distance, as we were blessed to visit first on Bonfire Night and then I loved it so much we went back for Christmas dinner with real snow which is a lovely touch of Hollywood and great fun.
As you near the top of the hill you see the hotel lit up and I felt I was in a Disney movie and fell in love with the superbly nostalgic Nightingale Lane, which must be on Location Managers list of London Lanes.
What makes it even better is I am not a foreigner to the area, having been born on the other side of Richmond Park and used to go to ice skating lessons as Richmond Ice Rink which unfortunately no longer exists, but actually I have reached the age I love to be surprised.
With the fantastic location on the hill, the imposing facade you feel you are in a movie, well I did and as you walk through the door, somewhat to my surprise I found a gallery of celebrity photographs including Michael Douglas, Jerry Hall, Kate Winslet amongst many others.
Moving into the restaurants the décor is contemporary luxury with comfort in mind and the acoustics are spot on, something too many restaurants underestimate, but the value of feeling like you can have a private conversation while still being surrounded by others is lovely.
The service is formal but very welcoming and hats off to their sommeliers.
The first time I dined I had salmon to start with, then duck then crème Brule and the second started with soup, then Christmas turkey and Christmas pudding so was able to experience a classic evening meal as well as the seasonal turkey Christmas lunch. Do not expect to be dazzled by Michelin stars but the food is very well presented and good and tasty.
Our approach revolves around the sommelier doing the work. Know your approach and the types you like and get them to do the work. This way you can appreciate new things whilst still pleasing your palette.
On our second visit we tasted wines from a variety of countries including
Macon Bassieres 2016
Chablis Grand Cru
Chateau Hugladet
Tokaji Aszu
One of the things that really makes up the feel of your restaurant are the other guests and, in my experience, really plays a vital role in your culinary story. For me I felt very comfortable, two ex-public-school boys sat nattering about life, the universe, and more besides, surrounded by couples in their thirties and forties as well as families with children dressed up for their dining experience, as well as a good selection of international visitors, including Americans and Germans.
Think home counties Telegraph reader crowd with an emphasis on having a lovely meal.
They do this very well.