Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Sloane Square, London, United Kingdom

Swag & Tails - posh pub grub by petrus

petrus — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:20:03 +0000

Review by petrus

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7584 6926

Tags: relaxed, independent pub, food

The Swag and Tails is a small pub hidden on a South Kensington backstreet on the way to Knightsbridge. Bernie Ecclestone can be spotted here lunching from time to time and this may give you some idea of what to expect; it's not your standard London boozer.

I had lunch there today with that blissful feeling that comes with the knowledge that someone else is paying, in this case my work were shaking out the moths from the corporate wallet and picking up the tab. This is an occasion as rare as spotting a red squirrel in the churchyard nearby and so I cherished it accordingly.

The menu is a slightly odd mix of clearly French influenced cooking, with a nod here and there to modern british and right on ingredients, such as Pollack. There are about 6 starters, ranging from soup to the seared foie gras at Â£10.95 that I plumped for. To my mind if you are going to have foie gras with all the attendant guilt, then seared is the way to go. You can keep your terrines, your pates, cappuccinos or custards, just a very hot pan, coloured on both sides, finished in the oven and taste bud ecstasy is guaranteed.

In this case the chef had decided to add a few bells and whistles to the main event. In fact he or she may have got a little carried away with the squeezy sauce bottle as it came out on a plate that had been deluged in coloured squiggles . The liver, with an appealing brown crust, was on top of a granary crouton, which itself was on a spiced pear compote. The final flourish was a black pepper tuile, otherwise known as wafer with a bit of black pepper on it. As one of my companions commented, "It looks more like a dessert than a starter!" Although all the other components were tasty enough in their own right, and some, the pears, complemented the liver well, overall the dish was overdone in effort. A simpler presentation and fewer flavours on the plate would have allowed the excellently cooked piece of foie gras to shine more clearly.

For the main I had sautÃ©ed loin of rabbit, with smoked black pudding and a broad bean and pear salad from a longer list including more simple pub fare such as a burger and steak sandwich. This was a very good dish; the rabbit had been timed beautifully, with a good colour outside and succulent inside. I have never had smoked black pudding before, but I would certainly like to have it again. The smokiness went brilliantly with the rich, crumbly pudding. The salad gave a lighter, summery note to the dish, and I could have almost managed to describe it all as healthy, had it not been for that pesky order of shoestring friesâ¬¦

The Swag and Tails seems to have a good chef in the kitchen, this is not a pie and chips pub, I guess your average billionaire wants a tad more sophistication when they go out to lunch. The prices are pretty high, but that comes with the turf. The main for example was around Â£15, which is punchy pricing for a pub. I would definitely recommend it, as long as someone else is paying!

The Swag and Tails is a small pub hidden on a South Kensington backstreet on the way to Knightsbridge. Bernie Ecclestone can be spotted here lunching from time to time and this may give you some idea of what to expect; it's not your standard London boozer.

I had lunch there today with that blissful feeling that comes with the knowledge that someone else is paying, in this case my work were shaking out the moths from the corporate wallet and picking up the tab. This is an occasion as rare as spotting a red squirrel in the churchyard nearby and so I cherished it accordingly.

The menu is a slightly odd mix of clearly French influenced cooking, with a nod here and there to modern british and right on ingredients, such as Pollack. There are about 6 starters, ranging from soup to the seared foie gras at Â£10.95 that I plumped for. To my mind if you are going to have foie gras with all the attendant guilt, then seared is the way to go. You can keep your terrines, your pates, cappuccinos or custards, just a very hot pan, coloured on both sides, finished in the oven and taste bud ecstasy is guaranteed.

In this case the chef had decided to add a few bells and whistles to the main event. In fact he or she may have got a little carried away with the squeezy sauce bottle as it came out on a plate that had been deluged in coloured squiggles . The liver, with an appealing brown crust, was on top of a granary crouton, which itself was on a spiced pear compote. The final flourish was a black pepper tuile, otherwise known as wafer with a bit of black pepper on it. As one of my companions commented, "It looks more like a dessert than a starter!" Although all the other components were tasty enough in their own right, and some, the pears, complemented the liver well, overall the dish was overdone in effort. A simpler presentation and fewer flavours on the plate would have allowed the excellently cooked piece of foie gras to shine more clearly.

For the main I had sautÃ©ed loin of rabbit, with smoked black pudding and a broad bean and pear salad from a longer list including more simple pub fare such as a burger and steak sandwich. This was a very good dish; the rabbit had been timed beautifully, with a good colour outside and succulent inside. I have never had smoked black pudding before, but I would certainly like to have it again. The smokiness went brilliantly with the rich, crumbly pudding. The salad gave a lighter, summery note to the dish, and I could have almost managed to describe it all as healthy, had it not been for that pesky order of shoestring friesâ¬¦

The Swag and Tails seems to have a good chef in the kitchen, this is not a pie and chips pub, I guess your average billionaire wants a tad more sophistication when they go out to lunch. The prices are pretty high, but that comes with the turf. The main for example was around Â£15, which is punchy pricing for a pub. I would definitely recommend it, as long as someone else is paying!

Balls Brothers - A place to shout at each other after work by Hugo

Hugo — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:27:51 +0000

Review by Hugo

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7828 4111

Website: http://www.ballsbrothers.co.uk

Tags: food, air conditioning, noisy

This place is grim and noisy. The stark furniture and the lively after work crowd mean that you have to shout to be heard (something that everyone else seems to have figured out already).

My friend summarised it well by saying it was "a place to shout at each other after work".

I had passed it many times on the way home and wondered what it was like.

Not a place to return to if passing by, let alone make an effort to go to. This place is grim and noisy. The stark furniture and the lively after work crowd mean that you have to shout to be heard (something that everyone else seems to have figured out already).

My friend summarised it well by saying it was "a place to shout at each other after work".

I had passed it many times on the way home and wondered what it was like.

Not a place to return to if passing by, let alone make an effort to go to.

The Enterprise - Cosy Gastro-pub by Hugo

Hugo — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:10:29 +0000

Review by Hugo

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7584 3148

Website: http://www.sparkjumbo.co.uk

Tags: good food, terrace, food

The Enterprise is a handy and cosy gastro-pub in the heart of chelsea. A tasty menu with old favourites on makes it popular, which is an issue as you cannot reserve tables...be warned.

Not much space to swing a cat in here, so expect an intimate and bustling experience. Worth knowing about though.The Enterprise is a handy and cosy gastro-pub in the heart of chelsea. A tasty menu with old favourites on makes it popular, which is an issue as you cannot reserve tables...be warned.

Not much space to swing a cat in here, so expect an intimate and bustling experience. Worth knowing about though.

The Ebury - Great Atmosphere by NickR

NickR — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:15:22 +0000

Review by NickR

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7730 4270

Website: http://www.theebury.co.uk

Tags: lively, bar, expensive

What ever it is, its got just the right vibe. The atmosphere is lively, busy, cosy and hip without being or feeling too crowded. It's a pub, but not a pub. Its slick and modern and funky. Generally people are really relaxed and friendly. The staff are very good, and so is the food. However its not that cheap to eat!What ever it is, its got just the right vibe. The atmosphere is lively, busy, cosy and hip without being or feeling too crowded. It's a pub, but not a pub. Its slick and modern and funky. Generally people are really relaxed and friendly. The staff are very good, and so is the food. However its not that cheap to eat!

Thomas Cubitt - Sunday lunch by nGB

nGB — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:31:34 +0000

Review by nGB

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7730 6060

Website: http://www.thethomascubitt.co.uk

Tags: gastro pub, lively, food

Great place with table service, both inside and outside where table line the smart Elizabeth Street. The food it consistently good and the people always well turned out. Its best on a Sunday when the sun is shining.Great place with table service, both inside and outside where table line the smart Elizabeth Street. The food it consistently good and the people always well turned out. Its best on a Sunday when the sun is shining.

Duke Of Wellington - by dizzle

dizzle — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:24:38 +0000

Review by dizzle

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7730 1782

Website: http://www.shepherd-neame.co.uk

Tags: food, fire, busy

Great pub, great atmosphere.
It can get quite busy on the weekends, so get there early for a table/stool.
But when it's not busy, and you're looking for a quiet pint, this can also be the place.
The food varies, more so on the weaker side though.
A classic London pub.Great pub, great atmosphere.
It can get quite busy on the weekends, so get there early for a table/stool.
But when it's not busy, and you're looking for a quiet pint, this can also be the place.
The food varies, more so on the weaker side though.
A classic London pub.