Medlar | Chelsea Restaurant
In Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare opined “would a rose by any other name not still smell as sweet?”
And, as if he planned to put that theory directly to the test, later in the exact same play he also called the medlar fruit an “open arse”.
It doesn’t seem like the first thing you’d call your restaurant. But then, but then ‘medlar’ sounds considerably more lyrical… and the medlar fruit actually does taste as sweet.
Thus it’s the inspiration for this standout French restaurant in Chelsea, serving seasonal, simple, well-executed cuisine in an understated dining room with understated staff and and an understated wine list.
The kitchen – run by Joe Mercer Narine (ex Chez Bruce and The Savoy Grill) – changes its menu frequently, like most good restaurants; source ingredients from high-end local producers, like most good restaurants; wait with attentive, friendly service, like most good restaurants; and plate up dishes like calf’s brain with smoked duck breast, pink fir potatoes with aioli and tardivo, and desserts like hot doughnuts filled with plum jam and served with ginger ice cream, redcurrant sorbet and warm madeleines. Which, well, no other restaurants do.
Wine is sourced and paired by in-house sommelier, Clement Robert. He was awarded young UK sommelier of the year in 2010. And overall UK sommelier of the year in 2013. And a host of other awards that would matter, if it wasn’t more important that he’s devised a globetrotting wine list of over 500 new and old world bottles, the majority of which are available by the carafe, and all of which are, in a word which also quite handily sums up Medlar as a complete whole:
Good.
NOTE: You can reserve a table at Medlar either by calling 020 7349 1900, emailing [email protected] or by visiting its website HERE
Medlar Restaurant | 438 Kings Road, SW10 0LJ
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