It’s handy having a great little spot you can rely on for any meal of the day, any day of the week.
Whether it’s a steaming bowl of mussels with crusty bread on a weeknight when you can’t be bothered to cook; eggs blanketed with hollandaise on a slow Saturday morning; a roast chicken with all the trimmings after a long walk on a Sunday afternoon or a slice of banoffee pie cheesecake on a ‘just-because’ pudding pitstop.
No. 1a Duke Street is a spot that ticks a lot of boxes. It’s part of the Darwin & Wallace Collection (No.197 Chiswick Fire Station, 601 Queen’s Road) – a clutch of restaurants each with an emphasis on brilliant service, food and atmosphere – founded by hospitality trailblazer, Mel Marriott. Her simple yet effective dream to transform overlooked venues into brilliant local spots is realised in this Richmond branch and its eight sister sites dotted across the City.
Inside No.1a Duke Street, the downstairs bar and dining area is sparse yet warm. There’s a central, stuccoed bar, a checkerboard-tiled floor and a wide hatch giving diners a full view of the kitchen. There’s nothing overly stylised about the interiors but the minimal-meets-industrial design creates a sort of blank canvas, primed and ready for pretty much any occasion.
On the menu, expect hearty portions of free range chicken schnitzel, pappardelle with porcini mushroom ragu and dry-aged rare breed beef with skin-on fries. Not to be sniffed at are the Sunday Roasts, all served with the usual line-up of veg, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding.
Culinary flair seeps into the drinks menu too with everything from cold-press juices made by PRESS, to the chilli-spiked Picante and generously zesty Amaretto Sour. There’s also local beers on tap, ciders and wines to suit practically every taste.
So when asked, “where shall we go for dinner/drinks/brunch?” look no further than that great little spot in Richmond, No.1a Duke Street.
NOTE: No. 1a Duke Street is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner & drinks. You can find out more and book HERE.
No 1a Duke Street | 1a Duke street, Richmond, London TW9 1HP
Care for a pint? Head to one of the best pubs in Richmond.