In the midst of a residential area in Fulham, you'll find this special gastropub that specialises in game.

The Venue
A short walk from West Brompton tube station - in close proximity to the Farm Lane trading estate - is this small but perfectly formed gastropub. The Harwood Arms is divided into two sections: a dining area and main bar space. The bar has a more relaxed and informal feel whereas, perhaps unsurprisingly, the restaurant is slightly more formal with a pleasant country dining room feel to it.

The dining area is visually stunning due to the impressive skylight and fireplace in the corner. The tables are beautifully presented with plants, and feathers of various game birds are placed in a bottlelike vase. The feathers change depending on what the special is that day, which is a nice touch. The tables have a rustic feel to them and the chairs look like the kind of dining room furniture that you would find in your home, which is warmly comforting. The bar on the other hand has more informal tables and a few leather sofas by another fireplace.

The Atmosphere
Typically, you’ll find locals and regulars at the Harwood Arms. The clientele are predominantly made up of older punters and families looking to dine, rather than those looking to party it up with some drinks. During the week, people congregate for a few drinks after work and a quiet meal. Come the weekend, it becomes a lot busier and it’s advisable to get there early if you want a seat. However, even at peak times, the staff are extremely professional and proficient at their job.

The Food
If you are a fan of game then this is the place for you as the quality of the meat is exceptional. Best of all, the source of the meat is stated on the menu, which is always a pleasant touch, making more or your dining experience. To start with there are traditional English dishes like warm onion tart with Montgomery cheddar and watercress (£5), smoked trout with leeks, wild sorrel and salad cream (£5.50), warm salad of wild wood pigeon, and smoked bacon and black pudding (£5.75), which has pink, tender meat combined with pleasantly salty bacon and a vinegary beetroot, the ingredients complementing each other well.

The mains are very impressive with a roast T bone of Henley Fallow deer with crisp potatoes, black cabbage and mushroom ketchup (£16.50); the sweet ketchup offsets the richness of the deer perfectly and is well worth the price tag. Alternatively, you can sample Cornish cod with seaweed, boiled potatoes, broccoli and march samphire (£14.50), and slow raised faggot of jugged Berkshire hare with carrot puree and juniper (£14), which is presented in an upmarket restaurant style and has a rich flavour.

If you have room then there are a few desserts on offer. Starting at £5, the choices are varied and seasonal, such as brown bread ice cream with poached pears and blackberries (£5) and the most amazing bowl of warm Bramley apple doughnuts with spiced sugar (£5), which are bursting with a sweet, gooey filling with a light whipped cream. However, what the Harwood Arms is popular for are their traditional Sunday lunches and, as such, you’ll have to book in advance to sample them.

The Drink
There is a large selection of wine on offer and the staff will suggest which bottles are ideally paired with which dishes. The Harwood Arms concentrates on wine by the bottle rather than by the glass. However, there is a small selection of house wines by the glass; for example, a 2008 Cabernet Merlot is just £4 a glass and the recommended Pinot Grigio is £4.50 for a light, crisp, citrusy wine that is very easy to drink. The rest of the menu consists of high end and unusual wines such as a 2007 Dragon Unwooded Chardonnay (£19.50) and a 2004 Mersault (£70) for the whites. The reds include a 2002 Chayeau Kefraya Rouge (£36.50) and a 1999 Chateau Leoville Barton for £118. The usual suspects appear on the sparkling wines like Tattinger Brut Reserve (£45) and Tattinger Rose (£65), but there are some different sparkles such as the rare Tattinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie (£75) and Henriot (£150).

If an ice cold beer is more your thing then there is Heineken, Amstel, Guinness, London Pride, Black Sheep and Greene King Ruddles ale on draught, starting at £3 a pint.

The Last Word
For wonderful food in quaint surroundings head on down to the Harwood Arms for a little taste of country living in the Big Smoke.

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