140 St Johns Hill,
Battersea,
London,
SW11 1SL
0871 971 4476
The ViewLondon Review
Serving up world food in SW11, Out Of The Blue is a busy, friendly venue offering up dishes from six continents, whilst comfortably avoiding any potential reduction in quality.The VenueFormerly The Quarry, Out Of The Blue has been opened by a husband and wife team who have made it feel more welcoming and given it a world food twist.
Out Of The Blue is on a corner, halfway down the commuter artery and boutique-filled drag of St Johns Hill, it has an open-plan front area and a further area down some steps.
The AtmosphereThe decor is a mish-mash of styles, with no piece of furniture or fitting the same which helps to create the relaxed atmosphere. Out Of The Blue is open and light during the day but offers lower-key and candle-lit dining in the evenings. As you'd expect, an eclectic mix of world music is piped gently into the background.
Sunday brunch and lunchtimes are buzzing with local twenty and thirty-somethings making the most of Out Of The Blue's deliciously varied menu.
The FoodYou can either choose from individual small dishes (or boards), or the traditional starter-main course-dessert option. World food from the Americas, Australasia, India and Europe is represented but North African dishes are particularly favoured.
African lamb koftas are pink, tender and springy whilst the New York quesadillas with refreshing sour cream on the side are just so. Main courses include Moroccan braised lamb - flakey, crumbly and tender in its thick gravy, and seafood gumbo - well-balanced with spicy tomato and Pernod sauce. The choice of desserts is limited but good and there's a selection of local cheesemaker Hamish Johnson's superlative cheeses. It's well worth going for his mouthwatering, top quality range alone.
The DrinkThe six continents theme at Out Of The Blue ensures that the wine list has a nice range, encompassing an Indian white (Sula Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc) and a Lebanese red (Château Musar). Equally there are beers from Indonesia, Kenya and Canada. As well as coffee, there's a great choice of teas to end the meal with (served with honey or sugar), as well as three types of coffee liqueurs.
The Last WordA world of change and a very welcome addition to the bar and restaurant lined drag of St Johns Hill. Upbeat and friendly, Out Of The Blue hits the nail squarely on the head with locals thanks to its international, sensibly-priced dishes.
Out of the Blue Bar and Kitchen has been reviewed by 7 users