263 The Broadway,
Wimbledon,
London,
SW19 1SD
(020) 8545 8661
The ViewLondon Review
Sate your Wimbledon-watching appetite with a good bloody steak and a fine Mojito at the Lambourne Bar and Grill.
The Venue
The Lambourne is situated opposite Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre on the south side of the Broadway. Despite it’s attachment to the Antoinette Hotel, it’s very much an entity on its own and tries desperately to veer away from any stuffy hotel brasserie image. A stylish, laidback decor attracts a local, young professional crowd and is seemingly a hit with the hotel residents (who are no doubt grateful for a decent bar and restaurant).
The double-height bar is all blond woods, open brick walls and huge gilt mirrors, whereas the separate dining room has a more contemporary feel. The dark ash furnishings, gold-striped banquettes and retro wallpaper all adds to its stylish appeal, whereas its low ceilings gives a cosy feel with a definite detachment from the bar area.
The Atmosphere
The Lambourne is still fairly new on the Wimbledon block but it’s finally finding its feet with a great new menu and weekly events such as a weekend DJs, nightly Happy Hour and sports TV.
The bar seems to attract a small, younger crowd who sometimes drift into the restaurant for sustenance, however the restaurant is still mostly the domain of hungry hotel guests. The staff are friendly, quick and keen to please. As for music, modern house seeps through to the secluded dining room, giving it a lively yet unobtrusive atmosphere.
The Food
As soon as you’re seated a tray of toasted triangles of speciality bread arrive with an olive oil and balsamic dip. Each day the chef prepares a short selection of daily specials, for example grilled asparagus with a poached egg and hollandaise (£4.75) and roasted sea bass with creamed leeks (£10.50) From the main menu a starter of marinated king prawn skewers with a red pepper dip (£5) is very tasty, however it’s quite dry and the double skewers are not the easiest to eat from. They do have a nice chilli kick though and the chilled red pepper dip is creamy and delicious. The grilled squid with garlic and parsley butter (£4.75) is remarkably fresh. Scrolls of trimmed squid are sauteed in a garlic and herb butter and served with a handful of salad leaves. It’s fresh and generous and a tasty new take on the battered variety.
The mains menu here at the Lambourne leans heavily to the grill section with a choice of four different steak dishes including a very well-executed 8oz grass-fed rib eye steak (£12). A fine slab of perfectly-cooked steak arrives on a large white platter with two huge flat field mushrooms nestling up against it. Served medium rare and with a thick patty of herby butter melting on top, you almost don’t need the fat chips with aioli (£1.95). Well, almost... Another meaty treat is the 8oz Herefordshire sirloin steak (£12) topped with a bushel of grilled vine tomatoes. All the steaks are expertly cooked and served simply with one accompaniment, such as salsa verde, vine tomatoes or fried eggs. Those who arrive ravenous should try the immense (yet very tempting) 12oz fillet with two fried eggs, which is a steal at £14.95. Accompaniments are extra but are plentiful to share. Try the chunky chips with aioli and the grilled Mediterranean vegetables (both at £1.95).
For desserts, again there are just a handful of options. The chocolate fondant is always a winner, a spongy chocolate pud (£4.50) which oozes with naughtiness and served with a decent vanilla pod ice cream. The homemade apple crumble (£4.50) also hits the spot. Wafer-thin sweet apples are topped with a warm oaty crumble and again served with a creamy vanilla ice cream.
The Drink
The wine selection is extensive with a handful of organic options too. The house white is a crisp, dry colombard sauvignon from France (£14 a bottle) which is very fresh and easy to drink. The red is again a French merlot cabernet and still a fine price (£14). However, the cocktails are the Lambourne’s real speciality. Prices start from a reasonable £3.50 for a B-52 or a Mini-Cosmo, both of which offer a spirited start to the evening. Long drinks are also a steal at £5.95 with you’re usual boozy suspects such as a Long Island Iced Tea or a floor-hitting Zombie. During the week the popular Happy Hour offers 2-4-1 cocktails between 5pm and 8pm.
The Last Word
What the Lambourne Bar and Grill lacks in atmosphere it certainly makes up for in value for money. For excellent steaks and well-mixed cocktails at very reasonable prices, it’s the place to go.
The Lambourne has been reviewed by 27 users