For the majority that live in or close to central London, Battersea isnt often thought of as a hub for foodies and exciting restaurants but it is home to a vast selection if cuisines all dishing up delicious food in some pretty trendy looking sites. Some of the top names in the industry have venues there and its where you will find the new chefs making an impact on the London scene.This list focuses on finding the best restaurants in Battersea, tried and tested by our team, so all the hard work is done for you and all you need to do is book a reservation.
Named after the former ice factory’s own water source, The Source brings an element of sophistication to Battersea. In the site that used to be known as the 90’s success story of Ransome’s Dock, it had some seriously big boots to fill and so far has done a pretty good job. The interior is industrial-chic with white washed walls and a concrete pressed floor which adds a comforting ambiance in which to devour the delicate menu. The quality your served for the really rather reasonable price is excellent with dishes such as Lamb leg with Aubergine Caponata, Ratte Potatoes and Ricotta or Hereford Cote de Boeuf with Cimi de Rapa and Crispy Wedges. Also offering a mouth-watering weekend menu of brunch and Sunday lunch, it is definitely worth popping down to see the transformation.
Another of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants; London House has an understated elegance that instantly welcomes you and from what we have come to expect from his previous joints, it feels much more accessible here. Head Chef is Dublin born Anna Haugh-Kelly who joined the Ramsay Group a couple of years ago and since has trained in numerous of his restaurants across the world. Although the menu is concise, the food is delightfully presented and really thought out to bring the best out of the ingredients on show. Most notifully wondrous are the desserts, not content in the usual puddings and pies, here you can chose from Kiwi soup with orange and a pink peppercorn meringue, or a coconut polenta with pineapple and mint. I would say overall it’s broadening horizons with the food they produce using good quality ingredients and a touch of experimental gastronomy that does not disappoint.
Self-proclaimed ‘Englishman’s Italian’, Bunga Bunga is not your normal Neapolitan. Entering the bar, expect to be greeted by naughty aprons and a riot of drama through colours and collectibles. The pizzeria serves a nice little Mediterranean menu with some brilliantly named pizzas. Our favourite? The Julius Cheeser. Up the Sistine Stairway, complete with a reproduction of the famous Michelangelo work, you’ll find yourselves in The Eurovision Room for all your karaoke needs. Take inspiration from the nightly entertainment and strut your stuff with the best of them. For something a little more civilised, you can private hire the elegant observatory on the top floor and get all starry-eyed with the telescopes.
This restaurant gained a serious following after making it to the semi- final of Gordon Ramsays The F Word in 2009, at the time there was a 3 month waiting list that thankfully now has cooled down a little bit. Located on Queenstown Road it is an Argentinean Steak House adorned with vibrant red walls and greats you with waft of barbeque as soon as you walk in. Starters include traditional Argentine empanadas filled with beef, chicken, or veggies but if that doesn’t take your fancy order some grilled provolone cheese or sardines on toast. But the real reason you visit this place is for the meat. They’ve got the fillet, the sirloin, the rib eye, the flank, the rump, the sirloin and if you’re still not into it, the burger. If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, order a mixed grill to share; they come with a selection of steaks, sausage, black pudding and cheese.
Situated in the heart of Battersea, The Lighthouse is a pub that serves really good food and offers an additionally good range of cask and craft beers. Ideal for summer weather due to the decked outside and sliding doors, they serve seasonal food with a constantly changing menu. All food is sourced locally and they pride themselves in serving up traditional pub grub alongside some exotic and fancy dishes. The menu includes burgers, pies, fish and chips and risotto with a few finer dishes including ox cheek with blue cheese mash and pan fried Pollock with black pudding mash and bacon sauce.
The Butcher and Grill is a brilliant combination of Deli come restaurant. Downstairs, in the butchers, you can find a fine selection of meat (from Highfields Farm in East Sussex), poultry and game alongside the deli products, which range from fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheeses, breads and other dry store goods. Upstairs on the mezzanine level they have used the space as a restaurant that showcases the foods on offer. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner it allows for a really easy going meal in a comforting environment that serves really good food. Open 7 days a week, on the a la carte menu you can expect pie and mash, seared scallops, grilled sea bream and numerous cuts of meats from the grill.
The former head chef at Mon Plaisir in Covent Garden, Franck Raymond, has opened a French bistro, Augustine, named most adorably after his grandmother. The food focuses on produce from the Evian region, where Franck was born, including the regional dishes of Reblochon tarte, gratin of crozets and delicate smoked fera from Lake Geneva. The menu is irresistibly French, with the interiors backing up the whole family ethos of the restaurant. You can expect a to drink nothing but French wines which is a natural example of their handpicked producers including fish from Mouchet Anythy sur Leman, a fourth generation fisherman.
Bringing a bit of French Cuisine rivalry to Battersea is Gazette Brasserie, the third branch from the sites in Putney and Balham. Winner of the Diners’ Choice award from Open Table, Gazette Brasserie serves all the classic French dishes all classically completed. The menu changes weekly which encourages the chefs to focus on seasonal ingredients that reflect the warmth of true French cuisine. Not only content in usual service, they schedule up to 24 food events every year. Breakfast and brunch includes smoothies, milkshakes and croissants. Lunch may be chicken liver parfait or grilled guinea fowl and Dinner; escargots followed by beef tartare.
Cornish Tiger is a modern British fusion restaurant that sources its food in Cornwall, funks them up and then serves it in Battersea. Here you can expect real twists and fusions of different cultures meshed together to form gastronomical fireworks. The menu includes a Poussin glazed with pomegranate and sumac, Duck and date rillettes with a prune and Armagnac puree and the Tiger cheesecake with tamarind strawberries. The set meal, two courses for £9.95 or three for £11.95, is an excellent bargain and not only do they serve up good grub, they encourage you to ask for a tour of the kitchen which is a really nice end to a great visit.
Serving up traditional tapas inspired by the flavours and produce of Spain, Rosita & The Sherry Bar is a restaurant and bar with a charcoal grill called Josper brought all they way back from Barcelona. A large part of their menu focuses on Sherry, which should you visit, can be had alongside your food in excellent pairings, or afterwards as a digestive. The menu is split into tapas, huevos, cured meats, the grill aka Josper, patatas and veg and slow cooking. They have pulled dishes from all over Spain which results in an eclectic selection of dishes that would please even the most fussiest of diners. The wine list is purely focused on Sherries and a few Spanish wines with an emphasis on indigenous grapes and small producers.
The wine club has just opened an accessible wine bar that welcomes you with open arms whether you’re a self-confessed starter or sommelier. It’s not all booze though, there are small plates so you don’t get too sozzled and a shop so you can take your favourite bottle home with you after. Bliss.