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Date night. Just the two of us. We can make it if we try. We make it to Charlotte's. Finally. Our neighbours have been banging on since the inception of this blog that it's their favourite restaurant in Chiswick - with qualifications obviously, such as if it's a weekday, not a special occasion, keeping it casual .. you get the picture. We had been before but that was pre-WEST4URANTS and now our tastebuds are sharpened. And we have to take photos.
Charlotte's is the sister restaurant of Charlotte's Place in Ealing, and arrived in Chiswick in 2010, taking over the site previously occupied by Fishworks. In 2015 it was awarded Good Food Guide London Restaurant of the Year and last night (14 November) was named Best Restaurant In Chiswick at the Time Out Love London Awards.
In 2012 the Gin School at Charlotte's was launched and after much success at the forefront of the gin explosion it's now evolved to include tastings from craft producers of anything and everything - tequila, whisky, vermouth, vodka, beer, wine... We didn't make the most of the cocktail list, having just returned from a gastronomic tour of the Lake District. But I can tell you it's pretty extensive, featuring not only breakfast staples such as blackberry jam and egg whites but some intriguingly named spirits including Macchu Pisco, Illegal Mezcal and Tarquin's Cornish Pastis.
Mr WEST4URANTS had an aubergine and tomato concoction to start and I had the slow cooked egg, with jerusalem artichokes, trompettes and kale. I was intrigued about a slow cooked egg and remain so. I'm not entirely sure how it was any different than a cooked egg (albeit somewhat greyer) though I'm willing to admit it tasted good, as was the rest of the dish. We both opted for the slow cooked pork which was nice but not exceptional. Mr WEST4URANTS drew the short straw with a very fatty piece, and whilst, contrary to popular belief I'm not squeamish about fat, I would have been as underwhelmed as he was.
We also had a bowl of triple cooked chips, which were a little pastey looking considering their being subjected to the cooking process three times - boiled, baked, fried. Heston, of course, deep fries his twice (and freezes them in between) which sounds like a massive effort, but it's worth it. Charlotte's triple cooked version are no better than the once cooked chips served up across the road at Chris's Fish Bar. I think we actually left a few - a virtually unparalleled scenario.
We are lucky to have Charlotte's really, but this wasn't the best meal we've had there. We'll just have to go back next year.
Food (for 2): £50.50
Drink: £41.50
Total: £103.50
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