Annapurna

101 Chiswick High Road
W4 2ED

020 8994 0338


Hard to believe now, but when we first came to Chiswick in 1992, we just didn't have the range or choice of restaurants that we do now. There was Foubert's, of course, Southey's, Pizza Express, Texas Lone Star on the Terrace and the posh French place in Devonshire Road (not La Trompette, but La Dordogne). And Annapurna, which dates back to the 1970s. A typical Friday night in the early 90s started with a workout at the Hogarth Club, followed by a beer in the bar and a curry at Annapurna. Heady days.

We hadn't been to Annapurna for ages, and it caught our eye when making the local news recently due to GuideDogGate. (Don't worry, this turned out not to be doubts about the contents of the Tandoori Mixed Grill, but the restaurant's refusal to let a blind customer bring a guide-dog in, which a spokesman subsequently claimed was a misunderstanding and apologised for).

Helpfully, the restaurant's website tells you it is located in "London's Chiswick", which saves you making a wasted journey to the Chiswick in the western suburbs of Sydney that was known as Bigi Bigi until the 1850s.  More precisely, it describes itself as "an authentic Indian restaurant located on Chiswick High Road" which it is, so long as 'authentic' means looking like pretty much every other Indian restaurant in the UK, but not much like any restaurant in India. It draws in "spice seeking diners from all over the area" and is apparently the favourite curry house of local celebrities Jeremy Vine and Kevin McNally (yes, I had to look him up too, but you will recognise him).

Stereotypically we started with some draft Kingfisher, accompanied by "palin papadum" (a tribute to everyone's favourite Python) with "pickels" (a tribute to everyone's favourite LA Raiders defensive tackle) and chutneys, including the unnaturally orange coconut one.

We skipped starters and dived straight in to the main course. We shared a saag gosht (lamb cooked with fresh spinach and dry fenugreek leaves) and - from their impressive selection of Murgh Dishes - a murgh dhansak (chicken breast cooked with lentils in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce). Both fitted the restaurant's own description of "mouth-watering", spicy but not too saucy (move over Giles Coren, this is top quality restaurant criticism). We accompanied that with some chana masala, a roti and basmati rice - probably more carbs than Mrs WEST4URANTS had eaten all week. And to round off the perfect evening, they brought us After Eights with the bill, presumably a tradition dating back to their 1970s launch.

By a quirk of fate, younger Miss WEST4URANTS also fancied a curry that Friday night, but she was baby-sitting, so I treated her to a takeaway from Indian Zing on King Street and, fond though I am of Annapurna, she got the better deal. If Indian Zing was in W4 that would obviously be our favourite Indian restaurant in Chiswick. But it isn't, so Annapurna is.


Food (for 2): £25.10
Drink: £9.70
Total: £38.30

Foxlow

11 Barley Mow Passage
W4 4PH

020 7680 2702


Now that I am deemed to be an expert on where to eat in Chiswick - and I'm talking amongst my friends here, this blog has not yet become the go to site for where to eat this side of Hammersmith Bridge - though it is only a matter of time, I'm sure - I find myself poleaxed by indecision.  Not least because I can't yet go somewhere I haven't been before (Mr W would think that a criminal waste of a potential blog opportunity) but also because I feel the need to impress with my inside knowledge of all things restaurant in W4. 

So, it was a ladies night.  Wanted: food (decent), wine (plenty) and atmosphere (but not too much - we are within striking distance of middle age after all) and all within walking distance. Foxlow would appear to hit the spot.  It emerged last year after the much loved Sam's Brasserie closed - not I hasten to add because it was not doing well, but because Sam fancied life in the countryside, and who can blame him.  And in November it was shortlisted for Best Restaurant in Chiswick in the Time Out Love London Awards.

Being laydees we did the inevitable and opted for the healthy(er) fish options.  Three of us had the hake with saffron white beans and roast tomatoes and one the salmon with new potatoes, spinach and creme fraiche.  All were good though we did agree that the hake was on the lukewarm side of hot.  We shared a milk chocolate pannacotta - last of the big eaters! - which was much much nicer than it either sounded or looked.  Just look at the photo.  All washed down with, wait for it, a bottle of Pinot Grigio. (Or Pinto Grigio as it said on the bill, which sounds like a different drink altogether).

So.  I think Foxlow is perfectly nice. The food is good, the wine is decent and it has a buzz which gives it a sense that you're not in the wrong place.  But like all half decent restaurants, of which there are many in Chiswick, it's the company that really matters.  And that night it was gorgeous.

Food (for 1): £17.38

Drink: £12.75

Total: £33.66