Cuisine: French

Cost:

Rating:

Where?: 2, Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common, SW17 7EG

Closest station(s): Wandsworth Common, Balham.

Telephone: 0208 672 0114

Website: www.chezbruce.co.uk

Having previously been to La Trompette, Chez Bruce’s Chiswick based sibling I had extremely high hopes for the meal as it is certainly the better known and often more highly praised older brother. I have to say that my experience at Chez Bruce was excellent. From start to finish the service was impeccable without becoming intrusive or overbearing. The tongue and brain starter was delicious, as were the potted shrimps.

The mains managed to keep up the high standards, turning out fresh and tasty food; my cod with olive oil mash was a great success. The puddings and cheese rounded off the meal excellently – the cheese board should not be missed. The wine list has considerable Gallic persuasion, not a bad thing in my book; with effort clearly being put into keeping the top section of the list reasonably priced – there are a couple of bottles for under £25. If you want glitz, glamour and pretention then don’t go. Chez Bruce serves up excellent food in a modest but pleasant environment with great service and decent wine to wash down each delicious morsel.

My only real complaint about Chez Bruce is that they seem to have a rather small wine fridge, on a couple of occasions when I have order a bottle of wine they have said that they haven’t got one cold as they have just sold a bottle of it – surely they could keep more than one bottle chilled!

Despite the prices creeping up this Michelin-starred food leaves not too large a dent on the wallet, the lunch menu being particularly good with 3 courses for around £27; dinner being around £45. Certainly one of the best, if not the best, restaurant south of the river.