It has to be said that, in my humble opinion, the much anticipated High Road House has faithfully lived up to its promise of excellent food, cool interiors and unashamedly slick service.  And if Saturday night’s party was anything to go by, then Chiswick is in for a real treat.

With the who’s who of Chiswick’s glitterati, headed by the godfather of Pop Art Sir Peter Blake, in attendance it was was not only a night to remember but also firmly set the standard of what both diners at the High Road Brasserie and members of High Road House can expect from the most recent jewel in the local culinary crown.

Whilst the champagne flowed freely, guests feasted on dressed spider crab, fillet steak, potted shrimp and platters of fresh prawns, shrimp and oysters until the early hours. And the next day’s synopsis, albeit undertaken through a hung over fug, declared the party to be an unqualified success.

Moving deftly onto the business of opening the brasserie to the public and the club to its members, General Manager Jon Laycock was back on duty first thing on Monday overseeing the finishing touches to the interiors and ensuring that the Brasserie and its service reached his own exacting standards.

With its vibrant turquoise awnings set to take on the iconic status of former Foubert’s yellow, it is undeniable that the animated High Road Brasserie and Cowshed Shop have introduced a true sense of style to this particular stretch of the High Road.  Even with a small number of diners, the Brasserie has already taken on a life of its own and delivered the light, informal ‘home from home’ environment in bucket loads.

The trademark shamelessly smooth service executed in a charmingly unpretentious manner was in full flow when my daughters and I had the delight of being amongst the first to try out the new Brasserie the day before it opened.  Although there is not presently a separate children’s menu (I was promised it was on its way), neither daughter had any trouble finding something they wanted.  This situation was echoed at an adjacent table where a notoriously hard to please friend of mine declared himself so impressed with the menu, he left his long suffering son speechless!

We ate Speyside smoked salmon (£7), Smoked Haddock in a velvety rich Hollandaise sauce (truly wonderful and the sauce alone worth every penny of £11) and the obligatory (at the Brophy table that is) chips (£3).

High Road Brasserie opens on Wednesday 26th July at 12.00pm and will open on weekdays from 7.00am until midnight from then on. Saturday and Sunday the Brasserie opens from 8.00am until 1.00am with breakfast served until midday and brunch served at weekends from midday to 5.00pm.

A sample of the 'All Day Menu' includes merguez sausages and sautéed potatoes, vichyssoise, moules marinieres, halibut viennese with spinach & veloute, pea & pecorino risotto, red mullet with shrimps and lemon butter and mutton chops with a parsley & caper sauce.

Emma Brophy

August 10, 2006