Sam's Bar & Brasserie appears in the Best Eats of 2005

Evening Standard food critic, Fay Maschler, has listed local brasserie Sam's in her "Best Eats of 2005".

Of proprietor Sam Harrison she writes "Old Etonian Sam Harrison, who worked in restaurants in Sydney and as general manager for Rick Stein in Padstow, has Rick as an investor in Sam's Brasserie housed on the ground floor of a former paper factory in Chiswick. Open all day every day, the menu devised by chef Rufus Wickham has something to suit all moods and appetites. Families are flocking there."

Clearly an admirer, she even awards Sam Harrison with the title of "Most promising young old Etonian".

“We are delighted with the response we have had since the opening of Sam’s. Our aim is to build on this in 2006 and continue to try and offer something unique to our local customers in Chiswick” Sam Harrison told Chiswickw4.com.

Another local restaurant to get a mention, albeit via praise for its proprietor Marco Pierre White, was Frankie's Italian Bar & Grill.  Marco Pierre White recently opened the first of his planned gastropubs aimed at bringing "affordable glamour" to the countryside.   Obviously not one for multiple concepts considering that bringing "affordable glamour" to the High Road was precisely the reason behind opening a branch of Frankie's in Chiswick!

Chiswick's arch nemesis AA Gill included both Le Vacherin (the only reason he would consider moving to West London) and Sam's Bar & Brasserie in his 2005 round up.  Both establishments scored three stars in his reviews written for The Sunday Times Style magazine.

January 8, 2006