Scott's Richmond - new set lunch menu
The hottest table in town
Address: 4 Whittaker Ave, Richmond TW9 1TH. Get directions.
Our verdict
Since opening its dazzling doors at the end of last year, Scott’s Richmond has been the hottest table in town, and it’s easy to see why.
Two vast high-ceilinged dining rooms offer super glam interiors, stunning river views and a mouth-watering menu of sophisticated seafood, chilled Champagne, and more.
There are those lucky enough to go regularly whilst, for others, it is perhaps reserved for special occasions alone, but thanks to Scott’s new set lunch menu, a delicious meal there has just become a lot more accessible.
I was lucky enough to visit on a rare sunny January day, and the entire, already beautiful space was strewn with sunlight, flooding in through vast windows and bouncing off all manner of shiny surfaces and sparkling décor.
We sat downstairs (upstairs is cosier, more colourful, but just as stylish) on gorgeous, brightly coloured banquette seats, surrounded by antiqued mirror walls, glistening chandeliers, eclectic artwork, and big blousy curtains complete with shimmering tassels. I did say that it was super glam…
A vast, almost sculptural crustacean bar dominates the downstairs space (upstairs there is an enormous glittering gold cocktail bar instead), whilst smartly waistcoated staff dart around efficiently, adding to the old-world elegance of the place.
The charming Pierre showed us to our table, right by the window, so close to the water that it felt as though we were floating on it, in one of those opulent, old-fashioned liners.
I often get FOMO with set menus and find myself reaching for the à la carte, but not at Scott’s. It’s a substantial three-course affair with three choices for each, priced at two courses for £29.50, or three for £34.50.
Some good bread arrived first (on the house) followed by the starters, of which the caramelised Roscoff onion tart was absolutely divine; lots of wonderfully sticky onions, satisfying chunks of truffled Jerusalem artichoke, and a light brown butter dashi vinaigrette all sat in a crunchy, buttery bed of perfect pastry.
The cured and torched mackerel was delicious too – the soft meaty fish matched perfectly with the freshness of pickled cucumber and a lively yuzu kosho ponzu dressing.
Mains were simple yet deliciously effective; I adored the plaice schnitzel, wonderfully crisp with beautifully soft fish inside, and heavily doused with lemon and caper butter.
The charcoaled bream was also well cooked; a large flaky fillet, slightly crisped on the outside, sitting on grilled peppers, olives and pine nuts – all those tasty and uplifting Mediterranean flavours that are so welcome at this time of year.
I also want to mention the third main course choice - baked basil gnocchi with slow roast tomatoes ripped burrata and lemon pangrattato – the table next to us ordered it, and it looked divine…
Sides are all around the £5 mark - we had some steamed spinach and a plate of surprisingly delicious pit roasted carrots – served whole but peeled and trimmed, they were deliciously sweet and came topped with a nice dukka-spiced yoghurt.
I was hankering after a third side – potatoes of course, which you can either have chipped, mashed or buttered (all three please), but I managed to resist, and thank goodness I did – pudding was a very hefty slice of treacle tart, served with a huge dollop of clotted cream. The delightfully dense, chewy filling was just as it should be, but the pastry was a touch over.
I really enjoyed the chocolate and blood orange coupe - a few generous scoops of very good dark chocolate gelato dotted with zingy slices of both candied and fresh blood orange. Always a perfect flavour combination in my book, and in this case perfectly executed.
We tried the Muscadet that’s suggested on the set menu (a 375ml carafe costs £25) which was a perfect match – lots of fresh lemons and tart apple, ideal at lunchtime, and its slight saltiness a winning combo with all the lovely fish.
Obviously, the carafe disappeared in seconds (probably evaporated in the sun…), so we also had a very delicious glass of white Burgundy - not bad at £12 a (125ml) glass.
It was truly one of those perfect long lunches, mainly because the views (both inside and out) were just so distractingly beautiful, and the staff were very politely (and patiently) accommodating.
Scott’s new set menu offers good value for money in a truly beautiful restaurant, where both the cooking and the ingredients are of an incredibly high standard, and the glamorous interiors and riverside setting are nothing short of sublime. I’ll be back for that gnocchi. Soon.
For all you rugby fans out there - Scott’s Richmond is hosting an exclusive evening with sporting legends Lawrence Dallaglio OBE and Ben Kayser, who will be tackling topics and talking all things rugby in an intimate discussion with host and sports presenter, Christina Mahon. For one night only on Tuesday 7 March, guests can enjoy a Q&A alongside a four course dinner curated by Head Chef Tom Fraser, plus pints of Guinness and Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails. Tickets are available for a deposit of £110.00 per person, redeemable against the final bill at the end of the evening.
Scott’s Richmond set lunch menu is available Monday-Wednesday, 12 pm-5 pm. Book online at scotts-richmond.com
