Fluid Eating's Review of Broadway Bar and Grill
Best for: Informal dining in Fulham, cocktails, pub classics.
Great: Service, wine list, chips.
I strode into the bank seeking to order a cheque book and to get on my way swiftly. My mood had taken a turn for the worse when they couldn’t find a record of my account and started to ask me repeatedly whether I might live in Brighton rather than London as they had found a customer of the same name in Brighton. Unfortunately, I had got rather irate before realising that it may not have been Nationwide’s fault. The fact that I had a Halifax account and not a Nationwide one may have explained the problem. Before I left I pointed out that it was, of course, their fault for having similar company branding and skulked out of the branch in a cloud of shame (true story). Having made a fool of myself that morning through reaching conclusions rather quickly and being impatient, I decided that I would turn over a new leaf.
On my way to the Broadway Bar & Grill in Fulham Broadway that evening, pre-conceived ideas popped into my head. From the American sounding name, I had images of annoying staff in TGI Friday style clothing attacking me with fake happiness and asking me how my day had been; before treating me to a selection of freshly microwaved food; most of which arriving in a crumb or batter coating.
Arriving at the bar & grill - which is only a few paces from Fulham Broadway tube - my pre-conceived ideas changed from American to English, with football being advertised for that evening on a board outside.
Clearly, my aim of turning over a new leaf and not jumping to conclusions had not quite worked. However, having opened the door to the establishment my ideas about the bar changed pretty swiftly. Straight ahead there was a large bar roughly splitting the venue into a bar area to the left - offering somewhere to have a drink or two or to watch sport if it is on the TVs scattered around the walls - and a dining area in the other section - offering smarter tables in a restaurant decked out with luscious looking sombre green banquettes (a word, I maintain, which would be better utilised in describing ‘a quickie’).
Fingering the drinks menu, I noted the long cocktail list; offering a great selection of new and old; before ending up at the wine. It was then I realised that I genuinely had been wrong about this bar; the wine list was as good as many London restaurants, if not better – though unlike many restaurants starting at an extremely reasonable price.
The food menu screamed at me, being surprisingly and refreshingly brief; a rarity in most restaurants these days. Though short, the selection of five or so starters, salads and then a compact but varied mains lists certainly offered a bit of something for everyone.
I was able to see through into the kitchen from where I was sitting and was shocked to see that every plate of food was prepared from scratch. The calamari starter attested to this, being fresh and crisp. The sausage and mash that followed did what it said on the tin and came covered in lashings of a glutinous, sweet and sticky gravy.
My dining partner loved her steak, cooked how she liked it, and described the chips as being almost as good as McDonald’s; allegedly a great compliment; but one she knew would wind me up. When it comes to clientele, McDonald’s seems to be full of girls wearing pink velour tracksuits who you can’t quite tell whether they are pregnant or just fat; with cheap cigarettes nestled behind their gold jewellery clad ears. I can confirm that there was not a velour tracksuit in sight at the Broadway Bar & Grill, with a youngish crowd split equally between drinking and dining, in a relaxed and lively manner.
Overall, this new South West London bar & grill was very enjoyable; the staff and service were great and without a touch of Americanised fakery. I would suggest going to the Broadway Bar & Grill for reliable, very reasonably priced food (under £10 for a main) and a bottle of wine; or for a great night of cocktails. Having a sneak peek of the fine dining restaurant that is due to open upstairs in November 2010, there are certainly grand plans for this place. If the décor is anything to go by it will definitely be worth a visit. Best of all for me, I don’t think there is much chance I will confuse it for a branch of Halifax.
Reviewed by Alex Williams.
DESCRIPTION: The Broadway Bar and Grill is a bar and grill restaurant, opened in Fulham in October 2010. Broadway House on the top floor is a members only club opened in August 2011.
A 300 capacity venue, with seating for 130, The Broadway Bar and Grill occupies the ground floor of a three-story building, which historically has been a pub since 1680. It is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing glass of wine, a post-work cocktail or a bite to eat, in a comfortable and stylish atmosphere. The Broadway Bar and Grill has a New York loft-style feel, with a bold décor including exposed brickwork matched with 1930s-inspired tiling, mirrored panels running the length of the walls and green leather banquette seating. Classic windows spanning the front of the building flood the spacious room with natural light and the long mahogany bar is a dramatic centrepiece to the room, providing a focal point for guests to gather and enjoy a drink before heading to their tables.
Sports fans can enjoy coverage of key events on one of the many flat-screen TV’s in the bar, separate from the dining area. The Broadway Bar and Grill also offers a green outside space, providing a quiet haven from the busy Fulham street. The garden is heated all year-round.
Members of the exclusive Broadway House will enjoy 5,000 square feet of luxury, with stunning open-plan spaces offering views over the bustling Fulham Broadway. Broadway House is a home from home for its members, the perfect place to relax, eat, drink and socialise with like-minded people. The members club has an extensive cocktail bar and two secluded roof terraces – a feature unique to the Fulham area. An exquisite lounge area on the upstairs terrace provides guests with a beautiful summer sanctuary. An adjacent barbeque adds to the ambiance, serving food during the warmer months. A selection of private function rooms is also available, suitable for all occasions from meetings and conferences, though to parties and celebrations. (Updated 24/08/2011)
Broadway Bar and Grill Food & Drink Menus
Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at
Broadway Bar and Grill. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's
offerings and assciated prices.
Broadway Bar and Grill Food menu
With an emphasis on personable service, a range of simple and tasty dishes fresh from the grill is available throughout the day and into the evening. Guests can enjoy quality steaks, served with grilled tomato and horseradish jus, The Broadway’s speciality cheeseburger, Cumberland sausages with mash and onion gravy and goats cheese and sun blushed tomato risotto.
Broadway Bar and Grill Drink menu
A varied wine list featuring wines sourced internationally is available, including the house wine priced (Vina Pena, Castilla, Spain, red and white) through to more complex wines such as a Chardonnay, Santa Maria Vineyard, Byron Napa, USA and a Chateau La Pointe, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux. The bar offers a fantastic range of homemade infused spirits courtesy of acclaimed industry stalwart James Ridgwell. The cocktail list is extensive, with Ridgwell putting his own stamp on classic blends.
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