The Jam Tree in Chelsea, London

Fluid Eating's Review of The Jam Tree

Best for: British food with a twist; intimate dining.

Great: Portion sizes; quirky themed décor; outside bar & BBQ area; proximity to Chelsea FC.

Having exhaustingly stumbled over the misplaced stones of a yellow brick road in serious need of a revamp, I welcome the sight of the lunch pail tree in the distance. Reaching high, standing on red sparkly tip-toes, carefully removing the jam jar from the tree's sinewy branch, I'm mildly disappointed by its contents: plain ham sandwiches with no garnish. Pah!

I've not entered Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree but embarked upon a culinary adventure to west London’s excellent Jam Tree (open merely 4 weeks at time of writing). Looking at its eclectic tree or jam themed décor, I like to think Dorothy’s dark 1980s Return to Oz inspires the name.

Olive-coloured tree-decorated wallpaper dominates the main dining area while a huge pop art jam jar painting draws attention to the bar and its salmon pink, almost 60s, hairdresser pod lighting. Chandeliers covered with peach roses resembling bath loofahs hang above, and pictures created by a political cartoonist with a ridiculously long name (Sir David Alexander Cecil Low) are all about.

The Jam Tree imitates a country-style retreat and certainly emulates this idea with its wooden floors and large enclosed outdoor space with own bar and BBQ. Unfortunately, the noisy Monday night traffic is a stark reminder that this is the country’s capital after all, and not just some countryside fantasy with evil headless princesses and courtiers frozen to stone. But when the menu's so tempting, who really cares?

Having already eaten at the original Kensington Olympia Jam Tree, I force myself to avoid previously sampled dishes like the sumptuous crispy pressed belly pork starter. Instead, I embrace the country vibe and order a dish seemingly new to the menu: duck & pork terrine with red onion marmalade, pickles and toast. While I tuck into this beautifully presented mini-picnic, my vegetarian companion enjoys a light starter of English asparagus with tomatoes, golden beetroot and pea shoots.

Modern gastropub food with colonial flavours; The Jam Tree's menu is imaginative and varied. Having just eaten duck terrine, I'm unable to resist the temptation of quite literally stuffing myself with bird; something Dorothy's new chum, talking hen Billina, would be horrified by. The slow-roasted duck leg comes with such an interesting concoction of sides and I'm more than ready to munch on through. As a general rule I'm not really a blue cheese fan, but the salad of puy lentils, poached pear, walnuts, Stilton and chicory is moreishly memorable. So are my dining chum's cod and prawn fish cakes, arriving in rather unexpected spheres.

As the lights dim to a romantic hue, and slightly funkier disco tunes begin to play (signifying the disappearing night), we're ready to squeeze in a third round. Both keen to sample the chocolate and pecan brownie, we agree to share one of the coveted desserts as well as the sticky toffee pudding with dark rum sauce, which our ever-attentive waitress swiftly delivers.

It’s a relief, when leaving the restaurant, not to be met by a road in disrepair, yellow or otherwise. Chelsea may not have its own lunch pail tree but the Kings Road is full of its own curiosities and has an admirable new addition in The Jam Tree. The leisurely stroll back to the tube station is full of morphed crowns and trick mirrors in arty window displays. This may not be Oz's dark ages but there's certainly an other-worldliness to this place and I'm half expecting Scarecrow, Tik-Tok or Jack to bid us farewell from one of the ornate mirrors.

Reviewed by Leo Owen.

DESCRIPTION:
On the fashionable Kings Road, The Jam Tree in Chelsea presents modern British favourites and some delicious colonial-style dishes. The charming garden has a dedicated bar and there is an innovative wine list. Eclectic and stylish, The Jam Tree gastro pub occupies an inviting open plan space, and features vibrant design and quirky features.

Accommodating 94 covers inside and out, The Jam Tree is the ideal venue for both large parties and intimate meals, from meetings to relaxed lunches or post work drinks. Complete with Wifi and plasma screens, as well as a DJ booth, The Jam Tree provides a flexible and useful space for any kind of function. (Updated 21/04/2011)

The Jam Tree Food & Drink Menus

Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at The Jam Tree. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's offerings and assciated prices.

The Jam Tree Food menu

. Designed by The Jam Tree Group’s Executive Chef, James Browne (previously head chef at The Settle Inn, The Well and Alchemy Restaurant) the menu features Great British choices alongside expertly made dishes from the likes of Malaysia, South Africa and India. In the summer, a barbeque in the outdoor area will service a range of marinated meats, burgers and Asian and Caribbean street food.

Item	Price
Steak	£18.50
28 day Matured Scotch Steak with Peppercorn Sauce, Hand Cut Chips and Salad
Thali	£13.00
Thali (Indian Tasting Platter for One) Chicken Madras or Vegetable Madras (v) with : Tarkha Dhal, Garlic Naan, Raita, Spiced Pickles, Saffron and Cardamom Rice, Aloo Gobi and Paneer, Chick pea and Pumpkin Salad
Potted Smoked Haddock	£7.50
Hot Potted Smoked Haddock topped with Melted Cornish Yarg and served with Granary Toast
Sotong Manis	£8.00
Battered Sticky Squid with a Chilli, Garlic and Spring Onion Dipping Sauce
Beef Fillet	£8.50
Spiced Cured Beef Fillet with a Salad of Green Papaya, Daikon, Chilli and Soy Dressing
Salad	£7.50
Salad of Roast Pumpkin with Scotch Bonnet, Feta, Pomegranate and Rocket (v)
Salt Fish Fritters	£8.00
Salt Fish Fritters with Ackee, Roasted Red Pepper and Scallions
Croquettes	£8.00
Duck and Potato Croquettes with Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Truffled Celeriac Puree and Jus
Winter Salad	£7.50
Ash Goats Cheese with Puy Lentils, Roasted Beetroot, Micro Herb Salad and Maple Syrup Dressing (v)
Fishcakes	£13.50
Cod and Prawn Fishcakes with Spring Greens, Poached Egg and Parsley Sauce
Curry	£14.50
Beef Rang Dang Curry served with Fragrant Rice and Achar
Pork Belly	£14.50
Slow Roasted Belly of Pork, Braised Red Cabbage, Pulled Pork Fritter, Mash and Apple Sauce
Burger	£11.50
Beef Burger with Tomato & Onion Relish and French Fries – Cheddar 1.00 Bacon 1.00
Seabass	£16.50
Crisp Seabass Fillets with Pea Puree, Crayfish Croquettes and White Wine Cream Sauce

The Jam Tree Drink menu

The Jam Tree’s drinks list is as carefully chosen as the food menu and features a range of top quality spirits, beers and wines. The highlight of the Jam Tree’s cocktail list is the range of Jam Cocktails, where artisan conserves are used instead of flavoured syrups. A must is the Jam Mojito, a delicious blend of strawberry, raspberry or blackcurrant jam blended with rum, ice and mint priced at £8.50.

Item	Description	Price

The Jam Tree Opening Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
12:00pm - 11:00pm	12:00pm - 11:00pm	12:00pm - 11:00pm	12:00pm - 11:00pm	12:00pm - 11:00pm	12:00pm - 2:00am	12:00pm - 2:00am

The Jam Tree Map

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“Great food and nice quiet venue.” Rating: — Sara Hallsmith, London (25 Apr 2011)

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