Last Updated on September 27, 2024
Grazing in Fulham – a Sunday Roast that is up there with the best.
Parson’s Green, a rather chi-chi part of Fulham, is home to a wealth of eateries – from cafés and bars to some superb restaurants. Predominantly a residential area, walking along to The Brown Cow pub in Fulham Town from Parson’s Green station you’d be forgiven for thinking that everyone was dining out. We arrived early for Sunday lunch, at around 12.30. The Brown Cow was just warming up giving us a chance to walk around without tripping over the local pups (this place has a Canine Menu that includes Venison and Boar Chews and special blueberry and banana ice cream!) or interrupting the families out for their own Sunday Roast.
We found a cute table tucked away in the corner, perfect for people-watching while we indulged. And, ordered one of my favourite summer cocktails, a Hugo Spritz each.
If you are looking for a refreshing summer spritz a Hugo is the perfect choice, made with prosecco and elderflower liqueur or cordial and sometimes with gin together with a lot of ice and fresh mint.
From the snacks and small plates menu, we picked salt and pepper calamari and za’atar-crusted halloumi.
Both dishes arrived beautifully plated but of the two, the za’atar-crusted halloumi was the surprise (for me) winner. It was partly because we both loved the beetroot hummus that came with it, but more because this plateful of fresh summer crudites and halloumi was bursting with flavour.
The salt and pepper calamari was delicious, crisp and not at all rubbery but for us, the dipping sauce seemed a bit bland.
On to the main event. My companion’s Castlemead farm chicken came with sage and onion sausage stuffing, bread sauce, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, a carrot puree and portion of greens and plenty of red wine gravy. It looked delicious, perfectly cooked with nice crispy skin and a generous portion.
My own sirloin of Hereford and Angus beef was, as described on the menu, served medium rare, with plenty of piquant horseradish sauce. The Yorkshire pudding was crisp on the outside and soft inside and the roast potatoes were spot on.
Other ‘Great British Roast’ options comprised a Camaron Naughton porchetta with sausage stuffing and apple sauce, or for vegetarians, a seasonal vegetable Wellington with mushroom gravy. If you didn’t fancy a roast, there was a good selection of alternative mains including a delicious-sounding Brixham crab linguine or green pea, spinach and broad bean risotto.We ordered a side of cauliflower cheese which was both unnecessary and a little disappointing. We had so much food on our plates that it would have needed to be very special indeed to tempt us – it was just a little dry for our taste!
I was pleased to see a wine I know and love on offer – Journey’s End ‘The Pastor’s Blend’ is a Stellenbosch Cabernet Merlot and is available by the glass, 500ml carafe or for £35.95 for a bottle. It’s a lovely rich, rounded red wine with plenty of ripe dark fruit flavours – perfect for a roast beef lunch!
My companion enjoyed a glass of Sancerre Blanc Domaine de la Chezatte, also available by the glass, carafe or bottle (£45.95). If you happen to be a beer drinker, the Brown Cow stocks a wide selection of Butcombe brewery beers and ales. There are cocktails and a good selection of premium spirits on offer too.
On to dessert or pudding as it’s rightly named in this very British pub. My companion’s grilled peaches with honey and thyme looked diving. With clotted cream, amaretti and raspberries this was a mouthful of summer prettily set out to eat.
For me, Valrhona chocolate delice was just too tempting, with butterscotch, banana praline and a cacao nib wafer. Of course, neither of us really needed desserts, but these were particularly good. There are a couple more full size options and, one of my favourite offerings, a selection of three mini desserts for those who can’t quite manage a full pudding. If I’d had any space remaining, I’d have ordered the biscoff-filled doughnuts…but I didn’t!
Instead, we both enjoyed an excellent freshly brewed coffee served with a cantuccini biscuit.
This is the kind of local we all need! The alcohol and food prices are keen and the selection of dishes on the menu is broad enough to please everyone (including those lockdown puppies!). By the time we left the Brown Cow was packed with happy diners – and rightly so.
THE BROWN COW
676 FULHAM RD
FULHAM
LONDON
SW6 5SA
OPENING HOURS
- Mon-Thu: 09:00-23:00
- Fri: 09:00-23:30
- Sat: 10:00-23:30
- Sun: 10:30-23:00
KITCHEN HOURS
- Mon-Thu: 09:00-21:00
- Fri: 09:00-22:00
- Sat: 10:00-22:00
- Sun : 10:00-21:00
Leave a Reply