The Silver Birch, located in Chiswick, has quickly become a favourite for locals in this affluent West London neighbourhood with a lovely village feel. With the recent appointment of Head Chef Nathan Cornwell, who previously led the Michelin-starred kitchen at Lancashire’s The Barn at Moor Hall, the restaurant is entering a new era, aiming for culinary excellence.
My recent visit to the restaurant was exclusively centred around its tasting menu, a curated selection available from Tuesday to Saturday. Warm interiors welcome you to a cosy atmosphere, with the open kitchen offering a peek into the action. I opted for a table in the outdoor dining area, which turned out to be the perfect setting for a warm summer evening, enhancing the overall ambience of the place and its charming neighbourhood.
The Cornish Texel lamb was the best dish of the evening. Every element on the plate seemed to unite in harmony, each bite telling its own story of British produce and culinary innovation.
Service was second to none, with staff – including the restaurant manager – meticulously explaining the inspiration and ingredients behind each dish. The tasting menu, priced at £90 per person, kicked off with an array of snacks. My date and I began our evening with cured trout and seaweed tarts, blue cheese sablés, and pig’s head fritters. The latter stole the limelight in this round. They were meaty, delicious, and set the tone for what was to come.
The Villa Estérelle rosé was our choice of wine. Its pale salmon colour and aromas of ripe citrus and berries made it a refreshing partner for the diverse dishes. It had a balanced mix of acidity and red berry flavours, a poised and elegant finish, making it a fitting companion to our meal.
Cured trout and seaweed tarts & blue cheese sablés | Ex-dairy beef tartare
Then came the sourdough focaccia, paired with smoked bacon mousse, pea velouté, and bacon crumble. This was comfort food made gourmet. Next, we enjoyed the ex-dairy beef tartare, enhanced by mustard, kohlrabi, and sea herbs. The Isle of Wight tomatoes were served with pickled cucumber and quinoa, and they tasted like a burst of summer on a plate.
Cornish plaice was the next star on our menu. It was cooked to perfection and was served with courgette flower and tartare roe sauce. Each bite was a tribute to the chef’s masterful hand. The Cornish Texel lamb followed, and it was the best dish of the evening. The lamb was succulent, complemented by wild garlic, crispy sweetbread, and girolles. Every element on the plate seemed to unite in harmony, each bite telling its own story of British produce and culinary innovation.
A fine dining experience that’s both elegant and refreshingly down-to-earth.
Our meal concluded with two desserts. First was Oakchurch cherries with lemon verbena mousse and almond. The blend of sweet, sour, and aromatic notes was delightful. But the real showstopper was the brown butter chocolate delice, served with milk sorbet and caramelised white chocolate. It’s the stuff of dreams for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Every dish on The Silver Birch’s tasting menu is rooted in local, seasonal ingredients, staying true to the restaurant’s established ethos. Chef Nathan brings his own flair to this foundation, incorporating foraged ingredients and techniques like preserving into the menu. This creates a fine dining experience that’s both elegant and refreshingly down-to-earth.
The outdoor dining area at The Silver Birch | Isle of Wight tomatoes
As The Silver Birch embraces its next chapter under Nathan’s culinary stewardship, both Chiswick locals and gastronomy enthusiasts from across the city have much to anticipate. The restaurant stands out for its exceptional service, welcoming ambiance, and a menu that’s anything but ordinary. If you’re looking for a meal that goes beyond the usual, where each dish has its own tale and the setting is as tasteful as the menu, The Silver Birch is well worth a visit.
Address: 142 Chiswick High Road, London W4 1PU
Website: silverbirchchiswick.co.uk
