Fire Stables Review
What: Fire Stables Wimbledon, restaurant-bar with traditional British pub feel
Where: 27-29 Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5DQ
When: Monday – Friday: 12pm – 11pm, Saturday: 10am – 11pm, Sunday: 10am – 10.30pm
Tucked up one of the more salubrious residential streets between Wimbledon and the tennis-grounds, Fire Stables has an open front to give the feeling of al fresco dining without the unnecessary pavement furniture. The interior is understated but with solid and robust furnishings you feel happy settling into.
While there are veggie options, chicken, pork and a variety of steaks (menu here), this restaurant is all about the fish, if only because you rarely get the opportunity for such variety. Starting the evening with a very agreeable Aperol spritz, we launched into a seafood odyssey:
Starters: I had ‘Citrus vodka cured Chalk Stream trout, tomato pannacotta, Bloody Mary dressing’. Light, refreshing, and tangy bordering on the cheeky. ‘Scallops, peas, broad beans, scraps’ featured scallops cooked to absolute perfection (crisp on the outside, yielding and buttery inside), though there was a smidge too much pea puree.
Main:I’d already had some river fish so I decided on sea bream, which was a big beast of a creature with crispy skin and fresh, savoury flesh with just enough firmness on the teeth. Fish here is served complete (with the head) so if that’s something that bothers you, tell them. My Friend opted for the dressed crab, which was sweet and creamy.Market fish are all served with crush Cornish Mids, spring onion, herbs, lemon & a fennel, apple, chive & radish salad. The salad was particularly welcome- I think fennel is an underused vegetable and especially appropriate with seafood.
Dessert: I plumped for an Eton mess with crème fraîche ice cream because I’m really basic. The crème fraiche really took this up a notch and added variety and interest. My Friend had the cheese selection with Brie, Montgomery cheddar, Barkham blue, celery, grapes, quince paste and seeded crackers. The blue cheese extraordinarily punchy, especially with a smattering of quince. The generous helping of Brie was a little bland for us but a welcome foil for the other strong flavours.
Staff were genial with good banter, but also quietly seamless when my friend and I were busy flirting. Class act all round!
Reviewer: David Brown
Fire Stables
27-29 Church Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5DQ
T: 020 8946 3197
@firestables
