The story
Sam’s Waterside in Brentford brings a disciplined approach to modern British cooking, following chef Sam Harrison’s decision to relocate his acclaimed operation upstream. The Good Food Guide recently highlighted the venue’s steady output, noting how the team maintains high standards across its regional locations. Every dish relies on seasonal produce sourced directly from small UK farms and fisheries. Sam selects each wine personally after visiting partner estates, ensuring the cellar supports the menu rather than competing with it.
Guests usually start with the signature Parmesan churros, which arrive as slender, cheese-studded cylinders that complement the drink list. The mains emphasise coastal ingredients, particularly the firm tagliolini folded with sweet native lobster and a smooth bisque. Roast duck appears alongside tart mirabelles and a sharp pickle slaw for diners navigating this modern British menu. Vegetable preparations follow the same exacting balance, pairing harissa roasted carrots with beetroot tahini and coconut tzatziki.
The property occupies a converted warehouse on a quiet dock along the River Brent. Floor-to-ceiling glazing connects the interior to a wide outdoor terrace that catches afternoon sun. Patrons gravitate toward the central bar for cocktails while watching the open kitchen operate along the adjacent wall. This straightforward layout removes formality and encourages unhurried meals throughout the week.
Recognition
Details
History
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
West London restaurant royalty Sam Harrison has taken his Sam’s Riverside upstream to Brentford, where only the slight change in name suggests anything different. Sam’s Waterside is the centrepiece of a warehousey piece of urban regeneration on a dock by the river Brent and, if the view of the nearby concrete works doesn’t quite have the Insta appeal of Hammersmith Bridge, the open-plan dining room is a very appealing place to while away a few hours on a sunny day. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto a substantial terrace; inside, the dining room proper orbits a central bar (cocktails are a strength), with the open kitchen stretching away to one side. Readers' comments heralding the arrival of ‘the best restaurant in Brentford’ might sound like damning with faint praise but Sam’s does bring a touch of class to TW8 – and has obviated the need to travel to Richmond or Chiswick for supper. Sam's famous Parmesan churros (slim cigars of cheese-flecked doughnut) remain an alluring way to start while you peruse the menu, and seafood is as much of a strength here as it is at Hammersmith; prawn cocktail – more like a prawn and avocado salad – might be followed by al dente tagliolini with a generous interleaving of sweet-fleshed native lobster and a slick of bisque. Elsewhere, thinly sliced duck comes with mirabelles and pickle slaw, while steaks and Sunday roasts please the carnivorous brigade; vegetarians are also offered creative assemblies such as harissa-roasted carrots with beetroot tahini, pomegranate and coconut tzatziki. Set lunches and early-dinner menus are 'very good value and a nice choice', while an easy and harmonious wine list is broken down by category, with small glasses from £4.75.
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