Rick Stein Barnes – a delightful fish lunch on the river

At last it’s time to head back to Rick Stein Barnes. I’m a huge Rick Stein fan – have travelled around the world with him through his fabulous TV programmes and cooked many recipes from the books that go with them. So it will surprise you to hear that I wasn’t aware he even had a restaurant in London…let alone one so close to where I live. I only discovered this riverside gem during last year’s small lockdown gap and had such a great lunch there. So now that we’re allowed to eat inside again (hurrah) it’s back to Barnes to this fabulous riverside location.

Rick is obviously famous for his restaurants in Padstow (which they call Padstein nowadays) in Cornwall. I haven’t been there (yet). There are some of the same dishes on the Barnes menu and as you’d expect the focus is very firmly on seafood and fish. And what fabulous choices on offer!

What’s on the menu

I seriously advise perusing the menu online before you even get there. That way you can narrow down your choices, making a final decision under the waiter’s eye. Well that’s what I did anyway – I am known for a bit of menu indecision. Plus of course it does extend the whole experience.

I could seriously have eaten everything in the list of starters. Not in one sitting obviously. Luckily, as there were four of us, I did get to try a few different dishes. Love eating with friends who understand the importance of sharing food. Starting with grilled Cornish sardines with a tomato, garlic and thyme dressing. I do love a sardine but they are a bit messy to eat. Not today, they were perfectly filleted and not a bone in sight – seriously that’s service. And delicious in this beautiful dressing.

Salt and pepper prawns in their shells on a bed of cucumber, spinach with a soy and sesame dressing – simply heavenly with the sweetest of plump prawns.

I’m having a bit of a crabby spring. No, I’m not in a bad mood, I’m just tucking into as much crab as I can while it’s in season and at its best. So crab wakame for me with cucumber salad and wasabi mayonnaise. Little heaps of white and dark crab meat with a delicate mix of salad and mayo. So tasty.

Sublime main courses

So you know what I’m going to say now…I could eat everything on the list of main courses. Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I had such a menu dilemma.

My choice after much pondering – the seafood gratin with scallops, cod and king prawns topped with Emmental cheese and served with caramelised apples. I’ve watched Rick making this on his TV travels and have been meaning to try it at home. Now, even better, I get to eat it in his restaurant. What a dish! The creamiest of sauces, beautiful seafood and a crispy, tasty topping to finish off. And genius adding the apples – sweet and zesty – the perfect companion to the richness of the gratin.

Lemon sole fillets came with char-grilled baby leeks, soft boiled eggs, mustard dressing and shaved Parmesan. A plate of delicateness with so many gorgeous flavours, and so pretty, too.

And finally – the Indonesian seafood curry (I had this one last time and very nearly had it again today – seriously it’s that good). A spiced, coconut milk-based sauce packed with cod, sea bass and prawns all served with a pilau rice and green bean and coconut salad with crisp fried shallots, garlic and chilli. If you’re a Rick Stein virgin this is the way to go for your first time. That sauce!

Despite the fact that we were all totally replete at this point I boldly ordered a creme brûlée for the table. Mainly because it came with passion fruit – possibly my very favourite fruit. Good idea, we soon polished this off with our four spoons.

I’m certainly immeasurably grateful and possibly a little overexcited to be eating out again. And especially now that I can take my coat off to do so  as we’re allowed to sit inside. Today we had one of the best tables in the house at the window overlooking the river. And some of the best fish and seafood you’re gonna get in London. Thank you Rick Stein you never disappoint.

You can read all about Rick’s

Today’s price point

Food for four which included a starter and main course each, three side dishes and one pudding to share came to £131.

We enjoyed a lovely bottle of Spanish white wine from Spain – Rick Stein’s Spanish White DO Rueda, Verdejo from Spain for £30.

And a bottle of the house red for £22.95.

Rick Stein Barnes is on the Thames at Mortlake High Street, Barnes, London.