Home away from Home
HOME SW15
Let me tell you, this place isn’t named the Best Local Restaurant winner in 2019 for nothing.
Wandering through the neat little front porch – a sure spot for a summer tipple - into the open bar, you're greeted by the divine and friendly staff.
You will be happily seated for a drink, peroozing the extensive cocktail menu or shown straight to your table. With a well experienced head of bar, the cocktail menu is current and always evolving, alongside the alcohol free counterparts, so if you’re designated driver you're not missing out.
Linda and I went straight to our table in the light and airy back section of the large room. We sipped on our minty mocktails as we explored the seasonal and refined menu. Unfortunately, there was little to go by in the way of vegan and veggie food, but I'm sure this is something that will be considered going forward. Linda went for the calamari to start and the prawn burger and for myself the main freekeh and kale salad, that they made a starter size for me, followed by the mushrooms on toast with some garlicy spinach alongside.
The food came promptly and was simple but gorgeous in its appearance. My salad was pierced with juicy pomegranate seeds, jewelled against the crisp salad leaves, whilst the calamari was declared the best the connoisseur opposite me has ever delighted upon. The salad was light but filling, enriched by the tahini based dressing and the satisfying crunch of toasted cashews atop. Our plates were swiftly whisked away, with a mango lassi – surprisingly naturally vegan – received in their place. Now this was one of the best mango smoothies I’ve had, with both Linda and myself raving about the intensity of the mango flavour I’ve only ever tasted in the country of their origin on my travels.
We were shortly met with our main courses, which yet again did not disappoint. The mushrooms were like none other I’d had before. There was a sweetness to their sticky sauce and such a fab addition of the toasted garlicy breadcrumbs generously scattered over top. Much the same as the starter, Linda was blown away by the prawn burger, which she is also a seasoned taster of. Like the calamari, the prawn burger came out tops in comparison to the others that have met Linda’s scrutiny, which says a lot let me tell you. The chips were perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside and the garlicy spinach everything I could ever ask for from my favourite leaf.
Thus as you may have gathered, neither of us were disappointed by our meals. Both packed with flavour and carefully curated by the chef, where only the best local and seasonal produce grace Home’s menu. As much as I enjoyed my shroomy toast, I will admit it would have been nice to have a main course option as opposed to my only choice from the all day brunch menu, though I am aware there is a cauliflower dish on the dinner menu which has definitely caught my eye for my next visit! Though, I shan’t be too hopeful as due to the innovative nature of Home’s kitchen, the menu is constantly changing from one day to the next, so I wouldn’t be surprised to find a whole variety of new veggie dishes scattered through the menu on my next visit!
A visit to Home SW15 will never be a bad idea, being met by the gorgeous lads behind the bar and on the floor, they’ll make sure you’re suitably fed and watered (or otherwise!) by the time you walk back out to your home away from Home.
Thank you to the team at Home SW15 for kindly looking after myself and Linda and treating us to such a divine lunch.