Harrison’s 15-19 Bedford Hill, London SW12 www.harrisonsbalham.co.uk
Among the array of eateries in Balham, just off the High Street is Harrison’s, which can best be described as a bar/brasserie/restaurant. As you approach from the High Street, you are struck by Harrison’s clean sharp lines, it looks every bit a cool place to eat – and drink for that matter. You enter and the place is much larger than you imagine it will be. The hub is the central area split half and half between open kitchen and bar. There are three distinct zones to Harrison’s, the bar, which has a warm friendly atmosphere, the area immediately near the kitchen that has a brasserie/bistro, kind of minimalist feel to it and further back a more formal, but still very relaxed restaurant/dining space. Harrison’s also has the Alter Ego Bar in their basement and a further discrete space elevated from the main bar/dining areas that can be divided off for private functions. The whole thing comes together really well.
We moved on to mains having chosen the lamb and the beer battered haddock. The haddock was a sizeable portion of fish, its soft delicate white flesh encased in the great crispy beer batter, this was served with some excellent chips, a dish of good chunky tartare sauce and a lovely fresh tasting pea puree that had clearly been made from sweet petit pois. The lamb was served pink, or at least the sliced rump was, and was nicely tender with good flavour. It was accompanied by some confit lamb breast which had a good richness to it. Completing the dish was a nicely cooked fondant potato and some just al dente swiss chard and spinach, these elements brought together well with a good jus. These were two very good, tasty plates of food.
With our main course we chose a bottle of the house red, Le Pionnier Grenache/Merlot which went well with the lamb and didn’t overpower the fish at all. Wines at Harrison’s range upwards from £15 a bottle and from £4.25 a glass, it’s also possible to buy them by the 500ml carafe. Service was very good indeed, they know their stuff, were helpful and friendly. Harrison’s is a great local restaurant, it was very popular the evening we were there; they give excellent value for money and absolutely deserve to do well, serving very good food in a great atmosphere that compliments the trendiness of the area.