Manson

Open Mon–Fri midday–3pm Sat–Sun 10am–4pm Mon–Sat 6pm–10.30pm Sun 6pm–9pm

Posted by Meredith Berman on 27/04/2010

Manson is the new sister restaurant to the already hugely popular The Sands End. It’s an elegant restaurant; tables are sparsely decorated, simple flowers hang on the walls, and the lighting is dimmed.

Being taken to the table, we were offered a cocktail, so my friend and I happily obliged. My friend drank the Moscow Mule (£6.95), while I succumbed to the Sweet Pink Cello (£6.95).  Both cocktails were adorned with fresh fruit, and tasted like summer in a glass.  

I began with the wood pigeon with glazed chicory and orange jelly (£8.00), and my friend had the lobster with Jersey royal salad (£9.50). The pigeon was perfectly cooked and the orange jelly flattered the glazed chicory. Passing over the obligatory bite to my partner was a difficult task. My friend’s lobster was fresh, and the jersey royal salad was deliciously creamy.

For mains, I ate the tiger prawns with sweet potato gnocchi and a parmesan veloute (£17.50) and my friend had the English rabbit with macaroni and mustard sauce (£19.00). The rabbit was offered in three ways; roasted, rabbit confit, and rabbit liver. Both dishes were flavorsome and succulent.

This was the point of the meal when we began to feel stuffed, but I dutifully opted for the sweet vanilla macaroon with vanilla cream and passion fruit coulis (£6.50) and my friend had the warm chocolate fudge with honey ice cream (£6.50). My friend’s chocolate fudge, more commonly known as chocolate fondant, was accompanied by chocolate mousse and a light dusting of chocolate cocoa.  

Head chef Gemma Tuley is a Ramsay protégée, who is putting Manson on the map. Her dishes are immaculately presented and bursting with flavour.  

Dinner for two, around £110, including wine and cocktails.

676 Fulham Road, SW6; 020 7384 9559; www.balthazarrestaurant.co.uk