The Depot is a riverside restaurant in East Barnes where small terrace houses cost a million pounds each, so there is no shortage of customers for this highly desirable eatery. It is also a great place from which to watch the final stages of the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Earlier this year The Depot underwent a major refurbishment which included a newly built conservatory on the riverside. On the inland side the restaurant spills out into a charming, flower filled old stable yard where you can dine al fresco, weather permitting.
This enviable position clearly attracts a very loyal clientele, and I met a ‘local’ there to celebrate the birth of his second child, a son, called ‘Monty’, whom I know will become a regular at the Depot, just like his father.
Furthermore, the food matches any trendy restaurant in Mayfair or Chelsea. I had the crispy duck with watercress as a starter, followed by monkfish curry, both of which were delicious. They offer a very reasonably priced set menu of two courses for £13.50 or three courses for £16.50, and we drank, slightly too much of, the excellent Burklin-Wolf Dry Riesling, Pfalz, Germany, 2012 at £29.50 a bottle – not cheap but an extremely fine dry Riesling from a 400 year old estate and Certified Biodynamic produce.
I can thoroughly recommend the Depot to anyone who, like me, enjoys dining with a great view, or dining al fresco at every opportunity, but the best thing about the Depot is the friendly but efficient service, and the ambiance which derives from familiarity born of frequent visits to this most delightful ‘family’ restaurant.
The Depot, Tideway Yard, 125 Mortlake High Street, Barnes, London SW14 8SN
T: 020 8878 9462
F: 020 8392 1361
The Depot was reviewed by Robert Jarman, The Editor and Founder of The Vintage Magazine
