Forum Topic

The Silver Birch restaurant

This place is glorious.  We went for a special occasion meal last night and I can honestly say it was one of my best dining experience for a very long time.  The food is what is called ‘modern British/European’ and is the kind of thing that wins Michelin stars.  The recently installed chef, Nathan Cornwall, has previously worked in several Michelin starred restaurants so it can only be a matter of time here.  If I were Jay Rayner I would go into rapturous detail but I’m not so I’ll just say that the standard is easily comparable to what you would expect at La Trompette but at a considerably lower cost - around £20 cheaper for three courses by my estimation.  And the Birch’s wine list is a lot more affordable too.  Before your starter arrives you are are treated to a selection of exquisite little plates, gratis, that will really amuse your bouche and give you a hint of the splendours to follow.This place really deserves support.  Catch it soon before it wins that first Star and the prices will inevitably go up!  (of course I’ve got no connection or financial interest.  I’m just a super satisfied diner!)https://silverbirchchiswick.co.uk

Alastair Banton ● 632d31 Comments

Two weeks ago the Sunday Times supplement gave an excellent review on this restaurant, the food critic thought it a worthy rival to Chiswick's La Trompette.The number of plaudits the chef is getting seems that Michelin status is just a matter of time.One word of caution: the menu is restricted and may be off putting to some fine diners.

Denis I. Fox ● 360d

**** from Time Outhttps://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/silver-birch

Alastair Banton ● 360d

I have eaten here a few times recently with different fussy friends. Food was excellent. One said 'a perfect meal' the others both rated it excellent and said they were going to go back with their families (which they did). In my opinion they should have a Michelin star. The new Michelin guide is out early February apparently so book now and avoid what I hope will be a rush! Good restaurants deserve to be busy

david ward ● 398d

Went last night for dinner. Was amazing food, just as I remembered from The Barn at Moor Hall. The whole place was busy and buzzing. Spoke to the chef, Nathan, as well. Very humble considering his talent! I do hope he is awarded at least one Michelin star before too long.

Margot Crowther ● 590d

Glad you enjoyed it, Joe.  I have to confess that on my visit too there were too few customers.  Anyway let’s keep on spreading the word and not forget about the Chiswick Calendar club card that gets you a discount at lunch time.  I think they would indeed be wise to introduce set lunch menus.

Alastair Banton ● 611d

I had been to "Silver Birch" in its previous incarnation and rated highly. I went last Thursday lunch with my wife given the new big name chef. We were the only diners but the food was amazing across all three courses for both of us (we each had different dishes throughout). Going back again shortly at my wife's request for her birthday!There seems a likelihood from comments made while there that they may be introducing a set lunch menu which hopefully will help attract more people through the door for the days when they do lunch.

Joe Conneely ● 611d

It was a different soundtrack on my visit, Alastair - nothing vocal* or recognisable, purely instrumentalist "Music for the Dignitas Generation" aka Modern Jazz.And I might add that I like most sorts of music, while still respecting greatly that which I don't. Except one genre.(Still recommend the restaurant, mind)* - Why are modern jazz musicians unable or unwilling to write some bloody lyrics? Pure laziness? Or fear of being sued for producing such depressing bloody content as to push us all completely over the edge?

Richard Cathcart ● 613d

I have no idea what they were playing on your visit, Richard, and I agree that background music can have a significant impact on how enjoyable a meal is but the funny thing is that on our visit we particularly enjoyed the music, enough in fact to ask the waiter about it.  Yes it was ‘modern jazz’ but at a comfortable volume and it comprised a mixed playlist of exclusively female vocalists doing versions of well known pop songs originally from artists such as Adele, Annie Lennox, Kate Bush etc.  The songs were extremely, but tastefully, jazzified so that it often took a while to identify what it’ll we were listening to.  For us it created a very pleasing ambience!Oh, and thanks to Stewart for the tip about the Chiswick calendar card allowing a 20% discount for weekday lunches.  Gonna take advantage of that.

Alastair Banton ● 616d

Went on Saturday evening. Certainly more "Destination Restaurant" than "Handy Local Tratt", and none the worse for that.The Chef is clearly looking for a Michelin star, and while I'm in no way qualified to assess that, I'd guess he's on his way.Service was excellent - maybe even a little too effusive(?), perhaps because it was very well staffed on a not-completely-full evening.The food itself was also excellent, with the complimentary Amuse Bouches (spelling?) very good indeed. If I'm honest, maybe the dishes were a little too rich, but that's me, not the restuarant. Prices weren't especially cheap, but entirely reasonable for what was on offer.Tbh, the only quibble I had was with the piped music - modern jazz. Whoever chose that rubbish should be locked in an empty room and made to listen to it - an hour should be enough. (And no, that's not me, that's simple musical taste)Thoroughly recommend!

Richard Cathcart ● 616d

Fully agree, our favourite Greek restaurant has, at the most seven "mains" which are cooked and presented perfectly. Small restaurants offering forty or more dishes normally means a boil in the bag special from Brakes.

N V Brooks ● 624d

Agreed.  But I also find that as a rule, the more things on a menu the worse the food.  I see short menus as a positive sign.

Alastair Banton ● 624d

I would guess the restricted menu is the chef's way of keeping costs, and therefore prices, down - pretty important just now.

Richard Cathcart ● 624d

As there’s only one veggie starter and one veggie main you could say that there was *no* choice for vegetarians.  But it’s a short menu, a choice of five starters and five mains so you could also say that 20% of the menu, excluding desserts, is vegetarian which I suspect is a larger proportion than in many restaurants!  All in all I think the balance between meat/fish/vegetarian dishes is pretty good.  In fact only one of the starters has meat in it - the beef tartar.Sorry about your pollen allergy.  I know how debilitating it can be.

Alastair Banton ● 624d

As one of the many thousands in the UK badly affected by birch pollen, for me the name "Silver Birch" gives out a very negative vibe. And the current menu on line gives  little choice for non-meat eaters. A shame, I like the idea of Chiswick being a testing ground for young ambitious chefs making their way up the ladder.

Sue Rowe ● 624d

I agree that Silver Birch is very good indeed.

Graham Holley ● 625d

Times change indeed.Thinking back there were probably a fair few songs from ‘Singing Together’ that  might be frowned upon today and wouldn’t be chosen as restaurant names either…

Stewart Jones ● 629d

"Land of the silver birchHome of the beaver"Assuming you mean "Singing Together For Schools", that was my era too, but I don't remember that particular song.I did have cause to google it, and Wiki brought up this:"Its past popularity with the non-indigenous majority in Canada, particularly as an elementary school choir song, is declining with greater awareness of the impacts of colonization and cultural appropriation. In 2016, a Toronto public school apologized to parents following a performance of the song, describing it as "inappropriate and racist."[2] The music teacher who conducted the choir that performed the song later sued the Toronto District School Board for libel,[2] generating local[3] and national[4] media coverage."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_the_Silver_BirchTimes change, eh?

Richard Cathcart ● 629d

Land of the silver birchHome of the beaver Where still the mighty moose wanders at willBlue lake and rocky shore I will return once more…Singing Together. BBC Radio.c1971

Stewart Jones ● 629d

Looking at their website, 'Reservation Times' are listed as:Wednesday : 6pm – 9pmThursday, Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9pmSunday: 12pm – 2.30pmUnless they offer walk-up i.e. non-reservable dining outside of those hours (unlikely?), it looks to be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Monday closure is common enough in the restaurant trade, but Tuesdays as well must be a bit worrying, especially considering they only offer lunch business on four days, and no dinner business on Sunday.I must say I've walked past a few times without being drawn to take a closer look - maybe not such an appealing exterior? And unless they have some particular reason for naming it thus, I'd have said 'Silver Birch' was more like a name for a Chinese restaurant.But thanks to the recommendations here, I shall certainly give it a try.

Richard Cathcart ● 630d

I presume its closed on Tuesdays passing half an hour ago

Julian Pavey ● 630d

142 Chiswick High Road W4 1PUhttps://silverbirchchiswick.co.uk/

Richard Greenhough ● 630d

Next to Franco manco Elizabeth,2 doors down from leyland

Julian Pavey ● 630d

and the address is?

Elizabeth Ross ● 630d

Thank you for the post Ive walked past a million times thinking it was another coffee shop and stuck next to the pizza tables thought nothing more. Infact ive sat outside many cafes in that stretch which have gone that i believed it was just another. Infact,love that word,ive been to 4 resturants in the last 10 days on that stretch and never thought about the silver birch. Maybe something is not quite right outside. I will have a look later One for a family visit i think

Julian Pavey ● 630d

It’s worth noting that The Silver Birch offers a 20% discount off the à la carte menu for weekday lunches of you have a  Chiswick Calendar Card.

Stewart Jones ● 630d

Sorry, yes. Forgot to reference that. I realise now it might not have made sense!

Margot Crowther ● 630d

… the Barn at Moor Hall being chef Nathan Cornwell’s previous employ.Yes, the Silver Birch very much deserves to succeed so I hope the word spreads.

Alastair Banton ● 630d

I went for lunch at The Barn at Moor Park last year and it was delicious. Looking forward to eating at The Silver Birch.

Margot Crowther ● 630d

I completely agree. It is exceptional.  We do need to spread the word because at first glance it looks expensive but when you leave and have had all the fantastic amuse Boucher and food you’re not disappointed.  It needs to build a reputation quickly as it was empty for lunch last Friday.  If you can give it a go.

Nik Solomon ● 630d

We have been and can confirm it is extremely fabulous.

Chris Blackwell ● 632d

I must have walked past there a thousand times, but there's something about it that *doesn't* shout 'Come in!'. Up until now (having just opened their website) I thought it might be vegan. Not sure why tho! While I'm not overly inspired by their menu, I might just give it a try based on your feedback.

Gordon McDonald ● 632d