The Glass Dome Restaurant - A Hit On The Forum & In Reality

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The newest secret in SW15 wont stay a secret for long

With the buzz on the forum we had to book a table at the 'glass dome restaurant & piano bar' on Putney Bridge Rd to see what all the fuss was about!

There was a warm welcome from the friendly staff led by John, the owner and maître d’e on a busy Saturday night.

The restaurant is light and airy with banquette seating in the rear with a piano which is played on the last Friday of the month.

The light zesty Te Kauwhata, Pinot Gris from NZ (£24.50) went down very easily with the basket of various breads with a delicious Chimichurri Sauce and olives

The men in our party lit up at the sight of the menu and they did it proud tucking in to all three courses! We ladies were a little more reserved and held back for the main course. The black & white pudding tower was an impressive sight, served with red onion marmalade, fried egg yolk and crispy bacon (£7.75). The different textures of the dish were complementary and it went down exceedingly well and the asparagus parcel of with manchego cheese wrapped in jamon serano (£6.75) was a lighter but equally appreciated starter.

The forum members have raved about the Argentinean steaks and so two of us put this to the test with a ribeye and house salad. You can also have chunky chips with the steak; if you go in that direction I would recommend ordering the 'assiette de legumes' which consisted of, carrots, french beans & wild mushrooms with thyme (£3.60) - adding colour and Vitamin C to sublime steaks, cooked to perfection and melting in the mouth (large ribeye £18.75). The wine to accompany this was an Argentinean Malbec Reserva, (£28.95) was rich and velvety and far too more-ish!

The non carnivores opted for the twice cooked roquefort souffle (£13.50) served with a small salad and wilted spinach, and the Rio Moqueca ( £16.25), a substantial fish stew with prawns cooked in coconut milk seasoned with coriander served with rice.

The gentlemen then moved on the dessert menu with a glass of Coteaux dessert wine (£7.50). They opted for the home made passion fruit ice cream (£4.75) & a double sorbet, one raspberry and one vodka (£4.75) also home made, with a creamy texture and apparently very good. The ladies hardly managed to dip a spoon in the bowl before it had disappeared.

The food was delicious and beautifully presented, the staff enthusiastic and welcoming (my only constructive criticism would be the service was a little slow on the night, but we were in no rush and every restaurant has to iron out wrinkles when they start). I will certainly be returning and wish John and his team every success in Putney. If you don't believe me take a look at the comments on the forum.

If you like trying new wines John mentioned a wine tasting event featuring a sumptuous four-course feast, the menu is served with 5 matching wines, combining the best from both the Old and New World, all the way from France to Argentina, on February 22nd at £65 per head. You can always give feedback on the forum!

Sandi Bloomfield

February 15, 2013