PITCHER AND PIANO, RICHMOND

Photo: Pitcher & Piano 

Last week, my mum and I took the slowest district line tube train over to Richmond, to review a restaurant/bar called Pitcher and Piano. Neither of us had been there before, so we was really looking forward to kissing Friday goodbye and welcoming another weekend.

Pitcher and Piano have many different bars around the UK; two of which are in London. The location is perfect for after work drinks, a birthday meal as we both agreed; perfect for a date! Sitting right on top of the thames, the newly refurbed terrace means you can enjoy fruity cocktails and delicious grub, in the sun (on a good day!), with a beautiful view of London's most famous river.

Photo: Pitcher & Piano 

Our table was reserved for 6.30pm and I should mention that it took us over an hour to travel there, which isn't usually ideal but I do like to explore as many new places in London as possible!

When we arrived, we was seated downstairs but inside. It would have been nice to sit outside on the terrace, but it was getting quite busy for a Friday night. Maybe if we had chosen a different day to review this restaurant, we would've been reserved a table outside. 

We had a peruse of the drinks menu and ordered some house cocktails. We decided to order two each and try each other's chosen cocktail. I went for the Raspberry Chase; with rhubarb and raspberry vodkas and apple juice. My mum chose the Pink Flamingo; with russian vodka, rum lime juice and grenadine syrup. Both were really lovely, but I definitely preferred mine!

After snapping our cocktails on Instagram stories (priorities), we had a look at the food menu. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the menu is quite mixed and has something for everyone. From healthy salads, sandwiches and bigger meals like burgers and steak; the menu is definitely varied depending on the occasion you're there for. 

I was really excited for dinner as I hadn't had much protein that day. I ordered the sausage and bacon chipolatas (£5.50), glazed in a honey and mustard dressing. They were absolutely delicious and I loved the sweet glaze. It definitely left me wanting more!

My mum ordered the beetroot hummus (£5.50), with feta and roasted squash and accompanied with toasted pitta bread. A healthy, veggie delight which made mum very happy. 

Following on from my protein rich theme, I ordered the confit duck leg (£12.50) with egg noodles for main. This came with pak choi, red onion and mangetout, mixed together in a rich plum sauce. I tend to eat a lot of noodles at home (but usually white) if I have had a good workout, so I thought I would try one of my favourite dishes with duck. 

The duck was cooked to perfection - with the skin being extra crispy. Like most duck dishes, there isn't much meat on the bone. If you're looking for a nutritiously protein rich meal, I'd stick to chicken or turkey, but it was nice to try something else for a change. 

Mum was feeling particularly British and ordered the beer battered cod and chips (£11.50). This came with skin on chips, pea puree and tartare sauce to accompany. This happens to be one of my mum's favourite dishes, so she was judging it on the way it was cooked. Sadly, she commented that the fish has a slightly rubbery texture and there was a bit too much batter - cooked quite thickly. However, still edible. 

Nevertheless, we was handed the dessert menu a short while later and both had a cheeky look. I avoid any desserts that contain the likes of milk, bananas, coffee and toffee. Therefore, it was a no brainer for me and my mum decided to copy me...

Fresh out of the kitchen came two plates of chocolate heaven. Seriously though, how many chocolate brownies have I featured on this blog over the years? Too many, but never enough!

This brownie (£5.50) came with a dollop of vanilla ice-cream and was packed with chocolate chips; and soaked in a salted caramel puddle. A very naughty cheat meal, but something I can certainly never resist. 

All in all, we had a lovely experience at Pitcher and Piano and had an excellent service from the waiter too. It is a little out of the way, so unless I was nearby, I probably wouldn't return simply down to that fact. However, I do recommend it as a place to go to if you're ever in the Richmond area and getting a bit hungry or fancy some drinks!

Disclaimer: Complimentary meal for 2 offered in exchange for an honest review on my blog. All words and photographs are my own, unless disclaimed otherwise.