Cuisine: Modern European
Cost:
Rating:
Where?: 123, Queenstown Road, Battersea, London. SW8 3RH
Closest station(s): Battersea Park, Queenstown Road.
Telephone: 0207 622 0555
Website: www.tomilic.co.uk
Bizarrely placed bespoke tailor – tick. Random upmarket shoe shop – tick. Odd carpet and rug shop – tick. Plain looking restaurant offering a selection of modern European food by a Serbian chef – tick. A short stretch of Queenstown Road in Battersea South West London contains all of the above; the highlight without a doubt being Tom Ilic – what is on offer is however far from a box ticking exercise.
Most of the, limited, negative press for this restaurant relates to the décor. Whilst it cannot be said to be stunning, equally it is not horrific. A decision was taken to go without table clothes to keep a light airy feel and to keep laundry prices to a minimum. The cost cutting also continues into the menu with cheaper cuts of meat often used such as: pig cheeks, osso bucco and rabbit. That is not to say that the chef does not do something magical with them.
The staff were attentive and polite; the wine list offers a reasonable selection - with house wine coming in at under £20. The food is excellent throughout; the first time I ate here I believed I must have misread the lunch deal as it was far too good for the price. It is a shame that it doesn’t get a little busier sometime as it can feel a little spacious and cold when there aren’t many other diners there.
The presentation is wonderful and the flavours, such as of the stuffed rabbit saddle wrapped in Serrano ham with Savoy cabbage, wild mushrooms & roast langoustine, are beautifully matched. These are excellently constructed plates of food.
The prices,as with many places are slowly on the rise, with starters at £10 and mains at £17. Even at those prices it is good value. The greatest value is however in the set menus, currently £17 for 2 courses (it used to be a staggering £12.50) for both lunch & dinner. For this money you get food that is as good as many one Michelin-starred restaurants.