Dinner at the Skylark Café, Wandsworth Common, Earlsfield

"Snowman" dessert

On Wednesday night we went to the Skylark Café on Wandsworth Common. The café is best known as a day time social hub of the park, but we were there for their special Festive Supper. The café started serving dinner a couple of nights a month earlier this year and it is something they plan to carry on next year.

I was really impressed with the set menu we ate on the night (a vegetarian version was available). The food was far more inventive than I was expecting and was cooked and presented with real flair. Don't be fooled, as I was, by the daytime café fully of buggies, this was a real restaurant experience.

Pea arancini, quail & cod scotch egg, golden beetroot 

As an appetiser we were brought plate of tasty morsels and home made bread to share. The olive crumb, which was like a freeze dried tapenade, and the golden beetroot with goats cheese, truffle and fennel were my two favourites on the place which also included pea arancini on a purée and the soft yolk quail and cod scotch egg.

Home made bread

I love my bread so enjoyed the wholemeal rye sourdough and white sourdough with a salted crust.

Lobster & cod, kohlrabi and potato glass

Our starter was lobster and cod with hazelnut, kohlrabi and potato glass. The cod was perfectly cooked and I really enjoyed the accompanying bisque. The amount of lobster was limited but that isn't unreasonable with a set menu of such good value.

Venison two ways with salt baked celeriac

The main course was venison cooked two ways with salt baked celeriac, pink peppercorns and bitter leaves. It was another dish that I really enjoyed. The salt baked celeriac was, just, a little under cooked for my tastes. However, the venison was well cooked and the jus was excellent.

The star of the evening was undoubtedly the "Snowman" dessert, cutest dish you'll see this festive season. The head of the snowman was made from pistachio ice cream and the body was a blood orange curd covered in white chocolate and biscuit, all dusted in meringue snow. The perfect end to the meal.

At £42 (plus drinks) for the set menu I thought it as excellent value for the four courses that we had. The service was friendly and knowledgable too.

Skylark Café
Dorlcote Rd
London
SW18 3RT