Twickenham has lots of restaurants. But Salt Flakes – which is just about to celebrate its first birthday – has a lot to offer.
It’s a little bit further away from the centre of Twickenham – but still just a 10 minute walk from the train station. It’s part of an unassuming parade of shops and restaurants. There are a few seats outside but it’s on a main road and inside it has air conditioning (so important in this current hot weather).
There are two areas inside – with a large, raised open bar in the centre. The lower level has softer lighting and is a little more formal – a bit like a smart and tasteful French living room. The upper level is brighter and whiter and much more informal (although I was shocked to see some of the wealthy customers – both young and old – dressed in shorts and flip-flops).
I loved the quirky copper-coloured angle poise lamps stuck onto the walls above a bank of mirrors.
The staff were lovely. They are French, friendly, polite, efficient and helpful. They seem genuinely proud of the restaurant. There were couples, small groups of friends and a large family group when we visited.
The food was good too. My partner’s scallops were melt-in-the-mouth wonderful – and beautifully presented with edible flowers and swirls of sauce. My beef carpaccio (yes, I know it’s not French) was accompanied by parmesan and truffles.
On the main courses, I had a sizeable sea bass fillet on a bed of green risotto. Perfectly cooked. My companion opted for the pork belly (very crispy) which arrived with an interesting vegetable and pork mix and a small mountain of new potatoes. Serious portion sizes so no fear of going hungry.
For dessert my companion enjoyed honeycomb cheesecake and I tried the smooth chocolate fondant. With two large glasses of wine each the bill came to around £115. So it isn’t cheap but it was worth it,
In addition to an extensive wine list, they also offer some special vintages.
The music choice was interesting – with some memorable 1980s throwbacks. There’s live music (jazz) on Thursday evenings too.
