If my dining room was decked out like My Dining Room's dining room my daily dining would be infinitely more pleasurable than it is now.
The Fulham eatery is really chic, it's deep burgundy walls complimented with some fantastically eccentric photography, most notably a portrait of an elderly gentleman dubbed 'The Mad Frenchman', who, if you're stationed out in the back patio, stares at you through binoculars as you're tucking into your meal.
The photograph's subject is certainly not My Dining Room's owner, the grandly named Olivier Lavigne du Cadet, who, while French, certainly seemed to have all his faculties.
And he would have needed them to create what is a classy, and unique, restaurant concept in SW6, which looks sure to stand the test of time – a lifetime working for some of Europe's top restaurants is evident in everything from the food and service to the presentation and welcome.
Previously The Fulham Dray and then The Farm, My Dining Room has been transformed into a an inviting meeting space, where you can dine on seriously good – and reasonably priced - French-led cooking in the aforementioned main restaurant, or sip cocktails or beer at the front while eating bar snacks in a less formal, family (and dog) friendly, pub-style atmosphere.
The 'welcome to all' ethos is one of Lavigne du Cadet's key selling points. "I can't understand restaurants and pubs that aren't child friendly," he said. "This is a space for everyone, including dogs. This is an easy-going place and I want everyone to feel comfortable here."
His emphasis on a home-style ethos is characterised by the sharing dishes on his menu, of which there are several that entice.
My companion and I plumped for the Artisan charcuterie board (£6.50 per person) , which could easily have been served up to a family of four so plentiful were the array of meats and breads presented.
The salami was excellent and, as well as the hams and roast beef, there was also some wonderful pastrami that is smoked in-house by chef Vinnie Raulinaitis.
By now we'd cracked open a bottle of organic Dom. Des Vigneaux Shiraz (£24), a lovely deep, smooth number which was to go brilliantly with my ribeye steak and chips, spinach and peppercorn sauce (£20.90)
The meat, direct from an Essex farm, was gorgeous, cooked beautifully and seasoned perfectly.
As was my companion's lamb steak with couscous, yoghurt dressing and mango chutney (£14.50), which also got maximum marks.
Sharing options are also available for mains and they include veal and chorizo meatballs (£12 per person), whole roast garlic chicken (£24.50) and braised rump of veal (£15.50).
We were seriously full by this point but were persuaded to share a mammoth pavlova (£12), which we devoured, only partially successfully, off one plate.
The pudding summed up what I liked about the place – it serves some really good food in a classy atmosphere, yet it's so informal. It really puts the fun back into eating and for a family get-together or a birthday thrash with mates, it's a perfect choice.
My Dining Room
18 Farm Lane
Fulham
0207 381 3331
