Located inside a four star Victorian country house, we were instantly impressed as we made our way up the long driveway to The Petersham Hotel.

The hotel's fine dining establishment - The Petersham Restaurant - reopened in February following a lavish refurbishment, so I went to explore.

Designed by London-based firm Kanvass, not only does the award-winning eatery possess stylish fixtures and fittings, it also enjoys panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views of the famous bend in the River Thames and surrounding Petersham Meadows.

Diners can enjoy panoramic views of the River Thames

Exclusivity, sophistication and elegance are just some of the words one can only describe when walking into the open plan, airy room for a mid-week lunch.

Acclaimed chef, Adebola Adeshina has headed up the kitchen since 2014, focusing on modern British cookery using the best local and seasonal produce available.

With two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, the a la carte menu featured half a dozen delightful starters, mains and desserts.

My grandmother and I sat next to the grand window at a table dressed with crisp, white linen, fine silverware and classy wine glasses.

As we sipped on gorgeous Champagne and nibbled on warm, homemade bread we ordered our first courses.

My nana went for hot smoked salmon with beetroot textures, caviar, fennel and sea spaghetti (£15), while I could not resist sauteed scallops with banana plantain, black pudding and parsnip purée (£16).

We didn't have to wait long before our starters arrived and they both looked as pretty as our river side view.

Served on an elegant ceramic white plate, three plump scallops sat on thick slices of plantain.

I had never eaten plantain before let alone had it with shellfish, so it was a unique experience and one I would definitely have again.

The pearly white scallops were cooked perfectly and had a gorgeously crisp skin, while the fruit offered a sweet, exotic kick.

The rest of the graceful plate of food was made up of the smoothest parsnip purée, rich black pudding and a luxurious oil dressing.

Seared scallops

It was a pleasure to eat and my dining partner echoed my thoughts as she too wiped her plate clean.

We never felt hurried or ignored during our entire time at the restaurant.

The service was impeccable. The knowledgeable staff looked after us professionally yet created a warm and friendly atmosphere.

For our mains, my nana chose grilled whole Dover sole with ratte potatoes, capers and a brown butter sauce (£38).

The waiter skillfully filleted the large fish at our table which added a bit of drama to our lunch.

I also chose a flatfish for my second course.

A hefty chunk of Scottish halibut was accompanied with a vibrant watercress purée, chorizo, puy lentils and a Pernod sauce (£28).

Roasted and finished with a delicious crisp skin, the halibut literally flaked off my fork, while the lentils and pine nuts added a fantastic bite and the golden sultanas delivered a tangy chew.

All the flavours married well and as with our first courses, the dish looked incredible.

Expect a skilled service

To round off our fishy feast, my nana dived into damson plum tart with an almond flake, port sauce and caramel ice cream (£8) while I had passionfruit and raspberry sorbet with berries (£8).

Both puddings looked delicate and handsome and tasted, marvelously luxurious. It was a splendid way to round off an impeccable lunch with a stunning view.

Plum tart

Factbox:

Price: A la carte menu from £41 per person (three courses). There is also a fixed price menu - £22.95 for two courses or £26.95 for three courses per person

Opening times: Breakfast - Mon-Fri 7am-9.45am, Sat-Sun 8am-10.30am

Lunch - Mon-Fri 12.15pm-2.15pm, Sat 12.15pm-2.45pm, Sun 12.30pm-3.30pm

Afternoon tea - Mon-Fri 3.30pm-5.30pm, Sat 3pm-5.30pm, Sun 4pm-5.30pm

Dinner - Mon-Sat 7pm-9.45pm, Sun 7pm-9pm

Address: The Petersham Hotel, Nightingale Lane, Richmond, TW10 6UZ

Telephone: 020 8939 1084

Website: petershamhotel.co.uk

Dress code: Smart

Parking: Free on-site hotel car park