Sheds have a variety of uses as a recent television series highlighted and they are particularly precious to their owners. So, going for dinner in a shed in Notting Hill and sitting on stools at a barrel table or perching on a tractor bonnet for a drink may not seem that crazy after all.
But then this is no ordinary shed, this is one that has been created as a restaurant in a pleasant west London street and follows through the lifestyle that brothers Oliver and Richard Gladwin have created at their home in West Sussex. While Richard looks after front of house, Oliver is the genius behind the food and younger third brother Greg, tends the family farm at Nutbourne from where many of the restaurant's ingredients are sourced, including wine from Nutbourne Winery.
Undoubtedly there is something of a playful element to eating at The Shed but there is also a heavy emphasis on delivering excellent food and drink in relaxed surroundings. Young, exuberant and highly knowledgeable staff, dressed appropriately in checked shirts and jeans, carry large pads and pencils in Kuny's leather belts to take your order from the daily-changing seasonal menu which is split into sections and based around sharing plates.
Perched on a stool (Fiona had the comfy sofa) at our rustic wooden table top sitting on a colourful oil drum I took in the fun atmosphere, which included John Deere tractor signs on the walls, a large mirror at one end to create a feeling of greater space to the narrow main eating area and furnishings that blend in splendidly with the rustic décor.
I hummed away contentedly to the excellent background music and got to grips with the highly innovative and exciting menu. We shared some mouthfuls (£1.50 each) to get us started of which a crab bomb with lemon was a taste explosion in the mouth while beetroot crisp, goats cheese and damson jam was a good combo and mushroom Marmite and egg confit far from shabby.
It set the scene for a journey of culinary delights, we selected five plates to share, enjoyed with a fine carafe of aromatic and fruity Nutbourne Bacchus 2013 white wine (£24), a great example of a really good English wine.
Perfectly cooked fresh and shiny hake with sweet pepperonata, courgette spaghetti, lemon and basil oil (£9) was a triumph and not far behind were lamb chips, wonderful slow cooked meat, singing on the plate with parsley lemon and a spicy harissa (£7.50). Nutbourne feta with dropped pasta, tomato, preserved lemon and leaf salad (£8) delivered plenty of fresh vibrant flavours although I would have liked a bit more of mama’s cheese.
Still the well paced dishes were dispatched and pan fried goats cheese with hazelnut, honey and thyme (£6.50) was a melt in the mouth medley of fantastic robust flavours. This was followed by tender slices of grilled venison with elderberries, smoked potato, kale and a delightful cob nut pesto (£9). Both dished perfectly epitomised the taste and textures of early autumn, and were part of a recently launched new menu.
Deserts were just as good and Fiona loved a stand out perfectly balanced plate of fresh raspberry, red currents, black berries, meringues and lemon curd fool (£6) and crunchy honeycomb, chocolate, mascarpone and tarragon sugar (£6) masquerading as a scrumptious 'upmarket Crunchie bar' was a real treat to the taste buds.
Whilst there might be a fun element to The Shed the cooking is seriously good delivering plates of imaginative well balanced flavoursome food using an innovative range of fresh and seasonal ingredients.
And the good news is that the Gladwin brothers are about to open a second London restaurant, with Rabbit due to arrive on the scene shortly on Chelsea's King's Road – where the concept will again be based around small and large plates with the food and drink sourced from the family farm and vineyard.
Read more of Adrian's recommendations of good places to dine out in west London.
