The Boaters Inn in Kingston – Restaurant Review

The Boaters Inn
Canbury Park
Lower Ham Road
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey KT2 5AU
Tel: 020 8541 4672

Louise Elgin reviews….

When the sun is shining in a cloudless blue sky, what can be more pleasant than a stroll by the river? Recently I did just that when I dined at The Boaters Inn in Kingston. Ideally situated right by the water in Canbury Park, it has stunning views over the Thames stretching down to Teddington Lock and beyond. The Boaters Inn is both a pub and a restaurant. There are plenty of tables outside for al fresco drinking and inside there is a large and spacious dining room with a dark wood interior with plenty of windows and views over the river. Every Sunday in June jazz is played live, which I can imagine only adds to the relaxed atmosphere.

Recently The Boaters Inn has had something of a makeover in culinary terms. Head Chef Amy Martin, previously of The Four Seasons in Dublin and The North London Tavern has brought a wealth of modern European influences that have created a very interesting and eclectic menu. To begin there were some wonderful sharing platters. These include a magnificent sounding vegetarian Mezze, whilst for carnivores there was a meat platter packed with terrines, hams and salamis. We settled on an assorted fish variety, feasting on a generous plate of smoked salmon, juicy langoustines, crispy whitebait, salt and pepper squid, and some rather too buttery potted crab. With this came accompanying dipping sauces – guacamole, mayonnaise and chilli jam and some lightly toasted bread. A perfect start. To drink we selected a bottle of nicely chilled French Cotes De Provence, a very full-bodied and rounded rose, perfect with the fish. The wine list was well thought out and fairly priced, the most expensive bottle being a modest £27.00.

To follow, we ordered some succulent and well-flavoured lamb chops complete with minted tzatziki, Greek salad and new potatoes. A plate of crisp and flaky ale battered fish and chips came with plenty of mushy peas and piquant tartare sauce. Other menu alternatives included a seafood and chorizo stew served with a tomato sauce and garlic bread, and an asparagus and roasted plum tomato and spinach mille feuille with a watercress pesto. For pudding there were a collection of old favourites including sticky toffee pudding, apple & cinnamon crumble and custard and Banoffee pie.

The Boaters Inn has a menu with something for every appetite. Whether you are in the mood for a salad or a sandwich or a three course meal the cooking is appetising and appealing at prices that are affordable and a view that’s hard to beat.

Louise Elgin. June 2010.

A two course meal with a bottle of wine is around £55.00 for two.