The Weir Bar & Dining Room

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Out-of-towners discover Brentford's best kept secret

As we sat in the conservatory dining room overlooking the attractive waterside terrace we wondered how on earth we had only just discovered The Weir. It is tucked away behind the High Street on Market Place so out-of-towners like us could be forgiven for passing it by. But I believe there’s more to than that, I imagine that the good people of Brentford would want to keep this place for themselves and not have to share it with their Chiswick neighbours who, let’s face it, have more than their fair share of bars and restaurants.

Whatever the reason, The Weir Bar & Dining Room is a real find. Split into three defined areas, the bar has a gastro feel with it’s dark wooden floors, tables and chairs, the conservatory dining room is more grown up and the outside space – a delightful paved terrace that runs down to the lock – is a leafy haven for smokers in winter although I can imagine they'd be joined by quite a number of drinkers and diners in the summer.

We chose to sit in the dining room overlooking the terrace.

To start we shared half a dozen Carlingford Lough oysters with shallot vinegar (£8.00). The oysters were fresh and delicious although the accompaniment was far too much vinegar and not enough shallot.

For main course we shared one of The Weir's signature dishes, Chateaubriand which is served on a hot stone to keep it cooking, triple cooked chips (par boiled then dipped in hot fat before being baked) served with béarnaise sauce (£38.00). Neither of us could fault this dish in any way and found the meat, which is delivered daily from Field Farm in Oxfordshire, amongst the most succulent and tasty we’d had in quite a while. Though for £3.20 I would have expected the parmesan on our side order of rocket salad to be shaved rather than of the grated and somewhat tasteless variety.

To drink we shared a bottle of 2006 Argentinean Merlot (£16.05) and a bottle of sparkling water (£3.20).

Service was pleasant and well meaning but never gave the impression that things were entirely under control e.g. running out of steak knives and we felt that for the prices we were paying, it should have been a little more proficient.

The bill came to £75.25 including 10% service charge of which only 70% goes to the waiting staff regardless of whether it’s paid by card or cash which irked me. Even though I had encountered more capable service, there was no doubt that our waitress was doing her absolute best and deserved more than 70% of the recognition for her efforts.

So will we be revealing what has to be one of Brentford’s best kept secrets to our Chiswick friends? Too right we will (but only after they’ve agreed to take us with them!)

Emma Brophy

April 9, 2008