Chiswick is seriously underrated… a picturesque area of London that I am proud to still consider home, even now I’ve moved slightly further out. With this in mind, I have made a promise to myself to explore and review the area more thoroughly, sampling the gorgeous eateries and boutique shops that line the streets. On a very rainy Sunday morning, along with a fellow Chiswick promoter, I went to try brunch at Sam’s Brasserie located very conveniently on the High Road.

My family have already raved about Sam’s to me, a large informal restaurant and bar with a relaxed ambience and friendly approach to dining. Brunch is a meal they do particularly well. The menu is inventive and diverse with recipes to suit every preference. Most dishes seem simple with a real emphasis on using the best produce possible. Brunch certainly has a New York twist… I instantly spotted buttermilk pancakes on the list, a breakfast dish I sampled many times in America.

Drooling over the menu, eventually we decided on three dishes to share between us… I must take full responsibility for this greedy ordering! Obviously I chose the Buttermilk Pancake Stack, opting for the blueberry compote and crème fraiche topping, though smokey bacon and maple syrup sounded equally delicious. They were without doubt the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted, arriving still hot, light and spongy in texture, with a slightly crisp edge. A dollop of crème fraiche and tart juicy blueberries provided the perfect accompaniment. My friend chose the Scrambled Eggs, chorizo and cherry tomatoes, one of the many egg options on the brunch menu. It looked fluffy and divine, seasoned perfectly with salty chorizo and sweet ripe tomatoes – a slightly more exotic version of the classic scrambled eggs on toast. We also shared the New York Style Steak Sandwich with onions, cheese, French’s Mustard and chips. It was a huge sandwich filled with gooey goodness, a lovely combination of ingredients, good quality lean steak, caramelised sloppy onions, and peppery mustard, served with yummy salted skinny fries. The portions were very generous, beautifully but simply presented, a foodie’s delight.

Sadly the fresh orange juice machine had broken, so instead I tried the fresh pressed apple juice, lovely and sweet and the most gorgeous shade of pale green. My friend ordered a peach and pineapple smoothie, which arriving in a tall glass and looked like the ideal cocktail… a dash of Malibu and it would have been! Preoccupied by the array of food we forgot all about tea and coffee, but remembering just in time it was a lovely end to the epic brunch. A harsh coffee critic, I found my cappuccino a little lukewarm though the flavour was rich and smooth.

Prices are very reasonable… for example only £6.75 for a hefty stack of pancakes, a dish that would certainly satisfy even the emptiest of stomachs… I would happily have brunch at Sam’s every weekend. I would love to visit for dinner and cocktails, I believe the atmosphere and food would be equally exemplary.

Visit the website here for more information.

I’d love to hear your suggestions for other Chiswick places that are worth reviewing… comment below.