Sonny’s Kitchen, Barnes, Review

ByQin Xie 06/03/201319/05/2020

94 Church Rd Barnes, London SW13 0DQ www.sonnyskitchen.co.uk

A new décor and new team makes Sonny’s Kitchen feel like a brand new restaurant. The partnership between Rebecca Mascarenhas (owner of Michelin-starred KitchenW8) and Phil Howard (chef/patron at two Michelin-starred The Square) has breathed new life into this Barnes local. Head chef Tommy Boland, previously of The Square and a Barnes resident, has brought finesse to the menu. That means foie gras has made it in alongside wagyu beef, guinea fowl, quail and other ‘cheffy’ ingredients. But it’s not turning its nose up at good comfort food either, and there’s definitely still room for homely chicken, leek and mushroom pie and ice cream that’s made to Phil Howard’s mum’s recipe. Things are still in transition but it’s great to see that a little bit of The Square has landed on its feet in Barnes.

Mackerel tartare, Sonny's Kitchen, Barnes

Guinea fowl with crushed potatoes and trompette de la mort, Sonny's Kitchen, Barnes

Trio of desserts, Sonny's Kitchen, Barnes

Qin Xie

Qin Xie is a London based food, wine and travel journalist and trained chef.

When not infiltrating Michelin restaurants as a kitchen tourist, she writes about food, drink and travel. Her work has appeared on Yahoo, FT, The Times and CNN.

Her first cookbook, co-authored with YS Peng at Hunan Restaurant, is out March 2014.

According to friends, her watch is always set to UTC -- ready for the next big adventure. In reality, she is happiest at the dinner table or by the sea.