Sunday lunch @ The Brown Dog in Barnes

I first visited The Brown Dog some 6-7 years ago when it first opened. It was a visit for Sunday lunch and to be honest it has been a visit for Sunday lunch ever since. Coming to think about it I don’t think I have ever visited The Brown Dog for anything but Sunday lunch and since I hadn’t visited for a while, made it the perfect choice when my mate Richard contacted me about meeting up. Location was also ideal as it was midway for both of us. Although unbeknown to me at the time a cycling race made it nigh on impossible for us to get there. Thankfully it was a sunny summer’s Sunday afternoon and, following a brief taxi ride with a cabbie that moaned and berated the cyclists, walking there was actually quite pleasant.

We got there around 2pm to find out that, surprisingly, the beer garden had tables available so we scrapped our booking inside and sat at a picnic table in the beer garden. The weather was glorious and nothing else would be justified, thankfully although Sunday, there were no screaming kids! Don’t get me wrong I like the little rascals but they do get on my nerves when they don’t behave!

The menu was promising, as ever, and the roast pork with all the trimmings caught my eye, I was sold. Surprisingly, for a Sunday lunch, the rest of the group fancied starters so Duck and peppercorn terrine it is then but first a pint of Guinness please.

The terrine arrived and it was divine, unfortunately K was sitting next to me and there was no way of stopping her from trying, a few times as one is never quite enough for quality control purposes! K had the serrano ham with melon and manchego which was also delicious, although I was only allowed one small mouthful – did someone mention equality?

Soon after the second pint the mains arrived and I was salivating at the sight of this piece of crackling. I tend to feel short-changed when I order pork in pubs as the crackling is never enough but not today! I wish I had asked for a Yorkshire pudding, always ask for a Yorkshire pudding.

The guinea fowl was also very succulent and tasty as was the amazing gravy with peas and pancetta that was coming with it.

The feedback received from the other two that had the beef was also very good, it did look great and they were lucky enough to get Yorkshire puds as well! (sobs…)

By now we must have been sitting in the beer garden for a few of hours and after all this food there is no space for pudding but the drinks orders continue to go in and as the weather gets hotter and hotter we move from Guinness to alcoholic ginger beer and cider! This is what summer afternoons should be about…shame that it is usually a rare occurrence in the UK. After five hours or so we decide that it’s probably time to go home…

I will always return to the Brown Dog, especially for Sunday lunch, as I have yet to be let down. Their food is always great and the staff always friendly. The next visit will have to be for dinner as I need to experience what kind of atmosphere they offer to have a rounded view. Should maybe try to pop in for a drink one time too as at the moment, although it has a bar area, I have a feeling it is not really a drinking only pub.