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| DISCLAIMER: This is NOT Manny |
French cuisine has always had a certain je ne sais quoi, that certain indefinable something that marks it out as something out of the ordinary. Chez Manny, on the border of Clapham and Battersea is a classic example, a word-of-mouth bistro that appears unassuming from the outside, but is home to food par excellence.
Londontheinside visited recently, and were greeted by Manny himself, an outgoing and fun loving host, able to talk knowledgably about his menu and in particular, his wine list. This attention wasn’t just reserved for us; every table got the personal treatment. A pleasant host, the service was attentive without being intrusive.
We opted for the beef carpaccio and foie gras to start. The beef was a millimetre thick and peppered to perfection, served with grana padano, a thinly sliced hard salty cheese and salad. Tres Bien! The foie gras was less smooth than expected, with a more rustic texture, but still rich and hearty. To follow, we tried the roast confit of duck and the roast chicken with white wine and mushrooms, one of the dishes from the extensive plat du jour menu. Both were served with fresh vegetables and potatoes. The chicken was moist and tender whilst the duck was crispy on the outside, hiding a delicious juicy interior.
At Manny’s suggestion, we enjoyed a particularly nice merlot rose, medium dry with a subtle but distinctive flavour of its own. Possibly the highlight of the evening was the desserts, a rich chocolate fudge brownie and home-made profiteroles which sealed the deal. Perhaps not the dish to have if you are watching your weight, but definitely worth every single calorie!
Bon appétit AKA Enjoy your meal, and just to make sure you do LondOntheInside have teamed up with Chez Manny to offer you lucky people 20% off your bill – that’s food and drinks! Just meantion LondOntheInside when you pay. Valid Mon – Thursday until 4th July.
145-149 Battersea High Street, SW11
www.chezmanny.com