Bennett Oyster Bar & Brasserie

Bennett's opened about a year ago in our neighborhood. I walk by or ride by on the bus all the time. But we hadn't had a reason to go until recently.

We booked for Valentine's Day. While I was a bit disappointed that for the day there was a set menu (as the website had made no mention anywhere of menus of any sort - I checked) and this meant I couldn't get any sort of lobster dish, the food was quite nice.

The set menu was 3 courses. My bf had oysters, sea bass, and cheesecake. I had tiger prawns, pork belly, and chocolate fondant. The boy loved his from start to finish, though did note that the cheesecake was supposed to be berry cheesecake, but clearly the berry only helped to make it Valentine's pink. My "prawns" were in fact 1 single prawn. It was delicious, but I was left wanting more. Even a large prawn, butterflied, does seem a bit lacking as a starter. I expected 2 or 3. The pork belly was nice - the mustard mash was the best part. The chocolate fondant was a bit disappointing, as fondants go, but i still ate it all. CHocolate must not be wasted.

For the evening they had a live jazz combo playing. This started off nicely, but when the vocalist joined it kept getting louder and louder. To the point that we were nearly shouting across our table for 2. The music was fine, but it was just TOO LOUD.

The service was excellent. From the phone call confirming our reservation to the coat check to the waitstaff and beyond. Clearly the standards for serving are set high and the staff adhere.

Based on my meal experience alone (and the ridiculously loud music), I'd give Bennett a 3. But as the boy just loved his meal, I went with a 4. We definitely would like to visit again and try a meal off their regular menu. Bennett is in a great location on Battersea Square and does seem poised to really help liven the area up again!




Edit: just to note that the map has it placed up near Battersea Bridge. Which is very wrong. It's on Battersea Square.

There for the launch of this innovative new food emporium on Battersea Square, I found Bennett Oyster Bar & Brasserie equally elegant and convivial without pretension (think Paris brasserie charm with more than a healthy dash of proper London pub-iness) and loved having an opportunity to sample Bennett's assortment of oysters, mini steak and kidney pies and an assortment of seafood dishes. Ruinart champers was a welcome quaff as well, and cocktails were nice enough (unconvinced by the not terribly Bloody Marys though). In addition to the stylish bar and brasserie, Bennet's has a shop selling seafood, traditional British fayre, fine wine and Champagne, fresh flowers, organic fruit and veg and a variety of fresh baked goods. It appeared to be lovely and well stocked during my visit, but I can't vouch on the quality and prices.