Tom Ilic

A conversation with Tom on Saturday:

TI: So how was your dinner

Me: Really good, everything we ate was fantastic. I had a lot of pork.

TI: Pork? Yes, pork is good. I like pork. All of the pork is for eating.

Me: I had a lot of belly pork. And Crackling. Very nice and crispy.

TI: Yes thank you. I am glad you have enjoyed it.

Me: (gushingly) The food here is much better than where my husband took me for my birthday. La Trompette. (staring pointedly at husband)

TI: Yes, very nice of you to say. They have Michelin star. Sorry today we have not enough staff.

Me: Everything was lovely and the slightly slow service was not a problem. Why have you opened this wonderful restaurant in the middle of nowhere - come to Putney!

TI: (walks away as he notices a customer on crutches hobbling out without paying for his bill for his table of 7 as he had waited too long for the bill to arrive, shouting 'here is my mobile number - send me an invoice'...)

So to sum up our evening at Tom's, I would say that the food is outstanding. I wanted to eat pretty much everything on the menu. The location is I suspect cheap (clever business gamble during the 'credit crunch') and the lighting way too bright. But the food. Yummy!!

ps - Don't you think the term 'credit crunch' sounds like a breakfast cereal? I'll have some credit crunch, bananas and cold milk please. Please spread my toast with a slight helping of panic and hysteria. Thanks.
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JMS - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, October 01, 2008

My girlfriend and I visited last night and left bubbling over with enthusiasm for Tom Ilic. I had wasted most of my day at work reading glowing reviews, and was sure therefore sure that it would be disappointing - how excellent to be proved wrong.

The absurdly drab room was the only downside to what is surely the perfect neighbourhood treat restaurant (although we had actually come from the other side of London). Friendly, quick, unobtrusive service, great bread and butter, and the most appetising menu I have seen for ages. It was the first time, in fact, that I have come genuinely close to ordering two starters (both for myself) and then a main - i wanted to eat it all.

HP has a fetish for fois gras, and found the Ilic's offering tasty and suprisingly light, but was completely blown away by her beef main course. Fillet of beef with oxtail ravioli and horseradish souffle is now her favourite dish in the world, and it brought out a new selfish side to her otherwise excellent personality, as she wouldn't let me near it.

Luckily for me however she doesn't like rabbit, because I certainly wasn't about to let go of much of my rabbit and langoustine main (with a mushroom lasagna and seafood foam) .Rather sexy gamey, fishy flavours, combine with strong anniseedy tarragon, to make a sensation. The perfect complement to my more subtle starter of carpaccio of mackeral and tuna with beetroot and horseradish creme fraiche.

Best of all however was the cheery welcome from Tom Ilic himself, who suprised us by sticking his head between us as we were writing our rave review on the comments slips provided. What a hero.

This restaurant reminds me of Arbutus in Soho - simple, ultra professional yet friendly, with a short, delicious seasonal menu cooked with passion by unpretentious cooks. Both places cost well under £100 for a 3 course meal for 2 with wine. Both places also ram home how over priced and dissappointing so many other places in London are - how do they get away with it when the competition's like this?

I can't recommend Tom Ilic enough.
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GILES HUXLEY-PARLOUR
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 27, 2008

We went tonight 3rd September with two friends. I had the Rabbit and Langoustine - it was fantastic!! We were all very impressed - great menu, great food, good service and reasonably priced. Looking forward to going back asap. all four of us gave it 10 out of 10 and we're not easily pleased!!!
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Denise Ballard
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 04, 2008

Absolutely fantastic food at amazing prices, especially when compared to the complexity of the cooking. The pig's cheeks were fantastic, as was the lamb main course, even including the slightly dubious looking sweetbreads! Very friendly service. Faultless.
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Rupert, Clapham
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 15, 2008

I reviewed this place in January; I don't normally re-review but we had such a great time on our second visit that I wanted to up my marks a little.

We went to Tom Ilic last Friday for my husband's birthday with his parents. I really enjoyed the food last time I went, but this time it was even better - surprisingly so, because the pork belly and scallops that I had last time (and wanted to have again!) wasn't on the menu. I had the pigs' cheeks again, followed by roast saddle and braised shoulder of lamb, which was absolutely amazing. I am desperate to go back and try it again, but it probably won't be on the menu next time round! For dessert, I had the white chocolate and marscapone cheesecake with rhubarb sorbet, which was beautiful - much better than the dessert we had last time. The service was much better this time too, and the large number of groups obviously having a very good time made the (somewhat plain) room friendly and inviting.

I know this building has in the past been a graveyard for good restaurants which is why I'm reviewing Tom Ilic again - his food is delicious and imaginative, very reasonably priced and he really really deserves to make a success of this place.
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Anna - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 15, 2008

I'm torn between raving about this place and keeping quiet - as its a local restaurant I want to be able to get a reservation easily! The only negative I can say about the Tom Ilic is the decor is a little dated and cold, but the food is divine and at very reasonable prices!!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, February 28, 2008

We had been looking forward to our trip to Tom Ilic for weeks, and it certainly did not disappoint.

It's rare to find a restaurant of this quality so close to home, which serves seriously impressive and delcious food, all at a reasonable price. The service was also excellent; the man himself even came out for a chat after the performance.

Highlights include the beautiful trio of salmon (cured, baked and tartare) to start. The scallops with belly of pork was inspirational as a main and was cooked to perfection. The classic lemon tart was genuinely the best I've ever had.

This place is an absolute must for those who want to celebrate or treat a loved one with fabulous food served with a smile.
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Sarah Cowie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 01, 2008

I don't think there's much I need to add here as the recent reviews (including London Eating's own) have said pretty much everything I wanted to say. So, in brief:

The good

Well, most of it really. Especially the chorizo with braised pig's cheeks and garlic and something-else-I-can't remember mash, closely followed by the lovely belly pork & seared scallops with Jerusalem artichokes and hazelnuts. Very lovely, and not horrendously expensive at around 6 pounds for the starter and 13.50 for the main. The dessert didn't let the side down either (pear tart). My companions also seemed to enjoy their starters (one foie gras, one pig's cheeks) and mains (one lamb, one belly pork & scallops). The menu is short and all sounds tempting. The wine was good and reasonably priced.

The bad

There was a pretty long delay before we got served, and our bubbly came very late - as we were getting our starters. We eventually lost the 'slow' waitress for a somewhat swifter one, who made up for the delay by giving us our 3 glasses of dessert wine free, which made the bill even more reasonable than we'd initially thought.

The restaurant was full even on a Wednesday night. People generally seemed to be happy with their food and their surroundings. Lovely place, and especially good to find it in South London. Please help keep it going!
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Anna - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Thursday, January 31, 2008

Went to Tom Ilic last night on a special offer booking for 4. Champagne all round as part of the offer...very attentive waiter/waitresses, nice decor and really nice food from the menu. Had the foie gras for starter followed by seared scallops and honey roasted pork which were absolutely divine. Compliments to the chef!

The only down point was the central heating. It was not working but I am sure will be sorted out very soon.

Would definitely come back! Had a really good evening. Merci bien a tous ;-)
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Peter Le
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, December 20, 2007

I had the pleasure of eating at this restaurant last friday night with a girlfriend. And it truly was a pleasure. For the first time ever I found a menu which I wish to try everything on (except the Goat's chees but that is a personal dislike) and I was confused by the decision as it all looked so tempting.The food was stunning and sufficiently indulgent (as good French cuisine should be in my book). And the wine list was another menu which did not leave me wanting.

I ordered the sweetbreads as a starter and the scallops for the main and for the first time in my eating history I didn't run for the choclate dessert but instead was happily tucking into the roasted figs. My friend ordered the beef for her main which truly was the most delicious meat.

The service was excellent, although a nervy waitress did spill water on my lap but was more then mortified and I was not overly concerned. The decor is simple and reflects the fact that this restaurant is ALL about the food (as it should be), and the simplicity allows you to focus on it.

As the restaurant has only been open as Tom Ilic for the past few weeks I will just have to return repeatedly (to sample the entire menu bar the goats cheese) and truly hope Tom and his team manage to maintain the high standard they have set for themselves!

Many thanks for giving me an excellent birthday dinner!
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Moz
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 26, 2007