Shambles Bar & Restaurant

We have eaten many times at Shambles, it is our local 'secret' and we love the great food, atmosphere and service. Sometimes we eat in the bar, on a more casual basis and on other, special occasions, eat in the restaurant. Both are excellent. We know we should advertise this great place but are scared that too much open publicity will spoil our local, friendly and slightly 70's wine bar! P.S.We love the piano player too!
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, December 21, 2008

We were interested to read these comments on food quality and price as we went to Shambles last week and then soon after to the Glasshouse in Kew. We commented, after visiting the two so close together, that the prices were much higher in the Glasshouse but the quality of the food in Shambles was at least its equal if not a little better. The wines were also much cheaper in Shambles. We understand the Glasshouse has a much higher profile and reputation but we both agreed that the meal at Shambles was as enjoyable and much better value. The scallops were melt in the mouth, the pidgeon very tender and Massimo, the head chef, came out to show us the special mushrooms we'd asked the waitress about. We are not regulars, although have been a couple of times before and yet we were treated with as much warmth as others there. We think it's a hidden gem and we will be taking friends there again...!
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Carol and Nick B
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, December 04, 2008

I dont believe some of the comments on this particular restaurant. I frequent Shambles at least once a week and have done so for more than 10 years. Everytime friends come to Teddington I take them to Shambles as the welcome is warm and the food is great. Contrary to an earlier review the menu is flexible and you can still order bar food in the wine bar. Which is consistently good and very varied!! As for the choice of wine, the wine list is extensive, well thought out and varied. If the previous reviewer wants to go to a supermarket and buy his own wine, I think it would be a great idea. Lets just hope he takes it home and drinks it there rather than spoiling our enjoyment of a great local restaurant.
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stephen
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 18, 2008

The restaurant,at the back, is fine. and is particularly good for special occasions. There used to be an excellent wine bar at the front. It had a great informal atmosphere and you could get a steak frites and bottle of plonk without breaking the bank. It was a nice contrast to the restaurant. Unfortunately they tried to turn the wine bar into restaurant with prices to match, and now it doesn't work either as a wine bar or a restaurant -it's lost the wine bar atmosphere and it's not as comfortable as it needs to be to merit expensive restaurant status. Also the price of the house wine is truly extortionate. We still go, because the staff are nice and the food reasonable. But don't go as much as before and we always feel slighted cheated because of the price of the wine.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Saturday, October 11, 2008

I recently went to this wine bar and agree that it's a good place. I've read the comments and some (especially the gushing ones OTT). This is a fair -to -middling restaurant. Food reasonable but the wine as someone else said, was very poor. Wouldn't rush back and actually prefer the restaurant (whose name escapes me) across the road.

You shouldn't be put off by the reviews here, but don't expect great things either.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, July 30, 2008

This is a very fine restaurant indeed. Some of the comments below have little basis, really. George wonders aloud whether loyal customers recommending their favourite restaurant is a bad thing. Surely that is what this website is for. As for the contributors being family members or ringers...what's to say he isn't a jealous restaurateur from a less esteemed establishment? It's the Net..... of course there's a risk.

As for drinking good wine for 8 quid in a licensed building. Anywhere south of Reykjavik, I think not.

The fish specials are always first class here, the salads crisp and innovative, the pastas light but satisfying. A professional place, in short. Miss it at your peril. But it does get busy, so whether you are a ringer or someone who last bought wine in 1987, call to reserve.
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Tim
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, July 14, 2008

Great food but pricey. Only shame is the wine. The lower priced wines (and nothing is cheap here) are dreadful - the cheap trade wines that are marked up 300% + and full of sulphates. Perhaps they could allow you to but some decent wine from M&S next door and just charge corkage?

Great venue and great food although recently portions have been getting smaller.

Biggest pity is that for a wine bar, the management are so out of touch with customers' tastes. Most of us can enjoy a great bottle of wine for £8 nowadays and being asked to pay £15 for a bottle of nasty stuff is an insult. The house red recently was undrinkable, so we left. This problem has been going on for years and I really hope they find some integrity and source good drinking wines. Hopefully with a bit of fine tuning and a bit more integrity, they can really start to become an honest, good quality wine bar again.
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steve
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 3
Thursday, July 10, 2008

We absolute love Shambles.We go at least once every two weeks and we love it,We have never being dissapointed in seven years that we lived in teddington.Is a bit expensive but I think you pay for the quality you eat.

Eva.Teddington
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Eva Brownlee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Great food, great service and a great atmosphere. Have eaten here more times than any other restaurant in the area and have never been disappointed. Bar menu offers excellent value in a more relaxed environment than the main restaurant but there are some real gems on the restaurant menu as well. Boules in the garden is also fantastic in the summer.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 14, 2008

Shambles is my favourite Italian restaurant in South West London. The atmosphere is great and the food is top notch. I recently had Bolito Misto and Insalata Nervetti which was delicious, and I've rarely seen this on menus in London - only when I've visited Italy. The fish is always fresh and tasty - I recommend it, especially the oysters. The wine is very good too - the Salice Salentino is fantastic and great value at £16.95. I can't forget to mention the blind pianist who plays at the weekend - amazing!
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 28, 2008