Harrison's

First visit to Harrison's, despite living in Balham for almost two years! They've just renovated and the place looks good. Service is friendly, and the food is good. Not the best and not the most creative, but decent food and a place I would probably go back to again and again as a local neighbourhood restaurant. Prices are reasonable and they do some interesting drinks.

Do try the welsh rarebit pork chop and the lamb fritters - pretty amazing!

Reviewed by The London Insider

It was my second visit to Harrisons today. My beetroot starter was delicious and beautifully presented, but my cod curry was slightly lacking in flavour. I have to say, slightly disappointing. Esp. after I had told my husband how good it had been on my first visit with friends. He had also ordered the cod curry and had wondered why I had made him travel there. Perhaps we just ordered badly as the sunday dinners which were being served did look excellent.
The service was though was excellent and it’s a nice place to spend a couple of hours. But, is the food worth going out of your way for? I’m not sure.

Mmm when I see this place my belly crumbles. I love the food they cook and it’s always been amazing. Great chef

Great place to meet up with friends and share a great bottle of wine for a nice low-key evening!

I love this restaurant, great food & service with a range of classic and innovative cocktails.

I had the Chicken Liver Parfait & the Burger, 2 great dishes washed down with 2 great Gin Martinis (Very Long Day!). Could not fault a thing!

A definate must if you are in Balham, as there is no where else like this in Balham

Really like this place,equally great for brunch and dinner.
Generally service is really good and burgers and the fries are the best in the area.
Cocktails are fab as well.
Definitely has a good atmosphere although definitely prefer the areas at the front of the restaurant to those at the back-feel they could do something better with the space to create a bit more atmosphere.

I dont think anyone does brunch like Harrison's. Not many places get the New York vibe right and Harrison's really do. Not only great brunch food, but smoothies and fresh juices as well. And best of all a play room for the kids!

Been just for drinks a few times and have always been happy with the service, had dinner for the first and last time. I had a risotto that was awful, the rice was raw. My friend ordered her steak medium well, and it came out blue. Really dissapointing evening. After eating nothing and recieving no apology we had to row with the staff to get the food taken off the bill, not what I would call good service. I wont be going back, not even just for a drink, there are plenty of other bars in Balham.

This is a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat. I rate the burger, perfect for a hangover. Their food also goes into much greater detail but for me at that time in my life.....burger. I did find a video for Harrison's, check it out
http://www.youtube.com/vidify#p/u/53/qS4W9xutmGs

Amazing burger, probably my favorite in London.

They have a great lunch offer on - £12 for 2 courses. A appetising starter followed by pieces of plaice on new potatoes. We shared a side dish of spring greens and had a large glass of wine each.
A fabulous late lunch on a sunny day.
Surprisingly busy but the service was good…...

Harrisions has perfected the brasserie genere of dining. The food is very satisfying no matter what time you eat, i strongly reccomend the breakfast menu! The resteraunt area is always busy although even at peak times I’ve never had to wait longer than 15 - 20 mins for a table and the trendy bar area is a delight to sip a cocktail while waiting. The staff are friendly and professional but definatley not stuffy and uptight. Definatley the best eatery in Balham! Highly reccommened!

Absolutely great food. Lots of networking and interesting events going on too. I hear they have a bridge club starting next year.

A favourite 'recovery’ place of mine on a Sunday!! The food is great, the waiters are attentive (not too much that you feel uncomfortable) and most of all the 'hangover cures’ (some people like to call them cocktails) hit the spot every time!! You can chill and read the papers or eek out the last few hours of the weekend getting slightly giddy…...

I prefer to spend time here having a meal rather than just using it as a bar as I find they are struggling a bit to create the type of atmosphere where you would spend a few hours getting merry (plus the prices are more suited to the west end!) In saying that I really like the fact that the bar staff will create you a cocktail if you tell them the kind of things you like…... they have never got it wrong for me so far!!

Only been to Harrisons for a drink but really enjoyed the feel of the place. Great high tables, relaxed atmosphere and very efficient staff. Its a great place for a drink for a chat. Great beers on tap and the wine list is very extensive. Not eaten here yet but the food looks great.

Offering a classy atmosphere and top-notch food, Harrisons is one of the best balham haunts for the upwardly mobile.

I think the burger is in contention for best balham burger, and the wines are well chosen and served in enormous glasses. I especially like the way you can sit at a high table on stools with other punters and feel like you’re in america.

This used to be the Balham Kitchen & Bar, before it was taken over by Sam Harrison, the guy behind Sam’s Brasserie & Bar in Chiswick.

And to be honest, it hasn't changed all that much. It's still a traditional brasserie, serving unfussy food and drinks from 9 in the morning until way past bedtime.

South London needs more places like this. Somewhere you can roll up to around 12 o clock on a Sunday, slightly worse for wear and get a well-cooked breakfast (traditional full English, or maybe waffles and bacon!) and a decent cup of coffee; and then settle in for the best part of the day with the Sunday papers. Maybe invite a few friends over to meet you for a late lunch and then get drunk all over again on cocktails.

It's one step above your local greasy spoon, but below the fussy restaurant where the waiters glare at you if you outstay your welcome.

When I visited Harrison's it was for their 'soft opening' so they were only serving the breakfast menu but their full breakfast really hit the spot and they do make a mean Bloody Mary...so who needs lunch?!

if you're south of the river I'd definitely recommend this place for a lazy Sunday.

UPDATE:

I went back to Harrison's for dinner last night (Jan 2008) and it was pretty good. Nice cocktails to start (although £11 for a gin and tonic is bloody expensive, the waitress did spill a tiny amount of my gin martini and immediately brought me a second one on the house), the starters were tasty especially the fried squid and the fishcakes, and the mains were a good size and well prepared, the burger is so big it comes on it's own plank of wood!

See my photos for more evidence