Rose and Crown, Clapham – Restaurant Review

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Rose and Crown, Clapham – Restaurant Review

The Rose and Crown Clapham was established in 1870, located on the Polygon (Clapham Old Town) just a 5-minute walk from Clapham Common station.

On this day we were treated to sunshine and the common was full of locals on their leisurely Sunday strolls nailing the casual-chic coat and shades look. Several brunch spots along the walk had outdoor seating with a buzz of small crowds spilling onto pavements and a strong neighbourhood feel.

Table of Contents

Sunday Roast – Rose & Crown

We weren’t the only ones early for the Sunday Roast at the Rose and Crown. A superb combination of classic British pub architecture and contemporary refined aesthetic owing to designer Gabriel Bernadi’s restoration.

With an ‘elevated’ British seasonal cuisine, you can expect typical pub fare with some unexpected surprises along the way.

Yolandi Schwartz and Shandre Swart also produced a Sunday Roast using British rump, free-range chicken and wrapped belly pork with all the fixings (yes that includes yorkies, roasties, braised red cabbage, honey glazed carrots, and glorious gravy).

It was our goal to find out whether there were any options for vegetarians and pescatarians.

Sunday Roast

Drinks at Rose and Crown

In the end, I decided on an Oat Milk Chai Latte, which had a nice amount of froth on top, and then a Camomile and Cucumber Spritzer. Both were delicious.

Starting with smoked potato, glazed fig, and pickled sultana. The golden rectangle-shaped hash brown with a crispy fig and sultana crust. The sauce suited the gently smoked cauliflower.

Drinks

The Menu at Rose and Crown

Beginning with fish tacos with pineapple salsa and avocado purée. The finely chopped salsa and the drizzled sauce lend sweetness and spice to the light fish taste.

Despite the taco’s mushy feel and crumbly look (made with squid/cuttlefish ink or Peruvian black corn), I appreciated the contrast of the vibrant colors against the grey/black tortilla (not too far from Clapham).

The chef’s special: herb and potato gnocchi with caramelised cauliflower purée and garlic crisp. They were matched with crunchy textures like broccoli and fried garlic in this multi-layer meal.

With fresh potatoes and delicate stem broccoli, I chose market fish (cod). With the hollandaise sauce, the lightly seasoned fish was well matched. And the broccoli was fresh and vibrant.

Dessert at Rose and Crown

Dessert time! To expose the silky cool vanilla custard foundation under the caramelised top, we had a blast tapping (maybe smashing). Two shortbread biscuits are also included.

White chocolate mousse, coconut, and rum-soaked mango made up my dessert of choice. Moist and full of flavorful meringues, the mousse was matched with the coconut-covered parfait. My favorites were the rum-soaked mango slices (which resembled peach cans) and the little chunks of caramel.

Dessert

Expert Conclusion:

Overall, I loved the seasonal freshness of the menu, spring is certainly on the way. The menu brings a joyful playfulness to the traditional pub lunch with an interesting variety of colours, textures, and flavours.

In addition to being a beloved local institution, the Rose and Crown, Clapham serve up classic British comfort cuisine with a modern twist. I was impressed to discover that they are run by a female-led team and are family-owned and operated as well.

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Private Dining Room