Tom Ilic
our review
Driving around Clapham Common on my way here I’m amazed at the number of joggers that are out. They outnumber pedestrians about three to one and are pounding along with a look of pained contentment and sanctity on their faces. These young people are choosing to spend a large part of their lives looking for immortality by running to an early grave and eating cereals. It’s a thought to ponder when you’re about to eat a lot of pig.
Ilic was chef at Addendum, a large room that was rarely filled, despite glowing and well-deserved reviews of his cooking. When I went there, much as I liked the food I was screaming out for some vegetables half way through, the relentless march of pork products had me wobbling home suffering from scurvy. Now he has his own place and knowing that he has to fill seats to make money, as no one is paying him a salary, has evolved his menu.
Inside the place still has the dodgy décor of the previous incumbent, including a giant mirror at one end. Because the tables are set at an angle instead of looking at my partner’s face all I can see is myself in giant reflection and it’s not pretty. What I can also see is a restaurant packed with people enjoying themselves. Not bad for a Thursday night.
The menu cover features Tom Ilic’s signature, a pig and, bizarrely, a TM symbol after his name. Does he intend to open a chain? Inside the menu is nice and short and has fish and vegetarian options for those too poncy to eat meat. Not me, I spy sweetbreads on an oxtail raviolo on offer and that’s just what I fancy. It’s elegantly plated so that the chewy, well-flavoured and well-cooked sweetbreads are on top of the raviolo and covered by a tidy pile of chopped peppers and capers. Underneath it all is a creamy puree of apple and parsnip which is a little under -flavoured so that I almost mistook it for simple potato. An excellent dish nonetheless. Across the table, seared mackerel with a horseradish soufflé, pickled beetroot and watercress salad is raved over. ‘Fantastic fish and the horseradish cuts the oiliness really well’.
Seared scallops with honey roast pork belly, Jerusalem artichokes and hazelnuts is classic Ilic. The pork a generous twirl, and not the puny cubes so many restaurants serve up, and rich in flavour. The scallops are perfectly cooked inside; I would have liked a bit more searing on the outside but this is a minor quibble. A small piece of sprouting broccoli, or maybe Cimi de Rapa, adds crunch to the dish which is just as well as I don’t really notice any hazelnuts. Also impressive is the breast and confit of Mallard. The bird perfectly cooked, as in pink, and the creamed Savoy cabbage a luxury mouthful. We share a bowl of broccoli, simply cooked so that the heads are melted and the stems al dente.
Desserts of Pear tarte tatin and a glazed lemon tart with berry compote don’t let the side down and neither does the last of the wine chosen from a list that has good choice below £20. On the way out I see Tom buzzing about his kitchen with the glow of a man who not only has his own restaurant but one that’s also full. He looks very happy and so are we. Recommended.
Nick Harman - January 2008
your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne
Truly excellent starters and mains. Very average puddings. Decor and lavatories poor. Lovely staff. Good wine. Prices fantastic. Easy to hail a cab outside. I couldn't possibly put it more frankly.
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NGJ
Overall rating 
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Food is fantastic - rich flavours, but not so much (or such big portions) that you walk away stuffed
Service is efficient and fairly friendly but not uber-slick (personal preference is for this over being too conscientious)
Atmosphere is of a buzzy bistro
Toilet could do with a lot more attention - I don't mind this place not being dead fancy but they could spend a bit more here!
Price - v.g. for the quality of the food - mains are around £15 and well worth it
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Earlsfield Eater - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, October 20, 2008
what a result. best food in london for a very very little price - keep it up tom!
the service was so good. our waiter, a young french man by the name of miloud, was equal to the quality of the food that was served to us. the lamb plate was out of this world
will be back soon to try the rest of the menu
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leppibora - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
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
