The Swan — Restaurant in London

An absolute gem hidden away in mainstream Chiswick. While I've only stepped in once to catch-up with a colleague who lives and works locally one evening, I'm really glad I discovered this place despite being tucked away from the high roads and not being as easy to reach as I had thought. In the end, completely worth it!

So where do we start? First, the atmosphere and location. It feels very cosy, in a quiet and discreet location that radiates a very casual vibe which is in stark contrast to what you may expect from a textbook-like typical gastropub in London where most suited-up individuals relieve themselves to a few drinks after being stuck in the office all day. There's a nice outdoor area too for those lovely summers. Secondly, the food is fantastic. I never just go for a quick pint or two as it's important not to neglect what the chef can be capable of too and in this case, the Moroccan lamb and Swan Burger were both beautifully cooked promptly, in generous portions and tasted very delicious and fresh. Lastly, the price is just about right but albeit slightly higher than the neighbouring pubs within a mile from here but for the reasons above, I don't feel right to put that as a sour taste towards my single experience with The Swan.

5/5 and looking forward to dropping by again in the...

Wow - this is top restaurant quality food at pub prices. Wanted to wait till I had been twice (post lockdown) before I reviewed and both times have been fantastic.

Firstly they’re very vigilant regarding COVID preparation and rules. Everything is explained before you walk in the door. You feel safe while you’re there yet they’ve still managed to maintain the bustling atmosphere of a good and busy pub.

The food is next level. As someone who doesn’t even consider a salad real food, their Caesar Salad with grilled chicken is the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Fresh cos lettuce dressed perfectly, and the crumbled croutons, Parmesan and anchovies are kind of part of each leaf (hard to explain) which makes it easier to eat rather than trying to force your fork through a massive crouton which then shoots out at a nearby table. Risotto was perfectly cooked, and the flavours really well thought through. Ribeye was melt in your mouth with super crispy chips. Also worth a mention is the penne with Italian sausage ragu....I could just eat that forever.

They’ve updated their wine list and now have far better value options than before.

Cannot rate this place highly enough...it will definitely be...

I went to this pub after being recommended by a friend. It looked wonderful, but after stepping foot inside, i immediately felt unwelcome by the staff. First of all, they told me I must wear a mask to walk 2 meters to my table. Not only was this ridiculous based upon the fact that covid is essentially over, and this was a totally irrational policy, but the table was literally 2m away, so it was embarrassing and despite having no illness whatsoever I was being treated like a biohazard rather than a customer. Then, after sitting down, I was expected to provide my personal information for track and trace, which I refused to do on the basis that I am not living in Soviet Russia.

All in all, I felt not like a valued customer, but rather a liability and biohazard. This is not what I want to feel when I go and spend my hard earned money to have a pleasant drink with close friends.

Start respecting and appreciating your customers and the fact that we keep your business running and are the lifeblood of your business and employees, or be prepared to lose money to other businesses that treat their customers like valued individuals. Entirely up to you....