Watermans Arms

The Watermans Arms in Brentford is located just off the river in Brentford. It is a small, old-fashioned boozer that caters to locals, but has an unusual twist. The landlord and chef Gordon Fry is married to a Japanese lady and has lived in Japan. The menu naturally enough features standard fare like fish and chips and pies, but also a few special items of Japanese izakaya (pub) food like noodles and curries. There is even a Japanese tasting menu that can be tried provided you order it in advance.

Yakisoba noodles were accurately cooked and had good texture, the stir-fried vegetables and noodles tossed with sake and soy sauce and also with ginger and spring onions. The ginger nicely enlivened the noodles (13/20). Katsu don was pork escalope that had been breaded and deep-fried, cooked with onions and egg and a mirin and soy sauce, and served on a bed of rice. This was simple but enjoyable, the slight sweetness of the mirin working well with the pork (12/20).

Service was fine, and the bill came to £24 a head for two courses each and plenty of beer to drink. This is very good value for enjoyable, hearty, izakaya style food. The Watermans Arms is a fairly basic place, but it has a chef with ability and a sense of hospitality. I am very fond of the place, which is the antithesis of a corporate-designed chain pub.

Further reviews: 11th Apr 2016 | 23rd Dec 2015 | 09th Oct 2014 | 29th May 2014