Restaurant Michael Nadra

We dined here on the suggestion of a friend who is a local. We made reservations (most likely a must as it’s a small restaurant) and were seated immediately. The restaurant is nicely decorated, and comfortable (ie not a stuffy restaurant).
The menu was a prix fixe style with two options, either a three course traditional style dinner or a six course «tasting menu,» all of us at the table chose the three course and chose different items. All of the dishes were excellent, and the presentation was very nice.
I chose a starter of scallop and smoked mackerel which was very tasty. My main was the steak and braised (ox) cheek which was cooked and prepared perfectly.
Other choices at the table were a vegetarian dish, and a pasta dish with grilled cheese which pleased a very particular diner.
We had a very pleasant dinner, and the service was good and fairly prompt. I would feel very good about recommending this restaurant to a friend!

The food is unquestionably a 5 of 5. Everything from beginning to end was delicious and exquisitely presented — the foie gras in particular was outstanding. The service was barely adequate for most of the meal — we were seated for 45 minutes before we got our drinks and it became one of those situations where we were having to flag the server to move the meal along — can we order, it’s been 30 minutes since we ordered is our food coming, our food is great but this side dish was forgotten, can we order more drinks, can you bring back the wine list, can you pour more wine, etc. We are an easygoing group and the food is phenomenal but really disappointed in the service, especially with these prices. Probably give it another shot on the hope that the poor service was an anomaly.

Dinner at Michael Nadra’s eponymous restaurant in Chiswick was an interesting glimpse into the past. His, as well as mine. This restaurant used to be called Fish Hook (Fish Hoek even before that) with the same cast of characters (and most of the same artwork) when I lived in Chiswick. It used to always be a great experience with wonderful food and an exceptional value for fine dining. But over the past couple of years I moved overseas and Michael Nadra changed concepts.
Looking at their website had us more than excited to return and sample the change. In particular we were excited to enjoy the Game Tasting Menu (what a perfect autumn choice, I thought). One immediate disappointment — no wine pairing with the tasting menu. («You can order whatever you want from the wine list» — was the answer when inquired.)
We also received a fast reminder of the one issue that always hindered this restaurant — service. The people are friendly and offer a genuine attempt at hospitality. However, they seem to lack the knack needed to provide a true fine dining experience.
Examples include not offering a drink while reading the menu, serving the food before the wine was delivered, poor timing on dishes (some rushed to table while others had long waits, not explaining what the dishes served were, etc.).
Overall, the service would be great at a small mom & pop restaurant or at your local pub as they are truly nice and genuine. But it falls short of the upscale dining experience that the food normally seems aimed at.
Now the food — I want to say something wonderful as this used to be one of our favorite restaurants. But I can’t. The food was okay with some items that impressed (Trio of venison — roasted saddle, goulash of shank and sausage roll) and some that disappointed (Roast grouse). I found it odd that both these dishes came with cabbage (one with Savoy and one with red) and a purée of some sort (one with parsnip and the other with potato). It suggests poor menu planning to me. Overall, our meal was good but not spectacular. Perhaps our expectations were simply too high but we left less than impressed.
I would recommend that if you are in the Chiswick area you try Michael Nadra’s restaurant. However, based on tonight, I probably would not recommend traveling very far for it.
Still, I wish all the best for him. He is, in my opinion, one of the most promising of London’s aspiring chefs at the moment.

Fish Hook is an intimate fish restaurant located in a quiet side road, just off King Street in Chiswick. The address listed on Unilocal is correct but at the moment, its position on the Unilocal Google map is incorrect, placing it somewhere in north London.
Starting off as a South African owned and run restaurant Fish Hoek, it changed its name slightly a couple of years ago and in its new guise, has been garnering rave reviews from such diverse publications from the Michelin Guide to Time Out.
As its name suggest, the restaurant and its chef Michael Nadra tend towards the sea for their primary ingredient though there are a couple of meat dishes on the menu for unconvertable carnivores. However, they would be missing out on some great combinations and precise cooking of seafood. Cooking influences range from France for an excellent full depth of flavour soupe de poisson to Japanese light tempura battered soft shell crab. You will find every class of seafood represented on the menu, from humble grilled sardines to no-​expense-​spared lobster with foie gras and black truffle potatoes.
A great fish restaurant. If you like fish, you’ll be hooked!

Formally Fish Hoek and now under new ownership fish Hook is a wonderful experience and if you enjoy fish and are going to Chiswick anytime soon — then check this place out — Fantastic and excellent are words that reflect this restaurant. Michael Nadra is the owner /​chef and he comes with a well respected c.v. They do a great value for money lunchtime menu so have a look on the website for further details. A varied and exciting menu brings in fish from all areas of the world and I don’t think anyone would be disappointed with the choice. It is also nice to see that they have meat dishes which cater for the non fish eating amounst us and a good selection of deserts if you leave enough space. Typical Chiswick prices with a starter at circa £8 and a main at £16 — Lunchtime specials include 2 courses for £10 — a bargain !!