The Red Vine Clapham: A cosy restaurant with a rustic feel

The Red Vine in Clapham opened its doors in July 2023, just a stone's throw from Clapham Common tube station, with links to central London via the Northern Line.

Offering cosy interiors with a wood burner, rustic décor, church pew seating and a heated outdoor conservatory area, the Red Vine has a lot to offer whether you are looking for after-work cocktails or a full meal.

The Red Vine in Clapham is a cosy, dog-friendly restaurant. (Image: Emily Davison)

The restaurant serves modern British cuisine with a Mediterranean twist, which changes seasonally and is created using local ingredients by owner Richard Herbert and Head Chef Julio Amado.

The focus on the drink side of the business is emphasised around wine alongside a menu of crafted cocktails, with many made using brandy, along with wines sourced from their own vineyards in Wales near the River Severn.

The focus on the drink side of the business is emphasised around wine alongside a menu of crafted cocktails. (Image: Emily Davison)

I was invited to visit the restaurant along with my dad and my dog Rosie, if there’s one thing I love it's a restaurant that welcomes dogs.

The restaurant has a real cosy, rustic feel with stained glass windows, pictures and a log burner that was crackling as we first walked in.

The restaurant has a real cosy, rustic feel (Image: Emily Davison)

To start we ordered some cocktails, the restaurant had a good selection on offer from classics to their own handcrafted ones using botanical ingredients, with names like “Cherry Bakewell” and “Welsh Countryside.”

I went for the Cherry Bakewell, a play on the popular sweet treat made with whipped cream, amaretto and cherry, whilst my dad went for the Vanilla Kiss made with Baileys, vanilla vodka coconut cream and brandy.

The Cherry Bakewell cocktail was a play on the popular sweet treat, made with whipped cream, amaretto and cherry. (Image: Emily Davison)

Cocktails start from £12 with special 2-for-1 offers available during certain times if you fancy more than one.

To start we got some small plates to share which included the ham hock and cheddar croquettes served with mayo and Dijon mustard, along with the pan-fried scallops and Spanish chorizo served on a green pea puree.

To start we got some small plates to share including ham hock and cheddar croquettes and pan-fried scallops. (Image: Emily Davison)

I really enjoyed the crunchiness of the croquettes along with the rich melted cheese and thick pieces of ham, and the scallops worked well against the smoky flavour of the chorizo.

For mains, I went for the pan-fried salmon with coconut rice and mango salsa, and my dad opted for the slow-cooked ox cheeks served with mash and beef roux.

For mains we went for the slow-cooked ox cheeks and pan-fried salmon. (Image: Emily Davison)

My dish had a zesty and sweet mix of flavours with the coconut rice and the mango salsa, which worked so well against the salmon, and it made for a really satisfying meal.

The ox cheeks were also good with a soft beef-like texture and the richness from the sauce.

The pan-fried salmon with coconut rice and mango salsa had a zesty and sweet mix of flavours (Image: Emily Davison)

Finally, by this point we were both very full but decided to share a dessert, which was the plum and almond tarte, and it was delicious with the sweetness from the almonds and pieces of plum layered on top.

The plum and almond tarte for dessert was delicious with sweetness. (Image: Emily Davison)

If you’re looking for a restaurant offering homely vibes and that personal touch along with a seasonally changing menu, Red Vine is a place to visit the next time you’re in Clapham.