Grim’s Dyke is a manor house which boasts a large estate and varied woodland. The house is located in Harrow Weald, in Northwest London, England.
The house built from 1870 to 1872 by the architect Richard Norman Shaw.
The most famous resident was W.S. Gilbert, who partnered Sir Arthur Sullivan to create a series of comic operas to delight Victorian society. Their works included H.M.S. Pinafore and The Mikado. Due to the partnership’s association with the Savoy theater (and its adjacent hotel) these became known as “the Savoy operas.”
The manor house has been used for several film and television productions. In 2014 Digital Journal covered the history of the building and revealed the interesting aspects of its eclectic interiors.
A very good restaurant is located at Grim’s Dyke (the appropriately named Gilbert’s Restaurant.) The food is largely British, with some other European influences.
The best way to start any meal is with a glass of wine. Grim’s Dyke boasts an extensive wine menu. In this case, the roving reporter and his wife plumped for a glass of champagne.
The menu is selected by the head chef, Daren Mason. For starters, we selected Goat’s Cheese in filo pastry, with pear and hazelnut. This was prepared very well, with the flaky pastry complementing the soft cheese in a series of mouthwatering bites.
Someone nearby had some pâté, which was also well presented.
The food was won several AA Rosettes (a restaurant recognition program in the U.K.)
For main course, my wife selected a fillet steak (8oz) which came with fat cut chips, onion rings, grilled tomato, mushroom and a side serving of seasonal vegetables. The chips, as the photo illustrates, very very large.
I selected the vegetarian option. This was a delicious wild mushroom pie, with a selection of fresh country vegetables. The vegetables were cooked al dente and infused with butter and herbs.
Deserts were selected by Patisserie Chef William Girouard. For dessert, why wife opted for chocolate brownie with hot cherries and pistachio ice cream, whereas I selected a sharp and tasty lemon tart.
A person nearby had picked a more unusual rum baba. This was small yeast cake saturated in rum with a liberal splashing of cream on top.
Gilbert’s Restaurant at Grim’s Dyke is a great venue for lunch or dinner, especially if you are seeking a leisurely experience with good food. Main courses range from £10 to £15 ($15 to $21), and there is a special two course set lunch menu of £13 ($19). The rating is 4 out of 5.