Wimbledon Village has embraced a much awaited new fine-dining restaurant Orion, the creation of Chef Alex Webb, winner of the Masterchef The Professionals in 2020. PA Life was invited to savour the flavours from their spring menu…
Orion opened its doors in October last year in this leafy SW London enclave and has fast become a must-visit for fans of seafood, but you don’t need to love fish to enjoy a great meal here. The restaurant is located a short stroll from the Village high street, on Ridgway, and a comfortable walking distance from the Old England Lawn Tennis Club too.
PA Life dined at Orion in Wimbledon Village
We arrived for a 6:30pm seating on a Thursday to find the restaurant near filled to the last table by 7:30. Apart from the friendly welcome by the maître d’, the first thing we noticed was the impressive display of fresh seafood. As fish and seafood lovers we had come to the right place.
Our lovely server Thomas was quick to take our order for an aperitif and to bring us glasses of well chilled Lanson Black Reserve – also the official champagne at Wimbledon Tennis. The tuna tartare on a prawn cracker, seasoned with lime & coriander was a perfect match to the champagne.
For starters, we ordered a whole-baked Orkney scallop with garlic butter and pickled shallot – wonderfully large and perfectly soft. We also went for seabass crudo served with citrus, avocado puree, red pepper curl, buttermilk dressing and onion oil – very fresh and a perfect appetiser.
For our main course we chose from the fish-of-the-day menu, sharing a whole seabass that was cooked with aromatic Asian flavours, with a hint of chilli for warmth. It was absolutely delicious and looked very impressive on a large serving plate. The sides of charred baby gem with Caesar dressing, sourdough & bacon crumb, and Alex’s signature slow-cooked butter thyme potatoes with Parmesan were wonderful too.
The wine list matches the exceptional food as you’d expect. We enjoyed the 2023 Famille Lieubeau, Muscadet Sevre et Main Generations, which at £52 a bottle is pretty good value.
Just to add that the meat and vegetarian options on the menu were plenty and sounded amazing as well.
And then to puddings. When you dine well, there is always room for a little dessert to round the meal off perfectly. The Yorkshire forced rhubarb, vanilla creme patisserie, rhubarb compote & sorbet, beetroot tulie, brandy snap and Jasmine & rhubarb tea creation was simply sensational.
We also learned what that Yorkshire forced rhubarb is grown in candle light to give it a more mellow and sweeter taste.
Good to know: small plates start at £14, and large plates of fish dishes at £37. Our whole seabass for two was £70.
Where to dine well during the Wimbledon Championships?
Wimbledon Village is a real gem for visitors all year round, with a relaxed town-meet-country atmosphere despite being in London, and easily accessible even by tube. The Village is buzzing during the tennis fortnight as you’d expect, and the high street changes to a festival, with Pimm’s and tennis inspired dishes on every menu. The shops and restaurants also compete for the best dressed tennis window accolade each year. There are plenty of chain restaurants, pubs and also a few much loved independent restaurants to visit, but when it comes to fine French inspired seafood-led cuisine, none quite match what Orion has created.
As an EA or PA, if you are looking for a great option for your execs outside of the busy tennis crowd, or need to impress clients after a day at tennis, then keep an eye on a special Wimbledon menu on the Orion website soon. The restaurant will also open their wide patio doors at the front to serve oysters and strawberries and cream. And if you can stop for a bite, you can take a picnic hamper with you to tennis – made in collaboration with Lanson. All matches will also be shown in the restaurant on a giant screen.
Remember to book in good time to avoid disappointment.
