After reading about, and salivating over the photos of, the Sichuan Restaurant in Acton on the great blog, Tamarind and Thyme, I made it my mission one Friday night to go and try it. It is a little tricky to get to, I would suggest getting the tube to Acton Central (Picadilly Line) and walking (10 minutes).
Service was warm and friendly but I was surprised to only see one other table with diners on (cue a sense of apprehension and dread). After being seated, I was comforted by the fact there were two menus, one with "SiChuan Style Dishes" and another thick book which looked like it was more a mix of Cantonese and the usual Chinese food fare. The waitress seemed confused that I wanted to order off the Sichuan menu and ignore the other one, but I was here for Sichuan food and stuck to my guns.
We pigged out and started with "Sweat and Sour Eggplant Dragon (£9.80)". Wow. This is a whole aubergine, with slits in the top like a hassleback potato, deep fried and served in a sticky, rich sweet and sour sauce with minced pork and spring onion. This is not the luminous orange stuff you get in naff Chinese takeaways all around the country, but a perfect balance of pungent vinegar, chili heat and sticky, unctuous sweetness. Amazing. [we agreed we would only eat half of this dish since it is so bad for you. We ended up eating it all...] (sorry about this photo, take a look at this to really appreciate it, link)
"Corn with Salted Egg Yolk (£6.80)" - crispy, fried, salty, tasty. I was surprised at how good this dish was. Different and delicious, get it.
"Spicey Three Pepper with Fish (£12.80)" -Subtle and tasty, I was glad they used a stronger tasting oily fish here, although I would have liked a bit more heat.
"Steamed Meat and Vegetable Dumplings (£6.80)" - served with black vinegar. Very fresh, full of porky flavour, a good dumpling. Just a touch under those at Bar Shan (which are amazing with the spicey sauce) due to being a bit salty.
"Dan Dan Noodles (£5.80)" - a Sichuan staple. Lip tingingly zingy with Sichuan pepper, sesame paste/oil, fresh noodles, topped with the usual minced pork and spring onions. Delicious.
There was so much more on the menu that I wanted to eat and I will definitely be back (Beijing noodles, which remind me of a trip to Beijing back in 2008, spicey and sour potato threadlike, heart of cabbage with shrimp, crab fried with egg yolk, chili fried lamb etc etc). The menu is great.
One of key things to note, according to my gf, is that their tea uses filtered water. You can apparently tell due to the lack of a ring of scum which you can sometimes get forming around the top edge of the cup. I am told this is the mark of a good, cleanly Chinese restaurant.
I absolutely loved this place. It is a bit of hike outside of central London, but good things are worth traveling for. Our bill came to about £52, but easily could have fed four people. I had to be rolled back home after. This place is very good value for money. Go here if you want a truly authentic Sichuanese feast (and who doesn't want that?).
Monster Munch Rating: 91%Sichuan Restaurant
116 Churchfield Road
Acton
London
W3 6BY
0208 992 9473
