The Waterman's Arms

The Waterman’s Arms does the best Sunday roast we’ve ever had—and yes, we’re including our mum’s in that. The lamb shoulder is the sharing roast to go for here. It’s a feast-like centrepiece of tender, perfectly cooked meat, best eaten between alternating bites of crispy roast potatoes and braised, garlicky greens. This riverside pub sits on a pretty, leafy corner of Barnes, overlooking the river, and inside it’s all wood panelling and happy families ordering black velvets, before the inevitable fight over the last roast potato breaks out. Come evening, curried scallops are split between couples looking for something a little more special than the sausage rolls at their local. But despite the candles and chalkboard menu, big groups sharing bigger pork collars keep things feeling fun and loud rather than serious and sentimental.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Lamb Shoulder, Mint Sauce

This is the kind of meaty Sunday roast centrepiece that’s usually reserved for victorious Viking battles. But it’s not just a showstopper in looks—although that herby, tangy mint sauce has an enticing emerald shine. The meat has a crispy crust but is still soft and juicy.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Roast Potatoes

Perfect roast potatoes should have burnished, craggy bits that have slightly caught and gone deep brown and crunchy. But the insides should be soft and smooth. These are all of the above and more—plus they come in a fancy silver dish.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Carrots, Tarragon Mayo

We didn’t know that carrots needed a dip before—aside from the odd hummus sidekick—but now we do. These caramelised batons are buttery and sweet, and come with a mint and tarragon mayo that makes them so much more decadent than your average vegetable side.

photo credit: Sinéad Cranna

Sprouting Broccoli, Gorgonzola, Aged Malt Vinegar

Like your best mates who you love individually but never saw working as a couple, this dish blindsided us with how well it pairs together. The crunchy tempura broccoli with the vinegar is like a very fancy (healthy) chippy tea. And the buttery, tangy gorgonzola gives every bite a rich, creamy finish.

video credit: Sinéad Cranna

Toulouse Sausage, Pink Fir, Gribiche

Potatoes, meet butter. Sausages, meet wine. We think they’re going to get along just great. This match was always going to be tasty, but the addition of caper-heavy gribiche is a nice foil for all the other fatty ingredients on the plate. This isn’t a ‘wow’ dish, but it is one we want to snuggle up with, preferably under a weighted blanket.

photo credit: Sinéad Cranna

Pork Collar, Pig Skin Ragu

Put it on a t-shirt—we heart pig skin ragu. It’s a loose sauce but so rich and slightly sweet and meaty. We got mad whenever anyone else swiped their pork through it. The pork is also full of flavour and has a nice balance of fatty, chewy edges and tender meat. It’s one of the best pork dishes we’ve had.