Two years in, Mignonette is settling nicely into Richmond life
Every neighbourhood needs a restaurant like Mignonette. Somewhere you can drop into for a good lunch, settle in for a proper dinner or gather friends around the table for a celebration. Somewhere with personality, a warm welcome and prices that make returning a realistic prospect.
Two years after opening on Richmond’s Kew Road, this intimate French bistro has plenty to celebrate. It joined the Michelin Guide within three months of opening in September 2024, with a Bib Gourmand following shortly afterwards. But while the recognition is welcome, it’s the combination of accomplished cooking, generous hospitality and good value that gives people a reason to come back.
Behind it is John McClements, whose previous restaurants include the much-loved Ma Cuisine bistros and Michelin-starred McClements in Twickenham. Retirement, it seems, couldn’t quite compete with the pull of restaurant life. Mignonette brought him back to the kind of cooking and hospitality he has always loved, working alongside his son James and co-founder Glen Toromeni, who has cooked with John for more than 15 years.
That long-standing relationship helps explain the restaurant’s personal feel. With just 30 covers, dark wood and leather banquettes, Mignonette has the intimacy of a classic French neighbourhood bistro, while the menu gives familiar ideas a fresh twist.
Take the seared Orkney scallop, served with kumquat, miso celeriac purée, maple bacon and sake beurre blanc. Or saddle of venison with beetroot chocolate mole, marinated pine cones (yes, really!), red cabbage and game jus. These are dishes with plenty going on, rooted in French technique but happy to look further afield for inspiration.
Seasonality guides the kitchen, supported by suppliers including MW Capture for wild seafood, Sutton Hoo Farm and HG Walter for meat, and Le Guélier for game. Fruit and vegetables come from across the Home Counties and beyond, with the menu changing to make the most of what’s available.
Two courses for £23 or three for £25
Then there’s the set lunch, (resulting in a buzzy room every day) which deserves a mention of its own: two courses for £23 or three for £25, including homemade sourdough. Is there a better reason to make time for lunch, whether that means catching up with a friend or turning an ordinary weekday into something a little more enjoyable.
For dinner, à la carte starters begin at £12.50, mains at £22 and desserts at £9. And it would be a shame to rush off before the final course when the options include burnt blood orange Basque cheesecake and Baba au Grand Marnier.
The wine list offers plenty to explore, too. French wines start at £30 a bottle, with half bottles available and wines by the glass from £10. Crémant de Bourgogne, from £45, provides a tempting excuse to begin with bubbles, while Champagne producers including Autréau-Lasnot, Guy de Forez and André Clouet sit alongside more familiar prestige names.
For larger gatherings, there’s a private dining room downstairs accommodating up to 35 guests, with no room hire charge or minimum spend. A useful address to have up your sleeve for birthdays, family get-togethers or a celebratory dinner with friends that is sure to impress.
Two years is still young in restaurant terms, but Mignonette already has the ingredients of a lasting neighbourhood favourite. There’s experience in the kitchen, thought behind the wine list and an understanding that good hospitality matters just as much as a good sauce.
The Michelin recognition might bring you through the door, but a three-course set lunch for £25, a welcoming room and the prospect of that Grand Marnier Baba give you plenty of reasons to return.
Mignonette, 109 Kew Road, Richmond, London TW9 2PN
@mignonettebistro | mignonettebistro.com | 020 8240 1215
