Where to Eat When Campaigning in Richmond Park

Sustenance for before, during, and after canvassing in the south-west London constituency

by Emma Hughes Nov 27, 2019, 4:32pm GMT

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by Emma Hughes Nov 27, 2019, 4:32pm GMT

Ole & Steen [Official]

The most marginal of London marginals — current Tory MP Zac Goldsmith has a majority of just 45. Forty. Five. Get pounding those pavements, canvassers. As a constituency Richmond Park itself stretches all the way from Hammersmith and Chiswick in the north to New Malden in the south, which makes for a broad (and delicious) range of refuelling options.

Antipodea Kew

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Golden chorizo-folded eggs, fluffy syrup-soaked blueberry pancakes, poached Burford Browns with hung chilli yoghurt and toasted pide, and a crisp stack of sweetcorn fritters with tomato jam, aioli and bacon: this all-day Australian brasserie does brunch brilliantly.

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9 Station Approach, London TW9 3QB, UK

020 8940 6532

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Pizzeria Rustica

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Every Richmonder knows this place, for good reason: it’s buzzy and fairly priced, and serves enormous, perfectly cooked pies. The Devil’s Workshop (salami, three chillies, Pugliese tomatoes and Fiore di Latte) will put a spring in your step, while the Piggy does what it says on the tin/menu. Decent negronis, too, for toasting a successful day’s door-knocking.

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32 The Quadrant, Richmond TW9 1DN, UK

020 8332 6262

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Beirut Street Kitchen

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This Tardis-like flatbread specialist cooks them to order in its oven, turning them into substantial and heartily delicious Lebanese wraps: a falafel or kofta one, tangy with pickles and overflowing with sauces, salads and extras, makes for perfect campaigning fuel. Manakish, Lebanese pizzas, are another winner. Buy some baklava for later.

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7 George St, Richmond TW9 1HU, UK

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The Best Places to Eat in and Around London’s Parks

Danieli On The Green

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Zone 3 is home to one of London’s best-loved gelato specialists, and whatever the forecast, it’s never too cold for a couple of scoops on the campaign trail. Richmond legend Danieli’s parlour on the Green is a Wonka-esque paradise, serving up every flavour imaginable, from pistachio and amaretto to ricotta-pear and marzipan with chocolate.

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13 The Green, Richmond TW9 1PX, UK

020 8439 9111

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Ole & Steen

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Anyone for a cinnamon swirl? The Richmond outpost of the Scandi bakery chain has it all: lavishly topped open sandwiches, densely squidgy brownies, rye rolls, buns in abundance and whopping panini for toasting. Good coffee, too.

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59 George St, Richmond TW9 1HE, UK

020 3908 8222

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Chango

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Chango’s handmade, oven-baked and impressively well-stuffed empanadas are portable (and available at one or two markets around south-west London), but for a mid-canvassing rest, head here. Order beef or spicy chicken with salsa criolla for dunking, but save space for alfajores de maizena: cornflout biscuits stuffed with dulce de leche and coconut.

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3 Paved Ct, Richmond TW9 1LZ, UK

020 8605 3559

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Matsuba

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Off the main drag, Matsuba makes for an elegant lunchtime option. Alongside bento boxes, tempura, nigri and sushi sets (the Spider Roll with soft-shell crab is especially excellent), the Korean-run restaurant offers substantial rice-based dishes like beef bulgogi and bibimbap.

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10 Red Lion St, Richmond TW9 1RW, UK

020 8605 3513

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Petersham Nurseries

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Up there with the best cafes in London, this one. Before or after a day ringing doorbells or stuffing letterboxes, the aspirational-bucolic surrounds of the original Petersham Nurseries are the perfect place to enjoy some seasonal Italian food, revelling in a menu of bountiful produce and virtuous sourcing.

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Petersham Nurseries, Richmond TW10 7AQ, UK

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Imone

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This is, accoding to many, the best Korean restaurant in New Malden, and the best dishes on the menu are fish based. Saengsun jjim is a showstopper, a whole whiting in a deeply savoury, spicy sauce, leavened by herbaceous and bitter chrysanthemum greens, while maeungtang has a cleanness and restraint that the very best Korean broths have, backed by a dry anchovy kick and more pearlescent fish.