Tucked along the Ridgway in Wimbledon Village, MasterChef winner Alex Webb has opened Orion. As you walk in, the room is immediately calming – cool tones, clean lines and tables laid with quiet precision.
We were instantly greeted by the lovely host and manager, Alice. We were swiftly brought a glass of Champagne and tuna tartare served in a prawn cracker – absolute heaven. I thought this first dish mirrored the atmosphere and the décor: sophisticated but not overly fussy or complicated.
Our waiter, Thomas, ran us through the specials of the day: fresh Dover sole, tuna steaks and sea bass. We opted to order from the main menu, as the options were simply too mouth-watering to turn down.
First, the starters. I had the seabass crudo, possibly my favourite dish of the evening. The presentation was spectacular. Alex is clearly a perfectionist. Everything is done with such pride and precision, and it pays off. The sea bass was light and finely sliced, with the perfect balance of flavours, the salt from the fish balanced by the lemon, while the buttermilk dressing drizzled in onion oil was the touch that elevated the whole dish.
We then tried the lobster and prawn toast, Alex’s spin on the classic Cantonese fan favourite. Seriously good.
L-R: Sea bass crudo, citrus, avocado purée, red pepper, buttermilk dressing and onion oil; Alex’s signature lobster & prawn toast, black sesame, lime and chilli & carrot purée; Black cod fillet, burnt onion purée, pickled shallots, seaweed powder, potato and roasted chicken butter sauce.
Fish is what they do best, and it shows. The black cod fillet was extraordinarily delicate – the kind of dish that barely needs anything. And yet the rich chicken butter jus it came with somehow worked and made it even better.
The desserts are off the scale. A deep, rich chocolate mousse served table-side was the star of the show. This somewhat trendy dessert of recent years is here taken to new heights by the way it is presented. Thomas served it in a meticulous, step-by-step way, pouring over olive oil and finishing with flaky sea salt.
We also tried the rhubarb dessert, which even comes with a little card explaining the backstory. The rhubarb is actually grown underground by tealight. Such a nice touch!
Overall, Alex’s menu is thoughtful and quite experimental, while still being a testament to the British and French classics we all know and love. The atmosphere feels like a breath of fresh air. Orion is exactly what the locals of Wimbledon Village have been missing. But even if you aren’t local, it’s worth the journey up the winding hills to the village to try Alex’s wonderful food.
Orion by Alex Webb
75-77 Ridgway, London SW19 4ST
Book your table, HERE.
Author: Jade Maraviglia
Other fine dining restaurants in London recently reviewed by I-M Inquisitive Minds include Coq d’Argent, Nora Canary Wharf and Cé La Vie London.
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