Fusion 381 opened in June 2022 and four of us were keen to try out the new restaurant in Hatch End in the converted premises of the old Natwest Bank. You see it and pass it on the corner near Tesco in Hatch End. Hatch End is a suburb of Pinner, on the Uxbridge Road in London. You have a choice of restaurants, several Italian, and other European.
What is Fusion 381? A fusion of styles, at number 381 on the Uxbridge Road. The menu on their website looked quite complicated and ambitious. However, when we sat down and looked at the menu it seemed much more straightforward.
We booked a table. That was good because they were busy on a Saturday night. The decor is dark and relaxing with tables round and square. The nice thing is the service. They rush to greet you when you step in through the door. They are happy to discuss your table and offer you alternative options. We had a baby and wanted room for the push chair.
The tables are quite close together which creates a warm atmosphere, yet, because of the echo, you don't hear anybody else's conversation. And your own is lost in the general buzz and pleasant faint popular song background music.
Starters
I'm allergic to shellfish so I passed on most of the starters and opted to share what the others had. With 8 pieces, we had enough for two each for the four adults. (The mother shared with her baby.)
The Californian rolls were a bit like sushi, with rice and what looked like dark green seaweed or vine leaves and stuffing and on top orange fish roe. The rice was very solid, but was eagerly eaten by all five of us including the one year old. The last thing I ate was the little green swirl, left on the corner of the long black dish, thinking the green was avocado or something subtle. No, it was wasabi - spicy hot, hot, hot!
The chicken wings with a choice of sauce were a success with everybody.
Main Courses
We chose four different main courses. My chicken with mushrooms was tasty.
The duck was even better. The saute potatoes were adequate, but not a generous size portion.
The vegetarian dish came with batons of orange coloured sweet potato which were enjoyed by our dieter, and me, and the baby. The person who ordered them said some of them were undercooked. I thought some of my baby asparagus was undercooked. Not so bad as to be remarked on or sent back when our server asked, 'Is everything all right?'
We chorused, 'Lovely. Great.'
The steak and chips was fine. Chips okay. Could have done with salt. No salt was on the table.
The steak was soft, succelent and tasty. But they could not supply mustard.
Our son hopped out and bought mustard from Tesco Express. He left it with the staff when we departed.
Toilets
The toilets are upstairs. The stairs are carpeted which makes them seem less steep.Quite delightful underfoot. The handrail on only one side is adequate, but annoying if you are right handed as you have to hold it with your left hand on the way down. I suppose it makes more room, as well as being cheaper to install only one.
The owner came over to talk to us. An older man with a greying beard, quietly spoken. I could hardly hear him against the background noise of jolly music and excited, happy chatter. He has extensive experience of running restaurants, at assorted locations in London, including Ruislip Manor.
Drinks
Cocktails were what a google reviewer called 'London prices'. Central London high prices. So I looked at the reasonably priced wine by the glass.
The barman is happy to discuss drinks with you. They had a small number of wines by the glass, but no Prosecco, nor anything sweet. I could have had a fruit juice, if that was available. I was offered the white wine to taste. It was okay, not too acidly dry, but didn't inspire me. Full marks to the restaurant for service.
I had a small sake, Japanese rice wine. I wanted a novelty.
A small glass. I had expected it to be on a saucer. It looked like a tall, narrow transparent little shot glass. Slightly disappointed at the sight. But pleased with the effect. I quickly felt jolly.
(I postponed the climb up and down the flight of stairs to the toilet. Do they have a ground floor toilet for the disabled? I should have asked. Other restaurants in Hatch End provide this if anybody in a wheelchair needs it. For example, B & K, and one of the Italian restaurants. Check if you need a ground floor toilet.)
My husband's red wine was quite drinkable.
Delightful Desserts
The printed menu differed from the website. Not the unusual dishes I had hoped for, not the Japanese dessert nor the coconut ice cream.
Only two of the desserts on the printed menu were available, no sorbets. We were not hungry, and one person objected that he didn't like sticky toffee pudding. I mentally conceded that you could have a chocolate brownie any time anywhere. But, out of curiosity, we opted for one portion of the chocolate brownie to share between four. The dessert was prettily presented with a stripe of red on top. It passed the taste test with full marks. It was lip-smacking good with a strong chocolate flavour and with the vanilla ice cream melting, quite a liquid mouthful.
Service
Our server was delightful and attentive. Chatty but not obtrusive. Fast and efficient and warm. She was by the door to say goodbye when we left.
They did not serve any coffees or hot drinks. You have an Italian coffee bar a few doors along, and an ice cream from an ice cream parlour, if you want to prolong your evening out. We did not need that.
A final plus for some diners. They can supply halal food.
Getting There
The Uxbridge Road runs east to west across north London, from the Stonegrove, Edgware area in the East, through to Hatch End, then past Pinner and on to Uxbridge.
The buses H12 and H14 stop at Hatch End station and in the middle of The Broadway, which is the wide but short High Street - you can walk one end to the other in 5 minutes.
Fusion 381
Hatch End
Pinner
HA5 4JP
tel: 020 3859 8722
Useful Websites
Their Website
https://www.fusion381.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/381food-v2.pdf
Reviews on Google
https://www.google.com/search?q=fusion+381
Tripadvisor add a listing
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