Mark Hix has had a string of successful restaurants in London, and Tramshed is his latest project. Will this be another feather in Hix’s cap or a few trams short of a shed? Was it any good? Time to find out…
Ideal for:
Date night
After pay day
Special Occasions
Ambience & Décor
It is easy to spot the restaurant’s two party pieces. The large Cock ’n ’Bull installation by Damien Hirst perched high above diners right at the heart of the restaurant. The other was Hirst’s large “Beef and Chicken” painting at the mezzanine level. Both gave a loveable and quirky character to the place. The décor for Tramshed was in keeping with its warehouse heritage. The contrasting white walls and black pillars, structures and panelling tried to liven up the otherwise drab cavernous interior. For weekend lunch, the restaurant had a lively vibe.
Service
Service was hit and miss at Tramshed. Some staff were helpful, whilst others were tad rude. Commonality amongst all staff seemed to be a lack of knowledge of the produce. I expect knowledge of the cut, the source of the produce, and the sides best to select.
Food
All the starters laid bare to the left. The Cock ‘n’ Bull croquettes with chervil mayonnaise were delicious as the croquettes had minced chicken and beef. The chervil mayo needed some heat I feel. The Buttermilk fried chicken with holy f**k mayonnaise was the best. Light, crispy coating without being oily or greasy. Despite scant portions, each wing was chunky. The freshly-made “Holy F**k Hot Sauce” by The Ribman had flavours of the scotch bonnet pepper and naga jolokia chillies dancing on the palate. I loved the heat, and it paired well with the wing
The third starter was a forgettable crab on toast that felt the meat was tinned.
For our group, we ordered the Roast barn-reared Indian Rock Chicken with sage and onion stuffing and chips and the 1kg Porterhouse steak with chips, béarnaise sauce and mustards (both right). The quirky presentation aside, the chicken was dry in parts and the stuffing also. The fluffy and crispy fries were its saving grace. The more conventionally presented steak was unevenly cooked, and it drove home the lack of wow' factor associated with Hix food, and not worth the price we paid frankly. However, for our large party, the portion was ample, so that was a big plus.
Tramshed should have been another Hix hit, but it falls short, largely from a culinary perspective. Perhaps the basic chicken and beef brief limits the chef’s creativity, but the mains were all dishes that could be made at home. At under £40, it was not a dear lunch, but I did not think it was value for money. All things considered, I think the interesting décor, average service and average food yields an Average Joe C rating.
Photos of Tramshed and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: C
Final comment: Summed up in one word. Average. Needs a spark and wow factor.
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