Ollie’s House review

On the corner of Fulham Road and Hollywood Road, Oliver Norcliffe has recently opened Ollie’s House – a long-held ambition for the 29-year-old who has worked in the industry for over a decade.

It’s an all day kitchen & lounge with deli & bakery that serves a range of traditional dishes such as fish and chips, burgers, mac n’ cheese and fish pies with an Asian twist. From coffee and cake to cocktail happy hours and with a separate brunch and kids menus (refreshingly offering a good deal more than just chicken nuggets and chips), the aim of Ollie’s House is to have something for everyone and it’s already been much welcomed in the neighbourhood – the Made In Chelsea gang has also just filmed there!

Inspired by Ollie’s travels to Indonesia and Philippines, much thought and expense has gone into the decor that is part beach bar, part elegant bistro with cabana style booths. Clever lighting, mirrored and decorative tiles with exotic birds, potted plants hanging from the ceiling, all help give this place a stylish but relaxed and uplifting feel. 

I went on a Wednesday early evening, it was quiet at first but quickly filled up. Only in its second month, Ollie’s already has a stream of regulars and a wide range of clientèle from the local area and beyond. The assistant manager Michaela was attentive to the needs of the customers and her friendliness brought a welcoming, laid back vibe to the place.

I started off with a reviving passion fruit daquiri and my companion had a margarita which he declared as decent. These came in very generously sized coupe glasses, £10.50 and £9.90 respectively. The wine list is straightforward and hosts a good range of regions and grape varieties. Significantly (and increasingly rare), prices are reasonable and not subject to a huge mark up. A small glass of house red or white comes in at under £5. 

The meal started on a high with Ollie’s Cauliflower OFC (£6.90), the cauliflower was soft in the middle with a pleasantly spiced marinade and crunch on the outside. Bao buns with pan fried cod fillet and Indonesian soy sauce (£6.90) were a fun twist on the usual fillings. The buns were fluffy as promised and the contrast of textures with the crispy cod was a winning combination. There was a hiccup with my main (lettuce wraps and Chinese pancakes with slow cooked lamb (£13.50)) as it came without the pancakes but this was quickly and efficiently dealt with and my dish was replaced with bao buns and the lamb.

The Katsu curry (£12.90) was well executed and served in a cute saucepan with rice, katsu sauce, edamame beans and an Asian dry slaw (its dryness made it all the more vibrant). A cornet of perfectly cooked chips (£3.50) topped the meal nicely. We had little room left for the Hong Kong French toast (£8.90) which was drenched in a peanut butter and dulce de leche sauce with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and lime shavings sitting on top.  It was difficult to manage more than a spoonful as its sweetness was a little overwhelming.

On the whole, I would highly recommend Ollie’s House, it’s not fine dining but it’s happy dining.  The eye-catching decor, friendliness, as well as the honest pricing left us feeling cheery. I passed by on a Friday lunchtime and it was buzzing with customers. A hugely welcome addition to the Fulham Road. 

Ollie’s House, 236 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NB 

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