I would just like to give one of our very special local pubs The Sir Charles Napier another positive mention.
The menu now offers two main courses for £12 on certain nights.
Eva and I went there last night, and had a splendid meal of a shared bowl of scampi, followed by sausage and mash for Eva whilst I had the gammon with duck eggs and chips.
As always the food, in terms of quality and cooking, was first class.
Chef Craig and his colleague Olivia (who was on duty last night) are a good team, and the Napier is a great place to sample their food.
Showing posts with label mash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mash. Show all posts
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Welcome To The New Dynasty!
A riot broke out at New Dynasty, a Chinese restaurant in downtown Montreal, between 3.30 and 4am on New Year's Day.
Chairs were broken across people's backs as diners screamed and threw punches. Bowls of noodles and rice went flying through the air and glass doors were smashed as the waiters ran for cover.
At one point, a young woman in a slinky black dress picked a chair up over her head and tossed it at another party-goer before tipping over a table full of plates.
Happy New Year!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Shout Out To Chef Craig at The Sir Charles Napier
A special and well deserved shout out to Craig, who is the chef at one our very special local pubs The Sir Charles Napier at 50 Southover Street, Brighton (a place that I wrote about in June this year).
The menu that the pub now offers changes regularly, and uses locally sourced good quality ingredients. Aside from staples such as sausage and mash, burgers and home baked pizzas there are specials such as beef casserole, scampi and fish cakes.
Unlike some chefs, Craig does not throw a hissy fit if a customer turns up just before the kitchen is meant to close (9PM) and stands by his post until the meal is finished (including offering a desert).
I would also make special mention of the fact that if a customer (as we did last night) asks for a couple of sausages as a starter (sans mash) neither the staff nor Craig throws a "wobbly".
Eva and I had a great meal last night, kicking off with two excellent smoked pork sausages on a leaf salad (to share), then beef casserole with mash for myself and scampi with mash for Eva. Craig was so worried that Eva wanted mash instead of chips, that he made a special salad as well for her, in case it wasn't enough.
We were even offered a desert (apple strudel), which we shared, well past kitchen closing time.
The food is great, the portions decent and the staff and atmosphere are warm and welcoming.
Go there and try it for yourself!
The menu that the pub now offers changes regularly, and uses locally sourced good quality ingredients. Aside from staples such as sausage and mash, burgers and home baked pizzas there are specials such as beef casserole, scampi and fish cakes.
Unlike some chefs, Craig does not throw a hissy fit if a customer turns up just before the kitchen is meant to close (9PM) and stands by his post until the meal is finished (including offering a desert).
I would also make special mention of the fact that if a customer (as we did last night) asks for a couple of sausages as a starter (sans mash) neither the staff nor Craig throws a "wobbly".
Eva and I had a great meal last night, kicking off with two excellent smoked pork sausages on a leaf salad (to share), then beef casserole with mash for myself and scampi with mash for Eva. Craig was so worried that Eva wanted mash instead of chips, that he made a special salad as well for her, in case it wasn't enough.
We were even offered a desert (apple strudel), which we shared, well past kitchen closing time.
The food is great, the portions decent and the staff and atmosphere are warm and welcoming.
Go there and try it for yourself!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Sir Charles Napier
My compliments to the Sir Charles Napier pub of Southover Street on their recently expanded food menu.
Alongside their homemade pizzas (genuinely homemade) and locally sourced sausages and mash (a very nice dish), they have added a variety of hamburgers and a Rogan Josh curry with rice and garlic bread.
I had the Rogan Josh last night, and it was pretty decent in both taste and portion size. Eva had the Carne Misti pizza (tomato, Mozzarella, Parma Ham, pepperoni, spiced beef, spiced pork), the topping of which was flavoursome and generous sitting atop a light base (a welcome change from the stodgy rubber like creations of other establishments).
The pub itself is very friendly and has a lot of character in the true "traditional English pub style".
It is well worth a visit.
Alongside their homemade pizzas (genuinely homemade) and locally sourced sausages and mash (a very nice dish), they have added a variety of hamburgers and a Rogan Josh curry with rice and garlic bread.
I had the Rogan Josh last night, and it was pretty decent in both taste and portion size. Eva had the Carne Misti pizza (tomato, Mozzarella, Parma Ham, pepperoni, spiced beef, spiced pork), the topping of which was flavoursome and generous sitting atop a light base (a welcome change from the stodgy rubber like creations of other establishments).
The pub itself is very friendly and has a lot of character in the true "traditional English pub style".
It is well worth a visit.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
The Townhouse Kemptown
Restaurant
The Townhouse
81-82 St James St
Kemptown
Brighton
BN2 1PA
Tel: 01273 693216
Website The Townhouse
Overview
Eva and popped into The Townhouse in Kemptown the other day for an impromptu lunch.
The Townhouse is relatively new, and is both a bar and restaurant.
It offers contemporary British food (cooked by a head chef who hails from The Dorchester) in a relaxed atmosphere.
Ambience
The Townhouse is a cheerful and bright venue, it has "rustic" wooden tables and brick faced walls. Aside from a dining area, it has a lounge bar and a piano room where you can sit around the Baby Grand Piano on bar stools while drinking!
Menu
The menu offers a good selection of British cuisine including; smoked haddock, roasted cod, crab, steak, rack of lamb and belly of pork.
Service
The service was excellent, efficient and friendly. I was even offered a choice of wood or plastic toothpicks (a first!), which shows great attention to detail.
Food
I had the pork belly, which was slow roasted and served with an apple mash and prune jus. I was very impressed with this dish, the pork was a good sized tasty cut/join,t and the crackling was crispy. The mash was not overpowered by the apple, and went well with the meat.
Eva had one of the specials, beef sausages and mash. This was very good, four thick tasty sausages atop a bed of mash served with a gravy.
The meal, which included some quality beers and very large brandies, came to around £40 from memory (I have lost the receipt!).
Overall Opinion
A very enjoyable meal, and I have no hesitation in recommending this venue. We will certainly be returning, this time for dinner.
The Townhouse
81-82 St James St
Kemptown
Brighton
BN2 1PA
Tel: 01273 693216
Website The Townhouse
Overview
Eva and popped into The Townhouse in Kemptown the other day for an impromptu lunch.
The Townhouse is relatively new, and is both a bar and restaurant.
It offers contemporary British food (cooked by a head chef who hails from The Dorchester) in a relaxed atmosphere.
Ambience
The Townhouse is a cheerful and bright venue, it has "rustic" wooden tables and brick faced walls. Aside from a dining area, it has a lounge bar and a piano room where you can sit around the Baby Grand Piano on bar stools while drinking!
Menu
The menu offers a good selection of British cuisine including; smoked haddock, roasted cod, crab, steak, rack of lamb and belly of pork.
Service
The service was excellent, efficient and friendly. I was even offered a choice of wood or plastic toothpicks (a first!), which shows great attention to detail.
Food
I had the pork belly, which was slow roasted and served with an apple mash and prune jus. I was very impressed with this dish, the pork was a good sized tasty cut/join,t and the crackling was crispy. The mash was not overpowered by the apple, and went well with the meat.
Eva had one of the specials, beef sausages and mash. This was very good, four thick tasty sausages atop a bed of mash served with a gravy.
The meal, which included some quality beers and very large brandies, came to around £40 from memory (I have lost the receipt!).
Overall Opinion
A very enjoyable meal, and I have no hesitation in recommending this venue. We will certainly be returning, this time for dinner.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Cote Brighton
Restaurant
Cote
115-116 Church Street
(Opposite The Dome)
Brighton BN1 1UP
Tel: 01273 687541
Website Cote
Overview
The Cote chain, which offer "simple freshly prepared French food at value for money prices", recently (two weeks ago) opened a new restaurant in Brighton.
Eva and I decided to test it out last Sunday evening.
Ambience
Cote is a lively, buzzing, airy bar and bistro. It has ample space, comfortable unpretentious seating/tables and a welcoming atmosphere. It also has a very pleasant outside decked area.
Menu
The menu offers a good selection of French bistro food including; Seared Scallops, Steak Tartare, Moules Marinieres, Mushroom Crepes, Roast Duck Breast and Breton Chicken.
Service
The service was very friendly, cheerful and efficient.
Food
I started with the steak tartare.
This came with the egg already mixed in (something I personally prefer to do myself). However, it was very good and consisted a decent portion of tender minced steak well balanced with shallots, capers, cornichons, egg yolk and cognac.
Eva opted for the smoked salmon, which she professed to be excellent. The dish consisted of sliced smoked Scottish salmon with dill, shallots, baby capers and creme fraiche dressing.
I chose the half chargrilled "Breton" chicken (corn fed chicken from Languidic in the north of France) for my main, with fries. I eschewed having any sauce with it, as the chicken if well cooked should have enough flavour to stand on its own.
I was not disappointed, the chicken was succulent, not overcooked and had an excellent flavour.
Eva had the steak hache, an excellent tender pan fried steak served with garlic butter and mashed potatoes.
A most excellent meal!
I do have one request, please could you serve Absinthe (I understand you have the bottle behind the bar but do not serve the drink for some reason)?
The bill, including a bottle of Viognier, some cognacs and service, came to £78.
Overall Opinion
Good value, great atmosphere; we will most certainly be coming back!
Cote
115-116 Church Street
(Opposite The Dome)
Brighton BN1 1UP
Tel: 01273 687541
Website Cote
Overview
The Cote chain, which offer "simple freshly prepared French food at value for money prices", recently (two weeks ago) opened a new restaurant in Brighton.
Eva and I decided to test it out last Sunday evening.
Ambience
Cote is a lively, buzzing, airy bar and bistro. It has ample space, comfortable unpretentious seating/tables and a welcoming atmosphere. It also has a very pleasant outside decked area.
Menu
The menu offers a good selection of French bistro food including; Seared Scallops, Steak Tartare, Moules Marinieres, Mushroom Crepes, Roast Duck Breast and Breton Chicken.
Service
The service was very friendly, cheerful and efficient.
Food
I started with the steak tartare.
This came with the egg already mixed in (something I personally prefer to do myself). However, it was very good and consisted a decent portion of tender minced steak well balanced with shallots, capers, cornichons, egg yolk and cognac.
Eva opted for the smoked salmon, which she professed to be excellent. The dish consisted of sliced smoked Scottish salmon with dill, shallots, baby capers and creme fraiche dressing.
I chose the half chargrilled "Breton" chicken (corn fed chicken from Languidic in the north of France) for my main, with fries. I eschewed having any sauce with it, as the chicken if well cooked should have enough flavour to stand on its own.
I was not disappointed, the chicken was succulent, not overcooked and had an excellent flavour.
Eva had the steak hache, an excellent tender pan fried steak served with garlic butter and mashed potatoes.
A most excellent meal!
I do have one request, please could you serve Absinthe (I understand you have the bottle behind the bar but do not serve the drink for some reason)?
The bill, including a bottle of Viognier, some cognacs and service, came to £78.
Overall Opinion
Good value, great atmosphere; we will most certainly be coming back!
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Sir Charles Napier Pub
Sir Charles Napier Pub
My compliments to the Sir Charles Napier pub (50 Southover Street, Brighton tel 0872 148 6009) one of our numerous locals, which is serving top notch sausage and mash.
Eva and I went there last Friday evening for a drink, and to try their sausage and mash.
For a price of £5.95 there is a choice of several meat and vegetarian sausages (locally sourced), three types of mash and even three types of gravy.
For the money you get three good sized sausages atop a pile of homemade (not packet) mash, with a good quality gravy.
First class food and good value.
The pub itself is cosy, and very welcoming.
Aside from sausage and mash, they also serve pizzas, sausage rolls and sausage baps.
Well worth a visit for a drink and a plate of sausage and mash (served until 9PM).
My compliments to the Sir Charles Napier pub (50 Southover Street, Brighton tel 0872 148 6009) one of our numerous locals, which is serving top notch sausage and mash.
Eva and I went there last Friday evening for a drink, and to try their sausage and mash.
For a price of £5.95 there is a choice of several meat and vegetarian sausages (locally sourced), three types of mash and even three types of gravy.
For the money you get three good sized sausages atop a pile of homemade (not packet) mash, with a good quality gravy.
First class food and good value.
The pub itself is cosy, and very welcoming.
Aside from sausage and mash, they also serve pizzas, sausage rolls and sausage baps.
Well worth a visit for a drink and a plate of sausage and mash (served until 9PM).
Thursday, November 05, 2009
The Setting Sun Brighton
The Setting Sun Brighton
1 Windmill Street,
Brighton,
BN2 0GN
0872 148 6119
Eva and I regularly dine in this fine gastro pub, not only because it is a mere two minutes walk from our home, but because the food is excellent.
The Setting Sun is more of a wine bar/bistro rather than "pub" in the strictest sense of the word. It has light wood flooring, large leather sofas, bistro style wooden tables, a conservatory and a patio that affords stunning views of Brighton (if you can find seat there in the summer).
The atmosphere is often lively, yet cosy and intimate (each table has a candle).
The menu, chalked up on a blackboard, changes with the season and currently includes; soup, sausage and mash, fish and chips, burgers, chicken in a cream and mushroom sauce and pumpkin risotto etc.
The staff are friendly and very cheerful, they even manage to put up with me!
The chef is a real find, her food is excellent, and the pub will be lose a real asset if she ever leaves.
All in all an excellent place for a bistro meal, usually (with a bottle of wine) it will not set you back more than £40 for two.
Well worth visiting!
1 Windmill Street,
Brighton,
BN2 0GN
0872 148 6119
Eva and I regularly dine in this fine gastro pub, not only because it is a mere two minutes walk from our home, but because the food is excellent.
The Setting Sun is more of a wine bar/bistro rather than "pub" in the strictest sense of the word. It has light wood flooring, large leather sofas, bistro style wooden tables, a conservatory and a patio that affords stunning views of Brighton (if you can find seat there in the summer).
The atmosphere is often lively, yet cosy and intimate (each table has a candle).
The menu, chalked up on a blackboard, changes with the season and currently includes; soup, sausage and mash, fish and chips, burgers, chicken in a cream and mushroom sauce and pumpkin risotto etc.
The staff are friendly and very cheerful, they even manage to put up with me!
The chef is a real find, her food is excellent, and the pub will be lose a real asset if she ever leaves.
All in all an excellent place for a bistro meal, usually (with a bottle of wine) it will not set you back more than £40 for two.
Well worth visiting!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Nasza
Restaurant
Nasza
22 St James Street
Brighton
BN2 1RF
Phone: 01273 622770
Website Under construction
Overview
Eva and I visited Nasza (pronounced Nasha), the very newly opened (less than a week) Polish restaurant on the site of what used to be the the St James restaurant, last Saturday.
Ambience
Nasza is decorated in the style of a rustic Polish bar/eatery. Diners can sit in the front (cafe style) area, at the bar or in the main part of the restaurant towards the back of the premises. Owing to a large skylight, the main area was a little drafty.
Inexplicably there was no salt on the tables, we had to request some. We also had to ask for our candle to be lit, a small issue but indicative of a lack of attention by staff.
Menu
Nasza serves a selection of traditional Polish dishes including; marinated herring, sausage platter, cabbage parcels, Polish dumplings, Polish stew, beef Goulash and pork knuckles.
Unfortunately, owing to some problems with the wine supplier, there was no wine menu and the only wine on offer was Paul Masson the over hyped Californian paint stripper.
Service
The service was friendly, if a little erratic as the staff were still finding their feet. The main course took a little while to arrive, probably due to the restaurant only being open for less than a week.
Food
I opted for the sausage platter to start with. This consisted of a generous selection of Polish sausages and charcuterie served with two slices of bread and butter. A very good starter.
I chose the Golonka for my main course. This was a slow cooked pork knuckle (similar to the German eisbein) served in a rich vegetable and beer sauce with mashed potatoes.
This was an excellent dish, hearty and tasty. The pork had been properly cooked, and the meat fell off the bone with little effort from my knife.
Eva started with the vegetable and white bean soup. This was tasty and of a decently thick consistency, an ideal comfort food.
She chose the Golabki for her main course. These were cabbage parcels stuffed with meat and rice, accompanied by mashed potatoes and a mushroom sauce.
This was a good quality dish in terms of portion size and taste. The cabbage parcels were delightful, and the sauce provided and excellent accompaniment.
We finished off with a number of chilled vodkas.
Inexplicably, despite having several vodkas available which were properly chilled, Nasza does not advertise the fact by having as vodka list. I regard this as a missed opportunity for building the brand and reputation of what could be a very decent local Polish restaurant. My advice is for Nasza to add to their variety of vodkas, and to publish a vodka menu.
Regarding the truly awful Paul Masson wine, we managed to drink a glass each then gave up as it was quite awful. I opted for a Polish beer instead. I recommend that Nasza ensure that their wine cellars are stocked with wine that is drinkable, and that they provide a wine list.
The meal, which included the undrinkable wine, came to £57 before service. Seemingly Nasza was also having teething problems with the credit card companies, and had not yet installed a system for accepting credit card payments; ie "cash only" was the policy of the restaurant. Clearly this issue needs to be addressed with urgency, as it will deter customers.
As a piece of general advice to all those wanting to open a restaurant, it is essential that issues such as this are addressed before opening (even if that means the opening has to be delayed); a bad impression created in the first few weeks is difficult to erase.
Overall Opinion
Nasza, once it has addressed the teething problems identified in this review, may well be worth visiting in the future. I wish them well, and hope they take on board my recommendations.
Opinion Now updated after another visit.
Nasza
22 St James Street
Brighton
BN2 1RF
Phone: 01273 622770
Website Under construction
Overview
Eva and I visited Nasza (pronounced Nasha), the very newly opened (less than a week) Polish restaurant on the site of what used to be the the St James restaurant, last Saturday.
Ambience
Nasza is decorated in the style of a rustic Polish bar/eatery. Diners can sit in the front (cafe style) area, at the bar or in the main part of the restaurant towards the back of the premises. Owing to a large skylight, the main area was a little drafty.
Inexplicably there was no salt on the tables, we had to request some. We also had to ask for our candle to be lit, a small issue but indicative of a lack of attention by staff.
Menu
Nasza serves a selection of traditional Polish dishes including; marinated herring, sausage platter, cabbage parcels, Polish dumplings, Polish stew, beef Goulash and pork knuckles.
Unfortunately, owing to some problems with the wine supplier, there was no wine menu and the only wine on offer was Paul Masson the over hyped Californian paint stripper.
Service
The service was friendly, if a little erratic as the staff were still finding their feet. The main course took a little while to arrive, probably due to the restaurant only being open for less than a week.
Food
I opted for the sausage platter to start with. This consisted of a generous selection of Polish sausages and charcuterie served with two slices of bread and butter. A very good starter.
I chose the Golonka for my main course. This was a slow cooked pork knuckle (similar to the German eisbein) served in a rich vegetable and beer sauce with mashed potatoes.
This was an excellent dish, hearty and tasty. The pork had been properly cooked, and the meat fell off the bone with little effort from my knife.
Eva started with the vegetable and white bean soup. This was tasty and of a decently thick consistency, an ideal comfort food.
She chose the Golabki for her main course. These were cabbage parcels stuffed with meat and rice, accompanied by mashed potatoes and a mushroom sauce.
This was a good quality dish in terms of portion size and taste. The cabbage parcels were delightful, and the sauce provided and excellent accompaniment.
We finished off with a number of chilled vodkas.
Inexplicably, despite having several vodkas available which were properly chilled, Nasza does not advertise the fact by having as vodka list. I regard this as a missed opportunity for building the brand and reputation of what could be a very decent local Polish restaurant. My advice is for Nasza to add to their variety of vodkas, and to publish a vodka menu.
Regarding the truly awful Paul Masson wine, we managed to drink a glass each then gave up as it was quite awful. I opted for a Polish beer instead. I recommend that Nasza ensure that their wine cellars are stocked with wine that is drinkable, and that they provide a wine list.
The meal, which included the undrinkable wine, came to £57 before service. Seemingly Nasza was also having teething problems with the credit card companies, and had not yet installed a system for accepting credit card payments; ie "cash only" was the policy of the restaurant. Clearly this issue needs to be addressed with urgency, as it will deter customers.
As a piece of general advice to all those wanting to open a restaurant, it is essential that issues such as this are addressed before opening (even if that means the opening has to be delayed); a bad impression created in the first few weeks is difficult to erase.
Overall Opinion
Nasza, once it has addressed the teething problems identified in this review, may well be worth visiting in the future. I wish them well, and hope they take on board my recommendations.
Opinion Now updated after another visit.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Pomegranate
Restaurant
Pomegranate
10 Manchester Street
Brighton
BN2 1TF
Phone 01273 628 386
Website www.eatpomegranates.com
Overview
Eva and I visited Pomegranate in the Kemp Town area of Brighton the other week.
Pomegranate is a contemporary Kurdish restaurant, that serves a range of middle eastern dishes.
Ambience
The restaurant is on two floors and is very cheerful, modern yet cosy and charming (it has exposed brick fireplaces and wooden floors). The walls are decorated with a number of pictures painted by Hassan Tunc, who is also the owner and head chef.
His wife, Zelal, is in front of house and provided us with a very warm and charming welcome.
The Tuncs have run Ararat restaurants in Dallas and Austin in Texas; Hassan is also well known in the art world with a gallery in Seattle, Washington, also training as a chef in France.
Menu
The menu offers a variety of middle eastern dishes including; Tabulli, stuffed peppers, shish kebabs, lamb and beef with pomegranate.
Service
The service by Zelal was charming, friendly, efficient, and extremely attentive. Nothing was too much trouble.
Food
I opted for chicken kebabs as a starter. These were delightful, lightly spiced and seasoned served atop a small salad. A first class starter.
My main course was lamb shank with a light apricot sauce, accompanied by rice. The shank had been braised gently for a number of hours. The meat was succulent, tender and flavoursome and fell of the bone.
Eva started with prawns with garlic and hot pepper, these were piquant but not overpowered by the garlic or pepper.
She then had the chicken breast topped with walnuts. The breasts were grilled and served with walnuts, butter and rice. A very pleasant dish, the walnut perfectly complementing the chicken.
We also shared a side dish of garlic mashed potatoes, which tasted fantastic.
Dessert, a rarity for us, consisted of a bowl of stuffed figs with walnuts, honey topped with pomegranate paste. They were absolutely delightful.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and a large number of Irish coffees came to £105 including service.
Overall Opinion
A splendid restaurant, which is well worth visiting.
Pomegranate
10 Manchester Street
Brighton
BN2 1TF
Phone 01273 628 386
Website www.eatpomegranates.com
Overview
Eva and I visited Pomegranate in the Kemp Town area of Brighton the other week.
Pomegranate is a contemporary Kurdish restaurant, that serves a range of middle eastern dishes.
Ambience
The restaurant is on two floors and is very cheerful, modern yet cosy and charming (it has exposed brick fireplaces and wooden floors). The walls are decorated with a number of pictures painted by Hassan Tunc, who is also the owner and head chef.
His wife, Zelal, is in front of house and provided us with a very warm and charming welcome.
The Tuncs have run Ararat restaurants in Dallas and Austin in Texas; Hassan is also well known in the art world with a gallery in Seattle, Washington, also training as a chef in France.
Menu
The menu offers a variety of middle eastern dishes including; Tabulli, stuffed peppers, shish kebabs, lamb and beef with pomegranate.
Service
The service by Zelal was charming, friendly, efficient, and extremely attentive. Nothing was too much trouble.
Food
I opted for chicken kebabs as a starter. These were delightful, lightly spiced and seasoned served atop a small salad. A first class starter.
My main course was lamb shank with a light apricot sauce, accompanied by rice. The shank had been braised gently for a number of hours. The meat was succulent, tender and flavoursome and fell of the bone.
Eva started with prawns with garlic and hot pepper, these were piquant but not overpowered by the garlic or pepper.
She then had the chicken breast topped with walnuts. The breasts were grilled and served with walnuts, butter and rice. A very pleasant dish, the walnut perfectly complementing the chicken.
We also shared a side dish of garlic mashed potatoes, which tasted fantastic.
Dessert, a rarity for us, consisted of a bowl of stuffed figs with walnuts, honey topped with pomegranate paste. They were absolutely delightful.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and a large number of Irish coffees came to £105 including service.
Overall Opinion
A splendid restaurant, which is well worth visiting.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Albert's Table
Restaurant
Albert's Table
49B South End
Croydon
CR0 1BF
Phone 0208 680 2010
Website www.albertstable.co.uk
Overview
Eva and I visited the newly opened (so new the smell of paint was still in the air) Albert's Table a fortnight ago, and gave it a "test drive".
Albert's Table opened on the site of a Chinese restaurant on Tuesday 29th July, and serves, to quote their website:
"..dishes created from quality British ingredients chosen when they are in season and at their best. There are so many farmers in the UK producing world class meat, dairy and vegetables and these are the ingredients that we will be using at Albert's table.
The style of food is very much British, but with a slight modern take to include some of the best influences from Europe.
Our fish is all British and delivered daily. We work with the fishmongers very closely to ensure that we get the freshest fish every day and when we use farmed fish it is always organic."
Joby Wells, the head chef, has worked at some top restaurant in London including; The Square and The Orrery.
Ambience
The restaurant is bright, white, spacious and modern. Decoration is minimalist, and the room is well lit. When we went there is was reasonably busy, which gave the place atmosphere.
As with some other restaurants Albert's table suffers from excessively cold air conditioning, I am of the view that less is more.
Menu
The menu offers meals of two and three courses for £25 and £27.50. The dishes offered include; traditional raised Middlewhite pork pie, warm duck salad, short crust tart of Dorset crab, chicken breast with lasagne and pork belly dry marinated in lemon.
Service
The service was very efficient, and extremely attentive. The bizarre issue over the mashed potato (see below) was resolved by our waitress, who persuaded the chef that the customer has a say in what goes on the plate.
That being said, there seemed to be a rather lengthy delay between the first and second course; newly opened teething problems in the kitchen I assume.
Food
I began with the traditional raised Middlewhite pork pie, served with cider jelly & gooseberry compote. The pie was first class, a quality pork lightly seasoned with herbs surrounded by a light pastry. However, the compote that accompanied it was far too strong, and totally overpowered the dish. I believe that good quality dishes such as this do not need their taste destroyed, they are good enough to stand alone on the plate.
My advice would be to either tone down the compote, or present the pie with a small salad, or quail's eggs.
My main course was saddle of lamb which, according to the menu I could not have this with mash (even though mash was available with the beef) which I wanted. I was told that the chef only allocated a certain number of pritons of vegetables per day, and does not like to swap the vegetables between dishes.
Quite ridiculous!
It was highly unlikely that there would be sudden rush of new customers at that time of the evening. Additionally, I am of the view that the chef is there to serve the customer not the other way round.
Our waitress managed to persuade chef to allow me to eat mash with the lamb.
That issue having been resolved, I settled down to enjoy my main course when it arrived. I am pleased to say that the lamb was first class, succulent and tender with just the right amount of fat to add flavour; as was the mash.
Eva began with baby artichokes poached in white wine and olive oil, with shallots, Parmesan and a poached egg. Absolutely delicious!
She chose the organic roast salmon with potato gnocchi, leek hearts & grilot onions with béarnaise sauce for her main course. This was excellent, the salmon was cooked and flaked to perfection and was well complemented by the gnocchi and leeks.
We, rather rarely for us, then chose a dessert (the posset). The posset (a mixture of cream, egg yolks and booze) was a delight, and was accompanied by fresh raspberries.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and some coffees/liqueurs, came to £104 including service.
Overall Opinion
In our view the food is first class, once initial teething troubles (eg air conditioning and mash servings) are addressed, this restaurant is worth visiting.
Albert's Table
49B South End
Croydon
CR0 1BF
Phone 0208 680 2010
Website www.albertstable.co.uk
Overview
Eva and I visited the newly opened (so new the smell of paint was still in the air) Albert's Table a fortnight ago, and gave it a "test drive".
Albert's Table opened on the site of a Chinese restaurant on Tuesday 29th July, and serves, to quote their website:
"..dishes created from quality British ingredients chosen when they are in season and at their best. There are so many farmers in the UK producing world class meat, dairy and vegetables and these are the ingredients that we will be using at Albert's table.
The style of food is very much British, but with a slight modern take to include some of the best influences from Europe.
Our fish is all British and delivered daily. We work with the fishmongers very closely to ensure that we get the freshest fish every day and when we use farmed fish it is always organic."
Joby Wells, the head chef, has worked at some top restaurant in London including; The Square and The Orrery.
Ambience
The restaurant is bright, white, spacious and modern. Decoration is minimalist, and the room is well lit. When we went there is was reasonably busy, which gave the place atmosphere.
As with some other restaurants Albert's table suffers from excessively cold air conditioning, I am of the view that less is more.
Menu
The menu offers meals of two and three courses for £25 and £27.50. The dishes offered include; traditional raised Middlewhite pork pie, warm duck salad, short crust tart of Dorset crab, chicken breast with lasagne and pork belly dry marinated in lemon.
Service
The service was very efficient, and extremely attentive. The bizarre issue over the mashed potato (see below) was resolved by our waitress, who persuaded the chef that the customer has a say in what goes on the plate.
That being said, there seemed to be a rather lengthy delay between the first and second course; newly opened teething problems in the kitchen I assume.
Food
I began with the traditional raised Middlewhite pork pie, served with cider jelly & gooseberry compote. The pie was first class, a quality pork lightly seasoned with herbs surrounded by a light pastry. However, the compote that accompanied it was far too strong, and totally overpowered the dish. I believe that good quality dishes such as this do not need their taste destroyed, they are good enough to stand alone on the plate.
My advice would be to either tone down the compote, or present the pie with a small salad, or quail's eggs.
My main course was saddle of lamb which, according to the menu I could not have this with mash (even though mash was available with the beef) which I wanted. I was told that the chef only allocated a certain number of pritons of vegetables per day, and does not like to swap the vegetables between dishes.
Quite ridiculous!
It was highly unlikely that there would be sudden rush of new customers at that time of the evening. Additionally, I am of the view that the chef is there to serve the customer not the other way round.
Our waitress managed to persuade chef to allow me to eat mash with the lamb.
That issue having been resolved, I settled down to enjoy my main course when it arrived. I am pleased to say that the lamb was first class, succulent and tender with just the right amount of fat to add flavour; as was the mash.
Eva began with baby artichokes poached in white wine and olive oil, with shallots, Parmesan and a poached egg. Absolutely delicious!
She chose the organic roast salmon with potato gnocchi, leek hearts & grilot onions with béarnaise sauce for her main course. This was excellent, the salmon was cooked and flaked to perfection and was well complemented by the gnocchi and leeks.
We, rather rarely for us, then chose a dessert (the posset). The posset (a mixture of cream, egg yolks and booze) was a delight, and was accompanied by fresh raspberries.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and some coffees/liqueurs, came to £104 including service.
Overall Opinion
In our view the food is first class, once initial teething troubles (eg air conditioning and mash servings) are addressed, this restaurant is worth visiting.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Taste of London
Taste of London
The Taste of London in Regent's Park, which ran from 19-22 June, has been a success.
Regent's Park was smothered in celebrity chefs, restaurateurs and foodies for the fifth festival of its kind.
The festival was a chance for foodies to sample some of London's top restaurants' signature dishes; including creamed lobster and brandy soup from Le Gavroche, squid salad with coconut passion fruit dressing from Benares, seven-hour braised lamb shoulder and mash from Tom’s Kitchen, and lemon tart from Rhodes Twenty-Four.
Guests also were given the chance to meet their favourite chefs in the Waterstone's book signing lounge, where authors such as Tana Ramsay and Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall gave Q&A sessions.
Even the weather was just about reasonable for the event!
The Taste of London in Regent's Park, which ran from 19-22 June, has been a success.
Regent's Park was smothered in celebrity chefs, restaurateurs and foodies for the fifth festival of its kind.
The festival was a chance for foodies to sample some of London's top restaurants' signature dishes; including creamed lobster and brandy soup from Le Gavroche, squid salad with coconut passion fruit dressing from Benares, seven-hour braised lamb shoulder and mash from Tom’s Kitchen, and lemon tart from Rhodes Twenty-Four.
Guests also were given the chance to meet their favourite chefs in the Waterstone's book signing lounge, where authors such as Tana Ramsay and Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall gave Q&A sessions.
Even the weather was just about reasonable for the event!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Delia's Recipes for Cheats
Delia's Recipes for Cheats
I watched Delia Smith's new show on the BBC on Monday, in which she showed how to cheat at cooking by using ready made ingredients eg frozen mash and tinned mince.
Whilst the recipes themselves, if they used fresh ingredients, were fine; I balk at the idea of using ready made mash and tinned meat.
These ingredients are not as good as homemade, and cost more than buying the ingredients fresh and preparing them at home.
I fail to see how people do not have the time or initiative to make their own mash.
I watched Delia Smith's new show on the BBC on Monday, in which she showed how to cheat at cooking by using ready made ingredients eg frozen mash and tinned mince.
Whilst the recipes themselves, if they used fresh ingredients, were fine; I balk at the idea of using ready made mash and tinned meat.
These ingredients are not as good as homemade, and cost more than buying the ingredients fresh and preparing them at home.
I fail to see how people do not have the time or initiative to make their own mash.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Boiled Pig's Leg
Boiled Pig's Leg
My compliments to Tennstopet in Stockholm which served myself and Eva with two excellent boiled pig's legs - Fläsklägg med Rotmos - (accompanied by mashed potatoes and mashed swede) yesterday for lunch, in their rather cosy and charming bar.
We are very happy to recommend both the main restaurant and bar for good food, good service and an excellent ambience.
My compliments to Tennstopet in Stockholm which served myself and Eva with two excellent boiled pig's legs - Fläsklägg med Rotmos - (accompanied by mashed potatoes and mashed swede) yesterday for lunch, in their rather cosy and charming bar.
We are very happy to recommend both the main restaurant and bar for good food, good service and an excellent ambience.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Restaurant 7 Portes
Restaurant 7 Portes
Paseig Isabel II
Barcelona
Spain
Phone 93 319 30 33
Website www.7portes.com
Overview
Whilst Eva and I were on holiday in Spain we took the opportunity to study the hotel guidebook of recommended restaurants, and Eva came across the Restaurant 7 Portes.
Here is how they describe themselves on their website:
"Originally called "Cafe de les 7 Portes", this establishment opened in 1836. Its over 150 years of excellence since then have made today's "Restaurant de les 7 Portes" the most classic of Barcelona's eating-places. It is housed in the "Portics d'en Xifre", a building declared a national monument that was, incidentally, the first place in Barcelona where running water was installed and the back drop for the first photograph ever taken in Spain, In 1942, it became the property of Paco Parellada, founder of one of the fore most dynasties of restaurateurs in all of Catalonia.
At "7 Portes", any time without interruption from one in the afternoon to one in the morning every day of the year, you can enjoy the finest Catalan cooking in an intimate setting or in one of the spacious banquet halls, accompanied by Spain's best wines and "cavas" (sparking wines) from the well-stocked cellar."
With a write up like that we simply had to go along and try it out for ourselves.
By the way, the list of famous diners is quite entertaining eg; Bo Derek, John Wayne and Yoko Ono have all dined there.
Ambience
We went along on a Friday evening, rather boldly without booking. We were a tad concerned on arriving to see that there was a queue of people waiting outside the restaurant, being marshaled by a doorman and head waiter. The restaurant, as could be seen through the window, was very large but also very full. The question dominating our thoughts was whether we would get in or not.
Within two minutes of arriving in the queue, the head waiter appeared and took our names and placed them on a list. Less than five minutes later, he came out again and called us to a table.
Excellent!
Quite clearly the flow through of people, and size of the restaurant means that waiting times are not at all excessive. The additional plus point being that 7 Portes is open until 1:00. However, I would recommend that if you are in a large group you make a reservation, just to be on the safe side.
The 7 Portes has a number of private dining rooms (accommodating from between 2 to 70 people) and the main public dining room, which is fashioned in the style of a grand Victorian cafe. Absolutely delightful, bright, cheerful, stylish and full of energy and life. Cafe style dining of the "old school".
The tables were laid with linen clothes and napkins, and the waiters dressed in the white uniforms reminiscent of ships' stewards. All adding to the atmosphere.
Menu
The menu offered a magnificent selection of Catalan dishes including; ham, "Esqueixada" (salt cod salad), cannelloni, salt cod fritters, Black rice Emporda style (with cuttle-fish and its ink), paella, Senyor Cortina's oven-baked langoustines, black or white sausage with haricot beans, roast suckling pig, roast shoulder of kid etc.
The portions were of the hearty variety, I am pleased to say.
I was therefore quite concerned to observe the English gentleman on the table next to us, meandering around a most excellent and succulent sirloin steak in a most unsatisfactory manner. This place is not for people with poor, unhealthy appetites.
Service
The service was absolutely first class, efficient, friendly and polite. As already noted, we were handled very professionally at the door even though we had not made a reservation. Our waitress was absolutely delightful, complementing me on my incredibly poor grasp of the basics of the Spanish language (yes, I am easily flattered).
She was also very helpful with regard to Eva's special request for a paella without seafood but with some chicken, this was no problem at all (even though it wasn't on the menu).
Full marks, we couldn't have had better service.
Food
I started with the cannelloni, which was made in the "Spanish way" with pork. I have to say, this was a delightful starter; a good sized portion of pork mince flavoured with herbs, rolled in pasta bathed (not drowned) in a light bechamel sauce.
Splendid!
I chose the roast shoulder of kid for my main course. This was heaven on a plate. A truly magnificent joint of meat was presented to me, slow cooked so that the meat fell off the bone but cooked in manner that the meat was not dry. It had been infused with rosemary, which complimented and brought out the flavour of the kid magnificently. It came with saute potatoes and assorted vegetables.
I thoroughly recommend this dish.
Eva chose the Torronada for her starter. This was rather a jolly dish consisting of fried egg and ham, served atop a mound of fried mashed potato. I thought this rather reminiscent of an English breakfast, which in my view often makes rather a good starter for dinner.
Eva then had the specially made paella, which was a vegetable based paella with chicken pieces. It was both filling and flavoursome, a nice version of paella if you or your stomach is a little tired of seafood.
The meal, including a bottle of Torres Del Veguer, came to 93Euros.
Overall Opinion
In our view this is one of the best restaurants we have dined, in whilst in Barcelona. It has everything that you could could wish for; ambience, good service, good food and energy.
Under no circumstances miss out on the opportunity of dining there, if you ever have the good fortune to be visiting Barcelona.
We most certainly will be coming back!
Paseig Isabel II
Barcelona
Spain
Phone 93 319 30 33
Website www.7portes.com
Overview
Whilst Eva and I were on holiday in Spain we took the opportunity to study the hotel guidebook of recommended restaurants, and Eva came across the Restaurant 7 Portes.
Here is how they describe themselves on their website:
"Originally called "Cafe de les 7 Portes", this establishment opened in 1836. Its over 150 years of excellence since then have made today's "Restaurant de les 7 Portes" the most classic of Barcelona's eating-places. It is housed in the "Portics d'en Xifre", a building declared a national monument that was, incidentally, the first place in Barcelona where running water was installed and the back drop for the first photograph ever taken in Spain, In 1942, it became the property of Paco Parellada, founder of one of the fore most dynasties of restaurateurs in all of Catalonia.
At "7 Portes", any time without interruption from one in the afternoon to one in the morning every day of the year, you can enjoy the finest Catalan cooking in an intimate setting or in one of the spacious banquet halls, accompanied by Spain's best wines and "cavas" (sparking wines) from the well-stocked cellar."
With a write up like that we simply had to go along and try it out for ourselves.
By the way, the list of famous diners is quite entertaining eg; Bo Derek, John Wayne and Yoko Ono have all dined there.
Ambience
We went along on a Friday evening, rather boldly without booking. We were a tad concerned on arriving to see that there was a queue of people waiting outside the restaurant, being marshaled by a doorman and head waiter. The restaurant, as could be seen through the window, was very large but also very full. The question dominating our thoughts was whether we would get in or not.
Within two minutes of arriving in the queue, the head waiter appeared and took our names and placed them on a list. Less than five minutes later, he came out again and called us to a table.
Excellent!
Quite clearly the flow through of people, and size of the restaurant means that waiting times are not at all excessive. The additional plus point being that 7 Portes is open until 1:00. However, I would recommend that if you are in a large group you make a reservation, just to be on the safe side.
The 7 Portes has a number of private dining rooms (accommodating from between 2 to 70 people) and the main public dining room, which is fashioned in the style of a grand Victorian cafe. Absolutely delightful, bright, cheerful, stylish and full of energy and life. Cafe style dining of the "old school".
The tables were laid with linen clothes and napkins, and the waiters dressed in the white uniforms reminiscent of ships' stewards. All adding to the atmosphere.
Menu
The menu offered a magnificent selection of Catalan dishes including; ham, "Esqueixada" (salt cod salad), cannelloni, salt cod fritters, Black rice Emporda style (with cuttle-fish and its ink), paella, Senyor Cortina's oven-baked langoustines, black or white sausage with haricot beans, roast suckling pig, roast shoulder of kid etc.
The portions were of the hearty variety, I am pleased to say.
I was therefore quite concerned to observe the English gentleman on the table next to us, meandering around a most excellent and succulent sirloin steak in a most unsatisfactory manner. This place is not for people with poor, unhealthy appetites.
Service
The service was absolutely first class, efficient, friendly and polite. As already noted, we were handled very professionally at the door even though we had not made a reservation. Our waitress was absolutely delightful, complementing me on my incredibly poor grasp of the basics of the Spanish language (yes, I am easily flattered).
She was also very helpful with regard to Eva's special request for a paella without seafood but with some chicken, this was no problem at all (even though it wasn't on the menu).
Full marks, we couldn't have had better service.
Food
I started with the cannelloni, which was made in the "Spanish way" with pork. I have to say, this was a delightful starter; a good sized portion of pork mince flavoured with herbs, rolled in pasta bathed (not drowned) in a light bechamel sauce.
Splendid!
I chose the roast shoulder of kid for my main course. This was heaven on a plate. A truly magnificent joint of meat was presented to me, slow cooked so that the meat fell off the bone but cooked in manner that the meat was not dry. It had been infused with rosemary, which complimented and brought out the flavour of the kid magnificently. It came with saute potatoes and assorted vegetables.
I thoroughly recommend this dish.
Eva chose the Torronada for her starter. This was rather a jolly dish consisting of fried egg and ham, served atop a mound of fried mashed potato. I thought this rather reminiscent of an English breakfast, which in my view often makes rather a good starter for dinner.
Eva then had the specially made paella, which was a vegetable based paella with chicken pieces. It was both filling and flavoursome, a nice version of paella if you or your stomach is a little tired of seafood.
The meal, including a bottle of Torres Del Veguer, came to 93Euros.
Overall Opinion
In our view this is one of the best restaurants we have dined, in whilst in Barcelona. It has everything that you could could wish for; ambience, good service, good food and energy.
Under no circumstances miss out on the opportunity of dining there, if you ever have the good fortune to be visiting Barcelona.
We most certainly will be coming back!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Odin's
Restaurant
Odin's
27 Devonshire Street
London
W1
Phone:- 0207 935 7296
Website www.langansrestaurants.co.uk
Overview
Eva and I went up to London the other day to try out one of the Langan's chain of restaurants, Odin's. It was founded by the late bon viveur Peter Langan, who partied hard, as per the New York Times:
"Langan was burned in a fire at his home in October 1988 and died on the 8th of December 1988 at the age of 47.
Mr. Langan, whose Langan's Brasserie in Mayfair was a favorite with entertainers, was co-owner with the actor Michael Caine."
Odin's tries to stay true to his memory by serving indulgent food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Odin's serves hearty 2 and 3 course set meals that are English and French in inspiration. It is rumoured to be well liked by celebrities, keen to avoid the unwanted attention of the public and paparazzi.
You should note that it is not open at the weekends.
Ambience
The restaurant is a joy in itself to visit, as it houses a remarkable collection of artwork copiously hung throughout the walls of the restaurant. The walls are adorned with pieces by Hockney and Patrick Proctor, in fact the walls are positively groaning under the weight of the artwork hanging there.
The restaurant is luxurious, yet cosy and intimate, the tables are laid with linen cloths and napkins, and the seats soft and comfortable. Indeed our table was furnished with two rather fine low back armchairs, which definitely encouraged one to linger.
We had booked for 8:30PM, the restaurant was not that busy and indeed seemed a little "hushed". However, as the evening progressed a few more people entered and the mood livened up.
Menu
The menu offered an excellent range of French/English cuisine which can be taken in the form of two or three set courses. The dishes are changed regularly. However, on the evening that were were there the menu included; roast duck, stuffed guinea fowl, grilled seabream, veal, smoked eel and sausage and mash.
Service
The staff were highly professional and efficient. However, they were at first a little stiff not smiling as naturally/genuinely as they could have done. They did "loosen" up as the evening progressed, and managed to smile more warmly towards the end.
Food
I started with the tortellini with prosciutto ham in a tomato and garlic sauce. This was a highly enjoyable dish, small parcels of tortellini wrapped around delicately flavoured ham accompanied by an exquisite tomato and garlic sauce. A perfect combination of taste and texture, not overpowered by the sauce. I was more than pleased with this as a starter.
I chose the roast duck for my main course. This was undoubtedly, and I do not exaggerate here, one of the best ducks that I have had in a long time. The duck had been well cooked so that no blood oozed forth when I cut into it, yet it was still moist and flavoursome, the skin crispy and moreish.
I would also emphasise that the duck portion was a very good size indeed, consisting of; leg, thigh and a very large breast. A far cry for some of the dry disappointments that have been served to me in other establishments. It was accompanied by a very generous portion of home made sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce; these were ideal accompaniments for this noble bird.
Eva started with the seared scallops in saffron sauce. She was absolutely delighted with her choice, as the scallops were tender and beautifully complimented by the delicate sauce.
She chose the breast of guinea fowl, stuffed with bacon and tarragon in a Madeira sauce for her main course. A true delight, the breast had been cooked to perfection and the taste when combined with the stuffing was unctuous.
Our main courses were accompanied by paprika potatoes and carrots.
Rather unusually I decided also to have a dessert, and went for the date and ginger pudding. This was superb, a strong ginger flavour matched by an unbelievable sweetness.
Eva had the creme brulee which was a real treat, a crispy caramlelised top contrasting against the moist decadent underside.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and liqueurs, came to £131 including service.
Opinion
A first class restaurant which is well worth a visit. We are more than happy to recommend it.
Odin's
27 Devonshire Street
London
W1
Phone:- 0207 935 7296
Website www.langansrestaurants.co.uk
Overview
Eva and I went up to London the other day to try out one of the Langan's chain of restaurants, Odin's. It was founded by the late bon viveur Peter Langan, who partied hard, as per the New York Times:
"Langan was burned in a fire at his home in October 1988 and died on the 8th of December 1988 at the age of 47.
Mr. Langan, whose Langan's Brasserie in Mayfair was a favorite with entertainers, was co-owner with the actor Michael Caine."
Odin's tries to stay true to his memory by serving indulgent food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Odin's serves hearty 2 and 3 course set meals that are English and French in inspiration. It is rumoured to be well liked by celebrities, keen to avoid the unwanted attention of the public and paparazzi.
You should note that it is not open at the weekends.
Ambience
The restaurant is a joy in itself to visit, as it houses a remarkable collection of artwork copiously hung throughout the walls of the restaurant. The walls are adorned with pieces by Hockney and Patrick Proctor, in fact the walls are positively groaning under the weight of the artwork hanging there.
The restaurant is luxurious, yet cosy and intimate, the tables are laid with linen cloths and napkins, and the seats soft and comfortable. Indeed our table was furnished with two rather fine low back armchairs, which definitely encouraged one to linger.
We had booked for 8:30PM, the restaurant was not that busy and indeed seemed a little "hushed". However, as the evening progressed a few more people entered and the mood livened up.
Menu
The menu offered an excellent range of French/English cuisine which can be taken in the form of two or three set courses. The dishes are changed regularly. However, on the evening that were were there the menu included; roast duck, stuffed guinea fowl, grilled seabream, veal, smoked eel and sausage and mash.
Service
The staff were highly professional and efficient. However, they were at first a little stiff not smiling as naturally/genuinely as they could have done. They did "loosen" up as the evening progressed, and managed to smile more warmly towards the end.
Food
I started with the tortellini with prosciutto ham in a tomato and garlic sauce. This was a highly enjoyable dish, small parcels of tortellini wrapped around delicately flavoured ham accompanied by an exquisite tomato and garlic sauce. A perfect combination of taste and texture, not overpowered by the sauce. I was more than pleased with this as a starter.
I chose the roast duck for my main course. This was undoubtedly, and I do not exaggerate here, one of the best ducks that I have had in a long time. The duck had been well cooked so that no blood oozed forth when I cut into it, yet it was still moist and flavoursome, the skin crispy and moreish.
I would also emphasise that the duck portion was a very good size indeed, consisting of; leg, thigh and a very large breast. A far cry for some of the dry disappointments that have been served to me in other establishments. It was accompanied by a very generous portion of home made sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce; these were ideal accompaniments for this noble bird.
Eva started with the seared scallops in saffron sauce. She was absolutely delighted with her choice, as the scallops were tender and beautifully complimented by the delicate sauce.
She chose the breast of guinea fowl, stuffed with bacon and tarragon in a Madeira sauce for her main course. A true delight, the breast had been cooked to perfection and the taste when combined with the stuffing was unctuous.
Our main courses were accompanied by paprika potatoes and carrots.
Rather unusually I decided also to have a dessert, and went for the date and ginger pudding. This was superb, a strong ginger flavour matched by an unbelievable sweetness.
Eva had the creme brulee which was a real treat, a crispy caramlelised top contrasting against the moist decadent underside.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and liqueurs, came to £131 including service.
Opinion
A first class restaurant which is well worth a visit. We are more than happy to recommend it.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Bellini
Restaurant
Bellini Restaurant
8a Abercromby Place
Edinburgh
Phone:- 0131 476 2602
Website www.bellinirestaurant.co.uk
Overview
Eva and I spent a few days over Christmas in Edinburgh this year. On Boxing Day, with no set plans for dinner, we took the advice of our hotel (The Balmoral) and visited Bellini Restaurant.
Bellini is an Italian restaurant and cookery school that aims to bring "a taste of Venice" to the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town.
Bellini is run by Angelo Cimini who, like his family, comes from a long established catering background. His hometown of Villa Santa Maria, has taught chefs since 1290 and exported them internationally through the centuries to all corners of the world. Angelo has cooked for Sophia Loren, Charlie Chaplin and Clint Eastwood; now he has also cooked for us!
Angelo spent several years in Venice cooking at many famous deluxe international hotels and restaurants, learning the "secret-kitchen" which has provided him with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
In addition to running the restaurant, Angelo also runs a cookery school from the same premises.
Ambience
The restaurant is set in an elegant Edinburgh town house. Our welcome was warm and friendly. We were shown to a private bar on the left of the entrance hall, where we perused our menus whilst sipping some champagne.
The decor is cosy and romantic and the dining room is intimate, not over crowded with too many tables too close together.
Blue is the colour of choice in the dining room, the walls are painted blue complemented by a blue carpet contrasted by the tables which are laid with white linen cloths and napkins.
As an additional festive touch, since it was still Christmas, we each had a Christmas cracker. We wore our paper hats with enthusiasm!
Menu
The menu, rather surprisingly for an Italian restaurant, contains little pasta. In fact, Angelo cooks what is in season and what he feels is appropriate. Hence a large part of the menu is not printed, but conveyed to the customers by word of mouth by the hostess.
The dishes offer a "fusion" of local Scottish produce with Italian culinary expertise.
One amusing touch during the menu "performance" was the presentation of the mushroom basket, which Angelo would use in some of his specials.
Service
The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The service was relaxed but attentive, I would not recommend the restaurant if you only have 30 minutes for a quick business lunch. However, to my view, you should not go to a good restaurant if you are in a hurry.
Angelo came out at the end of the meal and personally introduced himself to all of his customers. Which was a nice touch, and meant that he was able to hear first hand if there were any issues regarding the quality of food or service.
Food
I chose the chicken ravioli for my starter. This consisted of freshly made pasta stuffed with chicken, in a white wine and tarragon sauce.
It was thoroughly enjoyable, and was an ideal way to start the meal.
I opted for the 16oz veal T-bone for my main course. This was cooked medium, as requested, with a rosemary white wine and lemon sauce.
The veal was succulent and gorgeously tender. It was accompanied by sauté potatoes and French beans. I was very happy with my choice.
Eva started with scallops with mash. These were first class; the scallops were tender and flavoursome and were complemented by the creamy rich mashed potato.
Eva chose the chicken ravioli for her main course. She was as happy with this as I had been when I had it for my starter. I would note that of course, the main serving was larger than the starter portion.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and liqueurs, came to just under £117 including service.
Overall Opinion
Bellini Restaurant is definitely worth visiting, and we shall certainly revisit when we are next in Edinburgh.
Bellini Restaurant
8a Abercromby Place
Edinburgh
Phone:- 0131 476 2602
Website www.bellinirestaurant.co.uk
Overview
Eva and I spent a few days over Christmas in Edinburgh this year. On Boxing Day, with no set plans for dinner, we took the advice of our hotel (The Balmoral) and visited Bellini Restaurant.
Bellini is an Italian restaurant and cookery school that aims to bring "a taste of Venice" to the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town.
Bellini is run by Angelo Cimini who, like his family, comes from a long established catering background. His hometown of Villa Santa Maria, has taught chefs since 1290 and exported them internationally through the centuries to all corners of the world. Angelo has cooked for Sophia Loren, Charlie Chaplin and Clint Eastwood; now he has also cooked for us!
Angelo spent several years in Venice cooking at many famous deluxe international hotels and restaurants, learning the "secret-kitchen" which has provided him with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
In addition to running the restaurant, Angelo also runs a cookery school from the same premises.
Ambience
The restaurant is set in an elegant Edinburgh town house. Our welcome was warm and friendly. We were shown to a private bar on the left of the entrance hall, where we perused our menus whilst sipping some champagne.
The decor is cosy and romantic and the dining room is intimate, not over crowded with too many tables too close together.
Blue is the colour of choice in the dining room, the walls are painted blue complemented by a blue carpet contrasted by the tables which are laid with white linen cloths and napkins.
As an additional festive touch, since it was still Christmas, we each had a Christmas cracker. We wore our paper hats with enthusiasm!
Menu
The menu, rather surprisingly for an Italian restaurant, contains little pasta. In fact, Angelo cooks what is in season and what he feels is appropriate. Hence a large part of the menu is not printed, but conveyed to the customers by word of mouth by the hostess.
The dishes offer a "fusion" of local Scottish produce with Italian culinary expertise.
One amusing touch during the menu "performance" was the presentation of the mushroom basket, which Angelo would use in some of his specials.
Service
The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The service was relaxed but attentive, I would not recommend the restaurant if you only have 30 minutes for a quick business lunch. However, to my view, you should not go to a good restaurant if you are in a hurry.
Angelo came out at the end of the meal and personally introduced himself to all of his customers. Which was a nice touch, and meant that he was able to hear first hand if there were any issues regarding the quality of food or service.
Food
I chose the chicken ravioli for my starter. This consisted of freshly made pasta stuffed with chicken, in a white wine and tarragon sauce.
It was thoroughly enjoyable, and was an ideal way to start the meal.
I opted for the 16oz veal T-bone for my main course. This was cooked medium, as requested, with a rosemary white wine and lemon sauce.
The veal was succulent and gorgeously tender. It was accompanied by sauté potatoes and French beans. I was very happy with my choice.
Eva started with scallops with mash. These were first class; the scallops were tender and flavoursome and were complemented by the creamy rich mashed potato.
Eva chose the chicken ravioli for her main course. She was as happy with this as I had been when I had it for my starter. I would note that of course, the main serving was larger than the starter portion.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and liqueurs, came to just under £117 including service.
Overall Opinion
Bellini Restaurant is definitely worth visiting, and we shall certainly revisit when we are next in Edinburgh.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Roast
Restaurant
Roast
The Floral Hall
Borough Market
Stoney Street
London
Phone:- 0207 940 1300
Website: www.roast-restaurant.com
Overview
Eva and I decided to try out the newly opened Roast restaurant in Borough Market last Friday.
Roast is the brainchild creation of Iqbal Wahhab, who founded The Cinnamon Club in Westminster. Roast has 120 seats, and is constructed on the site of Britain's oldest surviving food market, by London Bridge.
Edward Barry designed the Floral Hall in 1858, to house flowers for resale by the market traders; the upper floor now houses Roast, whilst the ground floor will house market traders.
Roast serves traditional British food in a modern lively setting, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I would advise you to book, as the restaurant was packed when we went there.
Ambience
Roast is situated on the first floor of the Floral Hall of Borough Market. It consists of a large split level dining room and open fronted spit roast kitchen, together with a bar placed mid centre of the main part of the dining room.
The building has been given a stunning frontage in the form of the portico of the old Covent Garden flower market, which offers diners views onto the market on one side and over into St Paul's Cathedral on the other.
If you like the colour scheme white, then you are in for a treat; white is the order of the day for the walls and high ceilings, together with the linen napkins and tablecloths.
This, coupled with the large glass windows, gives Roast an airy and spacious atmosphere.
The layout of the restaurant means that those diners who are placed on the upper split level by the windows are afforded an excellent view of the market and St Paul's, whilst many of those on the lower level are afforded an excellent view of the bar and kitchen.
I would therefore advise you to specify your preference when booking your table.
As noted the restaurant was very lively, bright and spacious; as such it may not be first choice for a romantic cosy meal for two.
We were given a very good table on the "upper deck" by the window. I was more than pleased to note that, despite the fact the restaurant has a high ceiling and large glass frontage, it was not cold.
Menu
The menu was unashamedly British, and contained a variety of traditional dishes such as; roast pork with black pudding, potted shrimps, roast pheasant, steak and fish.
However, rather bizarrely for a restaurant that calls itself Roast, the one dish that was missing was Roast Beef!
I find this omission to be more than a little daft, and indeed said as much to the staff.
I really would suggest that this dish, that is widely regarded as the national dish of Britain, should be included on Roast's menu as soon as possible.
One other point that I would suggest that Roast address, is the fact that their website does not at the time of writing have a sample menu uploaded. The key feature of any well designed restaurant website is the menu page.
Service
We were warmly greeted, and promptly shown to our table.
The staff were very friendly and efficient. The service and attention to detail was smooth and well co-ordinated as it needed to be, given the number of covers.
Eva's dropped butter knife, was replaced immediately without prompting.
Food
I started with the green split pea soup with salt beef and vegetables. This was a little too thin and watery for my taste; I have been brought up eating yellow split pea soup, which had a much thicker consistency.
I would also suggest that the split peas and vegetables could have benefited from being cooked for a little longer; as they were, to my view/taste, a touch underdone.
I chose the roast suckling pig with black pudding for my main course.
This consisted of several slices of good quality pork, a good cut with just the right amount of fat and crackling, served with a thin slice of black pudding which had been placed atop half an apple.
The pork was very good, the taste and texture was first class.
I would, however, make two observations:
Unlike the pork, they were hot.
The slices of roast pumpkin were splendid, and had been roasted to perfection.
Eva started with the potted shrimps, which came with a lemon wedge and a little toast. They were delightfully indulgent, rich, tasty and filling.
Eva then chose the roast pheasant for her main course, she chose mashed potatoes to accompany it.
The pheasant consisted of a generous portion of both breast and leg, served on top of sherry glazed parsnips. The bird had been well, but not over, cooked. It was succulent, tender and had a delicate game flavour. The size of the portion defeated Eva; so we made off with the remainder in a doggy bag, and had it the next day in a sandwich.
The mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy, and had a better taste and consistency than many that we have had elsewhere.
The meal, which included a bottle of Pinot Grigio (unaccountably they had no Chablis on the wine list) and a liqueur, came to £100 including service.
Overall Opinion
We enjoyed our evening; once the few “teething” issues that I have raised above are addressed, Roast will enjoy commercial and culinary success.
Roast
The Floral Hall
Borough Market
Stoney Street
London
Phone:- 0207 940 1300
Website: www.roast-restaurant.com
Overview
Eva and I decided to try out the newly opened Roast restaurant in Borough Market last Friday.
Roast is the brainchild creation of Iqbal Wahhab, who founded The Cinnamon Club in Westminster. Roast has 120 seats, and is constructed on the site of Britain's oldest surviving food market, by London Bridge.
Edward Barry designed the Floral Hall in 1858, to house flowers for resale by the market traders; the upper floor now houses Roast, whilst the ground floor will house market traders.
Roast serves traditional British food in a modern lively setting, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I would advise you to book, as the restaurant was packed when we went there.
Ambience
Roast is situated on the first floor of the Floral Hall of Borough Market. It consists of a large split level dining room and open fronted spit roast kitchen, together with a bar placed mid centre of the main part of the dining room.
The building has been given a stunning frontage in the form of the portico of the old Covent Garden flower market, which offers diners views onto the market on one side and over into St Paul's Cathedral on the other.
If you like the colour scheme white, then you are in for a treat; white is the order of the day for the walls and high ceilings, together with the linen napkins and tablecloths.
This, coupled with the large glass windows, gives Roast an airy and spacious atmosphere.
The layout of the restaurant means that those diners who are placed on the upper split level by the windows are afforded an excellent view of the market and St Paul's, whilst many of those on the lower level are afforded an excellent view of the bar and kitchen.
I would therefore advise you to specify your preference when booking your table.
As noted the restaurant was very lively, bright and spacious; as such it may not be first choice for a romantic cosy meal for two.
We were given a very good table on the "upper deck" by the window. I was more than pleased to note that, despite the fact the restaurant has a high ceiling and large glass frontage, it was not cold.
Menu
The menu was unashamedly British, and contained a variety of traditional dishes such as; roast pork with black pudding, potted shrimps, roast pheasant, steak and fish.
However, rather bizarrely for a restaurant that calls itself Roast, the one dish that was missing was Roast Beef!
I find this omission to be more than a little daft, and indeed said as much to the staff.
I really would suggest that this dish, that is widely regarded as the national dish of Britain, should be included on Roast's menu as soon as possible.
One other point that I would suggest that Roast address, is the fact that their website does not at the time of writing have a sample menu uploaded. The key feature of any well designed restaurant website is the menu page.
Service
We were warmly greeted, and promptly shown to our table.
The staff were very friendly and efficient. The service and attention to detail was smooth and well co-ordinated as it needed to be, given the number of covers.
Eva's dropped butter knife, was replaced immediately without prompting.
Food
I started with the green split pea soup with salt beef and vegetables. This was a little too thin and watery for my taste; I have been brought up eating yellow split pea soup, which had a much thicker consistency.
I would also suggest that the split peas and vegetables could have benefited from being cooked for a little longer; as they were, to my view/taste, a touch underdone.
I chose the roast suckling pig with black pudding for my main course.
This consisted of several slices of good quality pork, a good cut with just the right amount of fat and crackling, served with a thin slice of black pudding which had been placed atop half an apple.
The pork was very good, the taste and texture was first class.
I would, however, make two observations:
- The majority of the crackling did not crackle
- The pork was luke warm rather than hot, I suspect that it had been left a little too long on the plate before being taken from the kitchen to our table
Unlike the pork, they were hot.
The slices of roast pumpkin were splendid, and had been roasted to perfection.
Eva started with the potted shrimps, which came with a lemon wedge and a little toast. They were delightfully indulgent, rich, tasty and filling.
Eva then chose the roast pheasant for her main course, she chose mashed potatoes to accompany it.
The pheasant consisted of a generous portion of both breast and leg, served on top of sherry glazed parsnips. The bird had been well, but not over, cooked. It was succulent, tender and had a delicate game flavour. The size of the portion defeated Eva; so we made off with the remainder in a doggy bag, and had it the next day in a sandwich.
The mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy, and had a better taste and consistency than many that we have had elsewhere.
The meal, which included a bottle of Pinot Grigio (unaccountably they had no Chablis on the wine list) and a liqueur, came to £100 including service.
Overall Opinion
We enjoyed our evening; once the few “teething” issues that I have raised above are addressed, Roast will enjoy commercial and culinary success.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Restaurant
The TreeHouse
78 South End
Croydon
CR0 1DP
Phone:- 0208 688 9837
Website www.treehousepeople.com
Overview
Eva and I were in the TreeHouse bar on Sunday, having a drink, and decided to try out their restaurant.
The Treehouse is a bar and restaurant, serving imaginative dishes far removed from traditional wine bar and pub fayre.
Ambience
The TreeHouse is a quirkily decorated bar and restaurant, occupying the premises of a former pub. The outside of the building is illuminated by a wall of white fairy lights.
Inside, the ceiling is also illuminated by a “net” of the same fairy lights interspersed with tree branches. The emphasis of the décor is wood, wood and wood. The chairs in both the bar and restaurant range from an eclectic mix of traditional wooden four legged affairs to exotic carved tree trunks.
The bar is cosy and positioned at the front of the Treehouse, the restaurant is open to the bar yet secluded and intimate.
We sat by the fireplace, which had been decorated with a mosaic of broken crockery. The intimate ambience of the restaurant was enhanced by the fact that it was illuminated by a bountiful number of candles.
A live Latin band played in the corner of the bar, the music was good and not intrusive.
The bar was quiet, but the restaurant was quite busy; unusual for a Sunday night in Croydon.
Menu
The main menu had a variety of gourmet dishes including; gigot of lamb, scallops, ribs, vegetable shepherds pie, pan fried fillet of sea bass and smoked bacon & stilton salad. There was also a blackboard list of specials.
Service
The staff, in both the bar and restaurant, were very friendly and welcoming. I was particularly pleased that our waitress was honest enough to advise us not to have the lamb, as it was apparently a little tough.
Food
I chose the beetroot and pine nut risotto to start with. This was superb, the risotto was creamy and rich. The taste was a well balanced blend of nuts, rice and cream; topped off with a few shavings of Parmesan.
I decided to try the calves liver for my main course. This was excellent, thick and succulent. The liver had been cooked pink, just as I like it, and was exceptionally tender and flavoursome. It was served on a bed of hazelnut mash, with bacon slices. The mash was delightful.
Eva started with the scallops and peppers. These were lightly poached in white wine, and served with a piquant medley of peppers.
The scallops were excellent, tender and juicy; the portion was just right for a starter.
Eva then opted for the guinea fowl for her main course. This dish consisted of a breast and leg of guinea fowl, stuffed with black pudding; roasted and served on a bed of garlic crushed new potatoes.
The dish was first class, the black pudding complemented the tender and succulent guinea fowl; and the potatoes were a delight.
I will have that myself next time we go there.
We pigged out, and had a side dish of hazelnut mashed potatoes as well; this of course was not really required.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and liqueurs, came to £83 including service.
Overall Opinion
This is definitely one of Croydon’s better restaurants, and one of the few that does not serve reheated or microwaved food. We heartily endorse The Treehouse, and will definitely be visiting it again.
The TreeHouse
78 South End
Croydon
CR0 1DP
Phone:- 0208 688 9837
Website www.treehousepeople.com
Overview
Eva and I were in the TreeHouse bar on Sunday, having a drink, and decided to try out their restaurant.
The Treehouse is a bar and restaurant, serving imaginative dishes far removed from traditional wine bar and pub fayre.
Ambience
The TreeHouse is a quirkily decorated bar and restaurant, occupying the premises of a former pub. The outside of the building is illuminated by a wall of white fairy lights.
Inside, the ceiling is also illuminated by a “net” of the same fairy lights interspersed with tree branches. The emphasis of the décor is wood, wood and wood. The chairs in both the bar and restaurant range from an eclectic mix of traditional wooden four legged affairs to exotic carved tree trunks.
The bar is cosy and positioned at the front of the Treehouse, the restaurant is open to the bar yet secluded and intimate.
We sat by the fireplace, which had been decorated with a mosaic of broken crockery. The intimate ambience of the restaurant was enhanced by the fact that it was illuminated by a bountiful number of candles.
A live Latin band played in the corner of the bar, the music was good and not intrusive.
The bar was quiet, but the restaurant was quite busy; unusual for a Sunday night in Croydon.
Menu
The main menu had a variety of gourmet dishes including; gigot of lamb, scallops, ribs, vegetable shepherds pie, pan fried fillet of sea bass and smoked bacon & stilton salad. There was also a blackboard list of specials.
Service
The staff, in both the bar and restaurant, were very friendly and welcoming. I was particularly pleased that our waitress was honest enough to advise us not to have the lamb, as it was apparently a little tough.
Food
I chose the beetroot and pine nut risotto to start with. This was superb, the risotto was creamy and rich. The taste was a well balanced blend of nuts, rice and cream; topped off with a few shavings of Parmesan.
I decided to try the calves liver for my main course. This was excellent, thick and succulent. The liver had been cooked pink, just as I like it, and was exceptionally tender and flavoursome. It was served on a bed of hazelnut mash, with bacon slices. The mash was delightful.
Eva started with the scallops and peppers. These were lightly poached in white wine, and served with a piquant medley of peppers.
The scallops were excellent, tender and juicy; the portion was just right for a starter.
Eva then opted for the guinea fowl for her main course. This dish consisted of a breast and leg of guinea fowl, stuffed with black pudding; roasted and served on a bed of garlic crushed new potatoes.
The dish was first class, the black pudding complemented the tender and succulent guinea fowl; and the potatoes were a delight.
I will have that myself next time we go there.
We pigged out, and had a side dish of hazelnut mashed potatoes as well; this of course was not really required.
The meal, which included a bottle of Chablis and liqueurs, came to £83 including service.
Overall Opinion
This is definitely one of Croydon’s better restaurants, and one of the few that does not serve reheated or microwaved food. We heartily endorse The Treehouse, and will definitely be visiting it again.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Restaurant
Die Ecke
Tegelbacken 6, Box 195
Stockholm S-101 23
Sweden
Phone (46) (8) 4123400
Website www.sheratonstockholm.com/en/restaurants/die_ecke/
Overview
Eva and I were in Stockholm last weekend, doing some pre Christmas partying, we decided to try out Die Ecke; a Bavarian bierstubbe, which serves traditional Bavarian food.
Ambience
Die Ecke was exceptionally cosy and inviting.
It was modelled on a typical Bavarian bierstubbe; with a wooden panelled dining room and a small bar, where you could enjoy the many German beers on offer.
The style of the restaurant was German rustic, of the “old school”. Wooden tables, chairs and panelling abounded.
It offered a very pleasant atmosphere for an intimate evening, or for a larger gathering with friends.
Menu
The menu offered a good selection of Bavarian food including; Weiner Schnitzel, sausages, ham hocks and Goulash soup.
In addition to German wines, there was an excellent choice of good quality German beers.
Service
The staff were exceptionally friendly, welcoming and efficient. They spoke German, Swedish and English; and I guess a few other languages as well.
Food
Eva made a pre meal “attack” on the salad bar, which was available to all diners at no extra cost; this provided a good selection of green salads and tomatoes.
We both started with the Goulash soup, Eva had a small bowl (which was quite large) and I had a large bowl (which was very large!).
The soup was excellent, spicy and flavoursome. It contained a good quantity of meat and peppers, and made a most excellent starter.
I chose the Bavarian platter for my main course. This consisted of a generous selection of various Bavarian sausages (fried and boiled), meatloaf and ham. This was served with a healthy dollop of creamy, rich mashed potato.
My meal was excellent, hearty and tasty; definitely to be recommended.
Eva chose the Wiener Schnitzel for her main course. This was a generous sized escalope of tender succulent veal, bread crumbed and fried. It was served plain with a lemon wedge, and boiled potatoes.
She was delighted with her choice.
The meal, which included several bottles of good quality German beer, came to 852SEK before service.
Overall Opinion
A splendid restaurant, we heartily recommend it.
Die Ecke
Tegelbacken 6, Box 195
Stockholm S-101 23
Sweden
Phone (46) (8) 4123400
Website www.sheratonstockholm.com/en/restaurants/die_ecke/
Overview
Eva and I were in Stockholm last weekend, doing some pre Christmas partying, we decided to try out Die Ecke; a Bavarian bierstubbe, which serves traditional Bavarian food.
Ambience
Die Ecke was exceptionally cosy and inviting.
It was modelled on a typical Bavarian bierstubbe; with a wooden panelled dining room and a small bar, where you could enjoy the many German beers on offer.
The style of the restaurant was German rustic, of the “old school”. Wooden tables, chairs and panelling abounded.
It offered a very pleasant atmosphere for an intimate evening, or for a larger gathering with friends.
Menu
The menu offered a good selection of Bavarian food including; Weiner Schnitzel, sausages, ham hocks and Goulash soup.
In addition to German wines, there was an excellent choice of good quality German beers.
Service
The staff were exceptionally friendly, welcoming and efficient. They spoke German, Swedish and English; and I guess a few other languages as well.
Food
Eva made a pre meal “attack” on the salad bar, which was available to all diners at no extra cost; this provided a good selection of green salads and tomatoes.
We both started with the Goulash soup, Eva had a small bowl (which was quite large) and I had a large bowl (which was very large!).
The soup was excellent, spicy and flavoursome. It contained a good quantity of meat and peppers, and made a most excellent starter.
I chose the Bavarian platter for my main course. This consisted of a generous selection of various Bavarian sausages (fried and boiled), meatloaf and ham. This was served with a healthy dollop of creamy, rich mashed potato.
My meal was excellent, hearty and tasty; definitely to be recommended.
Eva chose the Wiener Schnitzel for her main course. This was a generous sized escalope of tender succulent veal, bread crumbed and fried. It was served plain with a lemon wedge, and boiled potatoes.
She was delighted with her choice.
The meal, which included several bottles of good quality German beer, came to 852SEK before service.
Overall Opinion
A splendid restaurant, we heartily recommend it.
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