First impressions: Tastefully decorated, clean but rustic style pub/restaurant. Booked a table as it was a Friday night just to be sure, no problems getting in. We were quickly served at the bar and offered our table right away by our friendly server, Christopher.
Me and my dining partner were chatting away and realised we hadn't looked at our menus when Christopher came over, but he was happy to give us as much time as we needed as he left to serve his other tables.
The menu offered a tantalisingly described and wide selection of options, covering your usual steak, fish, chicken and vegetarian dishes, priced from £9 up to nearly £20 for your steaks.
I opted for the wagyu burger as I'd never had one before and my partner initially chose the belly pork, but switched to the duo of chicken, comprising of chicken breast and a mini chicken pie-both choices landing at around the £12 mark.
We were certainly not disappointed with what came: my burger was a big, juicy and succulent slab of meat, housed in a brioche bun with lettuce and tomato, accompanied by two crispy battered onion rings and sweet potato fries (my favourite!), with an ale chutney and truffle/garlic mayonnaise on the side for dipping/slathering.
My partner's duo of chicken looked (and tasted) similarly excellent, with hers accompanied with a jus/gravy with onions, creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli too.
Our server dropped by at seemingly ideal points to ask if the meals were satisfying and to offer further drinks-attentive, but not overbearingly so!
After a great meal, we treated ourselves to desserts: I went for the millionaire cheesecake, whilst my partner chose the banoffee equivalent, which was an award winning recipe from a local culinary student.
Whilst the tag of £5 for dessert may have seemed pricier than usual pub fayre, both were exquisite: rich, sweet, gooey and wholly satisfying, complimented with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, sugar comas soon followed!
For a single alcoholic drink each (ale/small red wine), one soft drink, main course and dessert, the bill came to £45, which, for the quality of what we had, was genuinely good value.
Yes, there are pub eateries that offer more for less, but as a step up from that, with friendly service and a pleasant atmosphere without having to go to a full on restaurant, this place is hard to beat! read more