Went last night to celebrate my Dad's 89th birthday - as it's across the street from my parents' flat. It's not exactly big on atmosphere, being a largely business hotel - but the staff are really friendly and helpful. Plus I booked with my taste card discount so it was amazingly cheap. My dad had a very nice partridge and celeriac salad to start, followed by sea bass on braised fennel and bacon - it did need extra potatoes but he couldn't quite manage to finish the massive bowl of french fries that turned up, My Mum went for smoked salmon followed by mussels, which she enjoyed. i've never been known to order a starter (why risk not having room for pud?) - and despite a risotto disaster earlier in the week (don't ask. Just don't try ordering cauliflower risotto. Ever.) I went for the risotto. Again. 4th time in 2 weeks. Anyway this version with leeks and mushrooms (although now I come to think of it, without the advertised chestnuts..) was fine, especially with some extra spinach which I ordered on the side. As for dessert - my Dad had a vast and delicious chunk of sticky toffee pudding - while the plum cobbler I'd ordered was not a success at all - very undercooked, so I asked if I could have the sticky toffee instead, with extra toffee sauce, natch. They very kindly changed it - and when we got the bill they said they wouldn't charge us for either dessert. So nice of them. In fact with the taste card, it came to a ridiculously teeny £31 for all three of us, so I left a generous tip.. the waitresses had been really nice, even bringing a fan heater next to the table as my Mum was freezing, and the room was a bit chilly.
So don't go expecting much of a buzz, but if you want friendly service and a really good sticky toffee pudding - this is your place. read more