Lunch in this cosy but classy little Emsworth gem. You can have two courses for £31.50 or three for £34.50.
Perusing the menu while nibbling on a small dish of fat green olives. We both chose ‘Charred Bream, Sweet Pickled Fennel, Miso, Spring Onion Dressing’ to start.
A warm loaf of malted wheat bread with unsalted butter was brought to the table while we waited for the starter. So nice.
The bream was cooked perfectly and perched on a small heap of pickled fennel offset by a few slices of red chilli.
For mains, my husband chose ‘Pork Belly, Parsnip Puree, Burnt Honey Sherry Vinegar Star Anise Sauce’. It came with a little side of fondant potato.
I had ‘Braised Ox Cheek, Black Cardamom, Smoked Tomato, Mushroom Sauce’. It came with a little dish of steamed kale. I was super happy with my main, which was a large piece of fork-tender meat with a luscious sauce and a quenelle of cream-enriched mashed potato. The kale was pleasantly tender, unlike some other kale I have met.
It would have been mad not to go all out so we had dessert as well. ‘Warm Carrot Cake, Cream Cheese Sorbet’ for my husband and ‘Dark Chocolate Bavarois, Rhubarb, Hazelnut Crumb’ for me. The Bavarois was rich and not too sweet.
We really enjoyed this restaurant and the set menu is good value for money in this area.
