We always enjoy lunch here. The food sits somewhere between “pub grub” and out-and-out gastropub. They successfully bring together a menu that can include a classic fish & chips and a Mauritian spiced goat curry.
Starters were both bang on. One focussed on a gazpacho pannacotta, packed full of tomato flavour. To enhance it, a scattering of oven dried cherry tomatoes, a spoonful of tapenade and a slice or two of marinated artichoke. The other was an overly pricy scallop dish, just three scallops sat on a pea puree, topped with samphire and a scattering of nice enough ham fritters (which wouldn’t have been harmed by more ham). Flavours were fine but not worth the twelve quid price tag.
I don’t think I’ve ever been to one of Brunning & Price’s pubs and not seen a braised lamb dish on the menu. It’s not always the same dish, though. Here, it’s a braised shoulder, literally falling apart under the fork. There’s just wilted cabbage, a carrot puree and a slab of dauphinoise potato, all set off with a flavoursome gravy. From the “Light Bites” section, came a steak sandwich – rump cooked perfectly to rare – smeared with a Dijon & tarragon mayo and a small handful of fries.
Good lunch.
