05-04-2016, 15:19
|
*****
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kent
Posts: 969
|
|
After reading the recent ambivalent reviews we felt a bit nervous about trying this restaurant for the first time - it can often be hard to live up to Number One TA billing, and at first our fears appeared to have been justified. Not sure what had happened but their system of waiting on tables seemed to have gone a bit awry with much discussion going on between the staff and a feel of impending chaos - I was presented with a plate of food almost immediately which I clearly couldn't have ordered given that I hadn't yet taken my coat off (or indeed been given a menu) - and for some reason we waited another fifteen minutes before a waiter approached us to present the menus and take our drinks orders. We almost walked out - but I'm so glad we didn't, because from then on the evening went without a hitch. And the food - it was just amazing. Quite innovative and really delicious. Our marinated salmon - which I'd assumed would be similar to smoked salmon - was in fact quite chunky pieces of fish, more like sushi, and served with crispy squares of pastry and a gorgeous sauce with an Asian twist; prawn spring rolls were full of succulent prawns and very flavoursome. OH ordered the black pig with mango and said it was one of the most interesting and best things he had eaten in a restaurant for a very long time; I was quite jealous, but my 'Grandma's' veal cheek stew was rich, dark and filling, with fantastic home made gnocchi - lovely on what was quite a chilly evening. As others have said, the bread and allioli must be amongst the best in the Port. We don't normally do pudding but couldn't resist sharing a jar of tiramisu. I would agree with GG that offering a choice of digestifs at the end would be more befitting of what is actually a restaurant with quite a high-end menu, and Muscat really isn't everyone's choice, but it's a minor quibble. We loved the atmosphere too - it had a real family feel and the decor was traditional and cosy - the outside area was really attractive too but we weren't quite brave enough! This has gone straight into our Top Three, maybe even Two - would thoroughly recommend.
Last edited by kate1; 05-04-2016 at 15:33.
|