You know how it is, you’re out with a good friend, you have a couple of beers when all of a sudden you hit upon the most wonderful idea!
Gordon and I both work from home in Chippy. Chained to a computer all day in separate abodes we decided to embark upon an experiment! Each week, we thought, we would engage each other’s company and visit a different establishment to sample lunch - not a full blown dinner you understand but just a light bite! We’ll then report back our findings and very personal view to this website on a weekly basis.
Week 9 - The Crown & Cushion Hotel – Bar, High Street
Just the one word to describe this establishment – Outstanding.
The service at the bar was warm and friendly, relaxed and unobtrusive. The food was plentiful, fresh and beautifully presented. Gordon and I knew we were in for a treat when we walked in to find the bar full with people. A lovely blazing fire built up the ambience and the comfortable and spacious seating encouraged our desire to forage the menu. And what a menu. An extensive choice of Bar Snacks compliments an extensive choice of Main Meals. Gordon and I plumped for the scampi, chips and peas, washed down with a chilled pint of Guinness. So impressed were we with our main, we rose to the occasion and sampled the desserts. Bread & Butter Pudding served with custard for me, Banofee Pie with ice cream for Gordon. "Well, Ramsey," exclaimed Gorfon, "We've found it! Our first establishment with straight 10s!" Sumptuous.
Treat yourself and find the hidden treasure that lies within the Crown & Cushion
Service 10
Food Quality 10
Value for Money 10
Week 8 - Watson’s Eatery, New Street
Three words describe our experience at this delightful eaterie ……Fresh, Filling, Fun. What a very relaxing ambience in which to take in the substantive menu. I spotted not one, but three specials boards, one for daily delights, one for puddings and one for everything else!
The warm and friendly table service was fantastic. I plumped for a bacon & brie sandwich on brown bread whilst Gordon went for the ham, egg & chips. The sandwich - full to the gunnels - was enough to feed a brickie for a week! The thickly cut ham, free-range egg & chips was also substantive. Both were accompanied by an assortment of fresh bread! Our drinks, mine a Cappucino and Gordon's an orange juice, were served in an interesting mug and a chilled glass. Both were delicious.
We loved the attention to detail with hand tied cutlery, lovely table displays, newspapers and Chippy literature to hand. Gordon said, "Ramsey - we shall most definately be coming back here!" Most excellent.
Service 9
Food Quality 9
Value for Money 9
Week 7 - Whistlers, Middle Row
To escape the torrential rain we decided to visit an establishment this week with indoor seating and slap bang in the middle of town.
Whistlers provided a very comfortable setting and we lunched on the “lite bite” menu. Accompanied by Mrs Gordon for this week's outing, we were able to sample a selection of three offerings. Our baguettes, a bacon and stilton for Mrs Gordon, a chicken, bacon and mayonnaise for me and a ham and mustard for Gordon, were all politely served and accompanied by a lightly dressed salad. The fillings were of fine quality and the baguettes were soft and sumptuous.
Gordon and his lovely wife raised a glass with me and we all chimed, "Well done, Whistlers."
Service 9
Food Quality 9
Value for Money 9
Week 6 -The Albion Tavern - Burford Road
By chance we ambled into The Albion Tavern this week. Basking in the summer sun we set up camp on the rear patio and awaited the delights of our order. For Gordon, a Tuna and Mayonnaise baguette and for me a Chicken & Bacon Melt baguette. Both were served (in a very friendly manner) accompanied by a fresh green salad. Our drinks (orange squash and a bitter shandy for Ramsey) were suitably chilled. "Ramsy" declared Gordona s he basked in the sun, "We truly are blessed with some fantatsic places for lunch!" I couldn't answer as my mouth was too full!
Very pleasant indeed.
Service 7
Food Quality 8
Value for Money 8
Week 5 - The Blue Boar
This week we decided to sample the delights of a venue affording outside seating, the weather being sunny!
We were greeted by a genuinely happy and smiling barperson. We both plumped for the Coronation Chicken baguette and chips. We relaxed on the front terrace, watched the world go by and waited for our food to be served. We didn't wait long before another smiling member of staff graceed our terrace bringing us each a baguette three times the size of Bitter and Twisted's meagre panini. Not only that, it was stuffed to the rafters with hige chunks of chicken and was served with a supply of chips that would easily feed a football team!
Gordon said "I'm very impressed indeed." So was I!
Service 9
Food Quality 9
Value for Money 9
Week 4 -The Fox Hotel
This is definitely a hidden treasure. Ramsey and I decided to bring along two fillies for this week’s mystery lunch. It’s good to get four different opinions on food as not often all agree! We did on this occasion!
Served in a friendly manner, our food was a delight to consume. And what a lot of it! My bacon melt baguette was nestled between a good bowl full of chips and a healthy portion of fresh salad.
Gordon plumped for the tuna melt baguette and our partners savoured the delights of a BLT on wholemeal and a steak baguette again served with the above accompaniments. All consistently large on the portion size, fresh and cooked to perfection.
Service 8
Food Quality 9
Value for Money 9
Week 3 - Bitter & Twisted, Middle Row
Gordon and I are huge fans of Whistlers wo we thought we'd give her sister pub a go. A sign cried out "Lunch and a soft drink for a fiver!" "Ramsey," said Gordon, "That looks 'triffic value for money." Served on a small plate, Gordons’ Tuna Panini, was, I must say, more plate than Panini! My Bacon & Brie Panini left me searching for a magnifying glass to find the filling! We entered thinking “Value for money?”. When we left we couldn't help but feel a tad “ripped off”! We will return, Vanessa, so that we can report improvements.
Service 7
Food Quality 6
Value for Money 1
Week 2 - The Chequers, Goddards Lane
Perhaps we caught them on an off day, but the service though cordial was slow. This was far removed from the excellent service we've been used to in the past.
We ordered a sandwich for Gordon and a soup for me. Gordon received a good quality reasonably filled Bacon & Brie sandwich on wholemeal bread but with not a chip, salad or other accompaniment in sight! The soup was delicious, hot, homemade and delightfully served with a thick slice of wholemeal bread.
Service 6
Food Quality 8
Value for Money 7
Week 1 - The Kings Arms Hotel, West Street
And what a corker we found in our very first week. Very friendly service accompanied our generous and quality filled sandwiches. Gordon had Tuna whilst I plumped for my favourite filling; Bacon with Brie. The sandwiches were served with salad and chips and proved excellent value for money. "Ramsey," said Gordon, "...I can tell that you are most impressed". In order to maintain our impartiality, we stuck with soft drinks which were good quality too and served perfectly chilled. Thank you. The Kings Arm's Hotel has certainly established a very high benchmark! We look forward to trying out other establishments in the coming weeks.
Service 9
Food Quality 9
Value for Money 9