Bread Selection
The Fox and Hounds

The Fox and Hounds

Walton Street Walton on the Hill KT20 7RU, Surrey Hills, United Kingdom

Pubs • Seafood • British • Vegetarian


"We thought you might like to know that The Fox and Hounds was awarded 5 stars on gastrohub. Here is our review from the site. Another day, another new pub, at least for me, Dad has been here before at some point in the past. This beautiful pub in the small village of Funtington, just wants you to come inside. Especially on a dreary Winter's day, when the drizzle is falling on you from a grey and solemn sky, it beckons you through its doors, in to the warmth, where you can forget about the grip of Winter and enjoy a few drinks and some hot food. The pub is much larger than it first appears, with an additional restaurant area behind the bar. Despite its size, the pub was warm, a fundamental area in pub hospitality. We examined the menu, including the specials board, and were mightily impressed. This was certainly one of the better menu's we have come across, showing a distinct flare and imagination. I had half expected the prices to reflect the ingredients and dishes on offer, perhaps rocketing in to the unacceptable bracket, but we were pleasantly surprised. Main meals averaged at £12 £14, what we would consider about right for a good pub serving high quality food. I chose piri piri chicken with spiced sweet potato and spinach, Dad picked from the specials board, putting his faith in the pulled steak inside a bubble and squeak cake. We soaked up the warm and friendly atmosphere as we waited for the food, noting the Goldilocks levels of both temperature and appropriate music. Before long our meals arrived, and it was immediately obvious that the chef has a wonderful eye for presentation. Both our plates looked stunning, so we quickly tucked in to see if it tasted as good as it looked. It did. The chicken was juicy, the sweet potato lightly spiced and tasty, and the spinach was buttery and luxuriant. Dad's bubble and squeak cake was equally perfect, leaving him unable to make any criticism. If we were to find a single fault, and I realise this is objective, we did find the portions a little small. Being the pub geeks that we are, we discussed this at some length. We decided that as a publican, there is a fine line between leaving your customers feeling short changed, and leaving them with room for a desert, thus collecting a few more penny's. We decided that they fell down just on the right side of that line, and to prove our point, we then ordered a desert. I had white chocolate and orange bread and butter pudding, Dad had an individual lemon meringue pie with blueberry compote. These were both also delicious. This is without doubt a very fine pub indeed. They have well and truly ticked all the basic boxes. The staff are efficient and friendly, and they haven't succumb to the overpricing policy which is so prevalent in many gastro pubs. There's a fine chef in the kitchen, and most importantly of all, the food is excellent. We always ask ourselves after each pub visit if we would return with friends and family. The answer in this case is a resounding yes."

The Lamppost

The Lamppost

19 Upper Newtownards Road, BT4 3, Belfast, United Kingdom

Cafe • Irish • British • European


"This pretty CS Lewis inspired café in east Belfast is a treasure trove of vintage crockery, quirky Narnia-themed artwork and with its perfectly pitched playlist, is a delightfully cosy family run affair offering fabulous food, coffee, tea and delicious tray-bakes all using local produce and suppliers. The Lamppost is now open on Friday and Saturday evenings with a brand new menu featuring a great selection of large and small dishes with suggested wine pairing, and some great vegetarian and vegan options, so we were delighted to have been invited down to be one of the first to try out the new menu. We began with a gorgeous Mackerel Rillette with watercress, cucumber pickle, and toasted sourdough, a Tempura Oyster Mushroom with maple glaze, kimchi bean sprouts, and an incredible gochujang mayo, and Grilled Asparagus with harissa yogurt, dill and toasted almonds, all of which were perfect sharing starters. To follow, the Mussels with Orzo, leeks, peas and saffron cream were fresh and bursting with flavour, and the Lentil Dahl with miso tofu and crispy onions with triangles of pitta bread for dipping was one of the tastiest vegan dishes we’d had in quite a while, accompanied by some steamed Asian Greens in sesame and ginger. To finish we had a light yet luscious Lemon Roulade with fresh fruit and vanilla cream, and some vegan cheese, a plant based, spirulina blue-veined wedge of Cashew Blue from Nourish Good Food, with crackers and Irish Black Butter. All washed down with an excellent bottle of Porta 6, and some great cocktails, this is a terrific new menu. Many thanks to the team at the Lamppost for a wonderful evening of fantastic food, service and warm hospitality."

Masons Restaurant Bar

Masons Restaurant Bar

36 Bridge Street, Manchester, United Kingdom

Full • Wine • Steak • Drinks


"We booked Masons for a Sat evening as they were recommended in a article by The Mancs, 50% off throughout Jan. Only to find out on the evening we were there, it’s offer of 50% off is only valid from Sunday to Friday, but not all Sundays in Jan. So basically Mon to Friday for up to a party of 6. Very disappointed when the waitress who seated us told us there isn’t a 50% off tonight. As that was why we booked. Food was nice, but not outstanding. Expensive and certainly not justified on portion size. My main course was £24 and titled Snapper and monkfish (with mussels, squid, prawns and samphire). When it arrived I was very disappointed, it was a bowl of stew. One small piece of snapper(bite size), one small piece of monkfish(bite size), 5 mussels, 4 prawns and 2 pieces of chewy squid ring in a tomato and samphire sauce. It was nice, but maybe it could have been advertised as a stew, and it could have been served with some bread, and spoon and a bowl for the mussels shells? It was a small main, and I was left bemused and hungry. If I hadn’t order a side of truffle fries, I don’t think I would have felt I’ve had a meal. We weren’t impressed on this occasion, or the last time we dined here during the pandemic “Eat out to help out scheme”. Its a terrible shame as we have dined at Masons several times before the pandemic, but it seems to have lost its quality, atmosphere and high standard of service we experienced previously. Judging from our last two visits, I don’t think we will be back to Masons in the future. I don’t know if it’s changed chef or manager, but it’s definitely lost the customer service, quality of food, value and atmosphere."