"However, we were pleasantly surprised by some flavorful amuse-bouches as we perused the brief yet enticing menu and chose dishes like rognons sauce diable, lamb, grouse, and Dover sole. The kidneys were well-prepared and the sauce had a nice kick, but the grouse had already been deconstructed and was notably inferior to one I had recently enjoyed at the Boot, a nearby pub in Houghton. Interestingly, Clos du Marquis didn’t source its grouse from Robinson's, the renowned local butcher, citing cost concerns, while the grouse at the Boot was indeed from Robinson's. Despite the Boot charging £21.50 for theirs, Clos du Marquis priced theirs at £26.
The lamb was disappointing as well, served in gravy-laden slices that reminded my French dining companion of a school lunch. As for the Dover sole, while it was large and well-cooked, it was evident that it had been frozen, and it cost £27. One of the dishes we looked forward to most was the crepes Suzette, but these too were underwhelming—prepared not at the table as they should be, and instead thick and chewy rather than light and slightly crispy around the edges, although the sauce was decent.
All in all, it was a disappointing dining experience, especially considering the not insignificant total of £144 for three meals."
Crepes Suzette
