Baked Potato
The Old Kitchen Tearoom

The Old Kitchen Tearoom

Chawton House, GU34 1SJ, East Hampshire, United Kingdom

Pubs • Wine • British • Vegetarian


"A break in the weather so we walked up to the house admiring the setting. On arrival, the door to the tea shop had a table in the way see photograph. A waitress popped her head out the door and looked at me as if she wondered what we were doing there. 'Are you still serving....cake? ' says I. 'Yes, take a seat ' and she gestured to one of the courtyard tables. We took a table the only customers (or so we thought). The waitress came to take our order I was so looking forward to a slice of cake. Imagine my disappointment when the only offerings were shortbread, brownie or scones. So we plumped for a cream tea (no fruit scones available, only plain) and a brownie. Now it is a pretty courtyard...but not in the pouring rain. Being British, we sheltered under a parasol to enjoy our tea. Unfortunately, the scone was microwaved and they forgot the brownie, but served two cream teas?! When my jeans started to get wet, we decided not to hang around and so I went to settle up. On paying (at the doorway) I looked to the left and saw another couple sitting at a table INDOORS ...all warm and toasty, plus lots of empty tables. I asked the waitress why couldn 't we have been seated indoors. Her reply 'They were reserved '. Really? We had been there 15 minutes and no one had arrived or left. It was 3.15 on a wet and windy Friday afternoon. I really felt as if we had been an inconvenience."

The Lochy

The Lochy

237 Kilmallie Road, PH33 7HL, Highland, United Kingdom

Fish • Steak • Coffee • Cheese


"The Lochy was fine for what it was for us--a very casual, very basic pub dinner after a relatively long travel day from Edinburgh--but it was probably the most average food we had of nine or ten days of mostly great eating in Scotland. Getting here was the most special, maybe. Having driven a car on the left for the first time ever on this day, wanting to have a beer or two, and staying in an apartment in nearby Corpach, we didn't really want to drive on this evening. On a beautiful evening, we investigated the Corpach waterfront (the end (the beginning? of the Caledonian Canal and took in the unbelievable views along the waterfront path (the Corpach shipwreck, Ben Nevis, the loch, and so on , and we wandered on over to Caol and the Lochy. (We returned via the canal path itself; you can jump on just across the street from the Lochy. I see from Tripadvisor that plenty of tourists get to the Lochy, but it sure seemed like a locals' spot on the night we were there, with a number of families present. Although the outside of the place suggests that it might contain a dim warren of rooms, it's actually a couple of brightly lit larger rooms with a bar in the middle, where you order your food and drinks. Venison burger for me was pretty tasty--although it came only with caramalized onions and goat cheese, which left things a little dry--and the wife's fish and chips were OK. Like I say above, the food was fine, but not especially memorable. Several beers were on draft, and everything was reasonably priced. 3.5 stars."

Pumpernickel

Pumpernickel

62 Friars Vennel, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 2RL, United Kingdom

Kebab • Asian • Coffee • Mexican


"update april 2022 since my first review already often. Her hearty Vietnamese dishes are great, I had some of the tofus. they also enjoy more puddings, including various fruit crumbs/bakers, the Empire Biscuit, and today an amazing skyberry and coconut tea on a short bread basis, with vegan ice. yum. original review first time in pumpernickel, as I heard it had gone completely vegetarian and vegan. they have kept their usual menu, but all the options are vegetarian/vegan (zb veggie ham, bacon' etc.) one of the owners is vietnamesian and so we have tried these hot rolls, and two different tofuss all fabulous! they came with roasted rice and salate and dipping sauce. it was obviously busy, we went around 2 o'clock and only a few tables were left, but then it was still. the board had the specials on, all sound great and are good. only two suggestions label, the dishes are vegan or vegan (i.e. some of the noodles are not suitable), and maybe have a few vegan cakes. (they had a big cake ad, but currently not vegan we are going back. the update was returned at the beginning of October 2021. tried the crepes (nice! hearty minze' and bohnenprouts inside) and friend had the Thai veg burger, also good. Apple crumbcake. friend had taken along before and had vegan skyberry cake. was busy fri 12-2, but other days in the week are quieter. updated by previous review on 2022-04-30"

The Karczma

The Karczma

Bordesley Street, Birmingham I-B5 5PH, United Kingdom

Vegan • Polish • European • Vegetarian


"I had always known there was a restaurant in this location, having visited Karczma regularly during its earlier days when it belonged to the Polish social club. Over the years, the restaurant has undergone many changes, including new management, a separation from the Polish club, and an overall refresh of both its decor and menu offerings. The term "Karczma" translates to "inn" or "tavern," and upon entering, guests are greeted by a traditional Polish mountain chalet atmosphere complete with silver birch trees, wooden carvings, and crocheted doilies. The seating comprises sturdy wooden benches adorned with soft fleece covers, contributing to a warm and cozy ambiance, which is enhanced by contemporary Polish music playing throughout the space. The clientele primarily consists of adult groups, but families with children are also welcomed. As appetizers included with the meal, patrons receive crusty bread, szmalec (a type of pork fat spread), and whole pickles—homegrown rather than jarred. Guests can help themselves from a table that is already set with these items as soon as they place their orders. Szmalec (pronounced “Schmalets”) is a traditional dish in Poland and parts of Eastern Europe but may be unfamiliar to British palates. Since szmalec is not vegetarian, I opted for just the bread and pickles, which were a perfect way to bridge the gap while waiting for our meals to arrive, as service is quite prompt. During my visit, I dined with a group of meat-eating friends, also of Polish descent, who all chose the placek po zbójnicku. This dish features beef stew and mushrooms nestled in a potato pancake, served with a colorful salad. The portions were generous, and diners praised the tenderness of the beef and the crispiness of the pancakes. As the designated vegetarian of the group, I usually opt for the pierogi, which are similar to ravioli filled with various ingredients such as cauliflower, mushrooms, or a Russian variation featuring potatoes. However, on this occasion, I chose placki (pronounced “place-ki”), which are baked potato pancakes served with sour cream. I received three large, thick pancakes accompanied by a small pot of sour cream and a salad garnish. The pancakes were cooked to a beautiful golden color and were both filling and tasty, although I felt that two pancakes with a larger salad or some additional vegetables would have been a better way to serve the dish. The vegetarian options on the menu could be misleading and would benefit from a review. The "V" symbol, designating vegetarian dishes, appears next to fish-based meals, which would not be suitable for strict vegetarians. As a regular patron, I would love to see more vegetarian Polish dishes on the menu, such as vegetarian bigos (cabbage stew) or golabki (cabbage rolls filled with rice), or even a vegetarian version of placek po zbójnicku, which would all be great alternatives. For dessert, traditional Polish options like szarlotka (apple cake) and sernik (cheesecake) showcase the best of Polish cuisine. I enjoyed the szarlotka, which is served with either cream or ice cream. This cake features a base layer of cake topped with roasted apples and a crumbly topping. There are also more generic options available, such as ice cream and sweet pancakes. A range of soft and alcoholic beverages is offered, with Polish beer (Zywiec) dominating the ale selections. Other alcoholic options include a variety of spirits and wines, focusing on specialty vodkas, which are recognized as Poland's national drink. Notable vodka choices include Żubrówka (rye vodka best served with apple juice) and Wiśniówka (cherry liqueur, ideal for shots). Hot drinks, including Polish-style black tea with a slice of lemon, are also available. While prices have increased somewhat recently, the dishes remain competitively priced given the central location, generous portion sizes, and the home-cooked style of the meals. I do feel the desserts could be priced slightly lower to encourage more diners to try them. Sample prices include: - Pierogi (filled dumplings) £7.20 - Placki (fried potato pancakes) £7.20 - Placek po zbójnicku (beef stew and mushrooms with potato pancakes) £14.00 - Szarlotka (Polish apple cake) £5.50 - Sernik (cheesecake) £5.20 Overall, Karczma is a unique establishment ideal for enjoying authentic Polish cuisine, serving well-prepared, rustic meals with vegetarian options. With the addition of a few more vegetarian dishes and more detailed descriptions of them on the menu, Karczma could come even closer to perfection."