Ham Hock Terrine
James St

James St

21 James St South, Belfast BT2 7GA, United Kingdom

Steak • French • British • Vegetarian


"enjoyed our evening in james st it was the best culinary experience of our trip! we had been happy to see this evening as we had a few hit-N-seals in the course of our trip to belfast. we were not disappointed and had the fabulous evening. we were quickly welcomed and sitting. the place is beautiful and spacious. revitalized and environment. the bar is great and would like to come back, only for drinks at the bar sometime. we ordered cocktails immediately. an Irish gin negroni and a traditional old fashion. my neger was absolutely excellent. I think the old fashion could have been done with real sugar cubes and not sugar syrup, but it wasn't too bad. we were quick to choose our wein. we chose a beautiful juicy red, the cline, the old vine zinfandel, 2019. to begin we had the ham hock terrine with piccalilli champ bread and some scallops with boar bell. the hanging-hock court was the best ham-hock I had. the homemade piccalilli was something else. really nice crispy and sharp sharp to help cut through the hammock and the champbrot was delicious crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. the scallops and black bells were disappointing, as they lacked no salt or genuine aroma or texture between them. we still ate it and shared the rest of my hammock. we both decided to go for the co. tyrone 270g fillet steak with sides of champ and truffle parmesan chips. red wine and pfeffer sauce. they were fantastic steaks. Actually, I didn't think I would finish mine, but I did. I have met the right choice with the jus and the truffle chips. they went so well together, the dryness of the parmesan and sweet, slightly greasy of the jus. the steaks were perfectly cooked. a medium and my medium rare. fantastic aroma on the grilled outside of the steak and beautiful texture when they pierce. we both agreed that the champ was the best champ we ever cost. it was hot, soft, so well aromatized with hot butter on the top of the copper serving pot melt. it was really the most incredible champ. I was too full of dessert. but my sample ordered the sticky toffee pudding sundae. the team was friendly enough to make me an espresso martini that was both decaf and not a sugar syrup. it was brilliant. we both managed to work our way, although a surprisingly light sticky toast desserts on Sunday. the team was fantastic. very friendly and chatting to us. the bar team did not stop, I had the pleasure of standing and watching them make a great selection of drinks and cocktails. the waiting staff were also very friendly when they check in with us at comfortable places to ensure that we were in order. we felt very well looked around. the service was very good, we didn't feel any hurry, it felt like such a free time in this restaurant. when we come back to belfast, we will be back in absolute terms and we will definitely recommend others. Thank you."

The Library Bar and Grill

The Library Bar and Grill

4a Guildhall Hill Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1JH, United Kingdom

Steak • Mexican • British • Vegetarian


"At six and three quarters, being the oldest person in the room affords a certain air of esteem. One can look down on one’s peers with lofty arrogance informed by world-weary experience. *Tch* and *tut*, my little rugrat friends, what little you know of the world! Kathryn White asked me to sit next to her in assembly yesterday, and I said, like, no way lady! Dude, I’m a P-L-A-Y-A, and ain’t no crazy ho gonna cramp my style – HELL NO!At thirty-three (minus one day), the same does not hold true. First of all, sitting next to Kathryn White does *not* mean I’m going to marry her. Second, propping up the bar at the Mustard Lounge, I fear I may well be old enough to have fathered some of the punters. Third, it’s way past my bedtime.Come the morning, I am not feeling sprightly. By the grace of God, however, I’m not hungover, as such, and can at least mooch into town without too much ado.I’ve been meaning to eat at The Library for a while, but have never managed to arrive in time for lunch. Today, however, I can sit there, warm and fuzzy with smugness, if a little woozy from sleep deprivation and the really high ceiling.The fish options look good, but for reasons self-evident to anyone but vegetarians and teetotallers, the curative properties of the lah-di-dah fry-up seem more appropriate. We both order the hand-cut chips, thick-cut bacon and fried egg: it is triumphant, standing us in good stead for another night of acting half our age.The combination of book-lined shelves and purple décor make the place an ideal location for nerdy goths. Nerdy nerds, however, will despair at the filing of said books, which have been lined up with wanton disregard for any established classification system, happily marrying Bruce Lee with crochet and motor racing with Middlemarch.Such irregularity was echoed in the friendly, if erratic service, and the disappointing dessert. The espresso mousse was relatively feeble, with texture like bread in a swimming pool and a flavour more in line with Revels than tiramisu; frankly, I was more excited by my subsequent trip to the toilet.This not to damn the dish unfairly, however, as The Library’s exquisite toilets are perfect for restroom aficionados, and are surely shortlisted among the finest in Norwich."

County Hotel, Samphire Restaurant

County Hotel, Samphire Restaurant

The County Hotel Rainsford Road Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2PZ, CM1 2QD, United Kingdom

Beer • Wine • Coffee • British


"My wife and I have been to the County Kitchen a few times for their Sunday Carvery. So why, you may ask have I only given the County Kitchen 3 stars and entitled my review as lacks consistency? Well the title does say it all, it isn 't that the food and service and surroundings are bad its just that as a complete package it...........lacks consistency. Perhaps I should explain rather than repeating myself Our table was crammed in with others in the small conservatory/veranda area. It felt cramped as we were against a pillar and so close to at least 6 other diners that it felt uncomfortable and unwelcoming, especially as the rest of the restaurant was empty. Moving on to our food. We opted for starters, followed by the carvery. My wife 's starter crab haddock fishcake, with chive hollandaise was presented nicely and according to her very nice but lacked flavour . Mine was pork belly terrine and chutney my comments mirror those of my wife 's. Lacked seasoning and flavour, but looked nice. I echo Greg Wallace 's thoughts on Masterchef the other day..... ...would rather have something that tastes good rather than a dish that just looks pretty... Now the carvery you have a choice of at 3 roast meats plus vegetables and if you feeling really hungry there isn 't a limit to the number of times you can go back. But for most appetites 1 visit is enough. Being a little greedy I had a couple of slices of port with yummily crisp crackling) and some beef. The carver described the beef as medium rare my preference) but it was more like medium to well done so it was a bit tough and chewy shame as it looked a fantastic joint of beef). That finally put an end to our meal, we paid our bill £59.95 incl bottle of wine, and starters) and left. I have to say that this hasn 't been our experience on other occasions, so perhaps its was just an off day. Will we go back? Probably, but we won 't be rushing back. Its not a bad place, it just.....lacks consistency!"

The County

The County

The County Hotel, NE46 1PS, Northumberland, United Kingdom

Steak • Pasta • High Tea • Bar-lounge


"My wife and I have been to the County Kitchen a few times for their Sunday Carvery. So why, you may ask have I only given the County Kitchen 3 stars and entitled my review as lacks consistency? Well the title does say it all, it isn 't that the food and service and surroundings are bad its just that as a complete package it...........lacks consistency. Perhaps I should explain rather than repeating myself Our table was crammed in with others in the small conservatory/veranda area. It felt cramped as we were against a pillar and so close to at least 6 other diners that it felt uncomfortable and unwelcoming, especially as the rest of the restaurant was empty. Moving on to our food. We opted for starters, followed by the carvery. My wife 's starter crab haddock fishcake, with chive hollandaise was presented nicely and according to her very nice but lacked flavour . Mine was pork belly terrine and chutney my comments mirror those of my wife 's. Lacked seasoning and flavour, but looked nice. I echo Greg Wallace 's thoughts on Masterchef the other day..... ...would rather have something that tastes good rather than a dish that just looks pretty... Now the carvery you have a choice of at 3 roast meats plus vegetables and if you feeling really hungry there isn 't a limit to the number of times you can go back. But for most appetites 1 visit is enough. Being a little greedy I had a couple of slices of port with yummily crisp crackling) and some beef. The carver described the beef as medium rare my preference) but it was more like medium to well done so it was a bit tough and chewy shame as it looked a fantastic joint of beef). That finally put an end to our meal, we paid our bill £59.95 incl bottle of wine, and starters) and left. I have to say that this hasn 't been our experience on other occasions, so perhaps its was just an off day. Will we go back? Probably, but we won 't be rushing back. Its not a bad place, it just.....lacks consistency!"