"It seems the restaurant positions itself at a certain standard but fails to deliver on that promise. If they simplified their menu to focus on traditional pub offerings with fewer items but executed them better, it would significantly improve the experience. They label some dishes as "pub classics"—like an aubergine miso, which feels somewhat out of place—and then charge premium prices for items like a £60 steak or a £31 beef Wellington. Overall, the menu feels disjointed, and most dishes come across as lacking any real care or thought. They simply look and taste like uninspired food.
While the portion sizes are large, it's just a lot of mediocre food, which isn't appealing. I ordered bruschetta topped with aubergine and feta paste. It consisted of two slices of bread, which were sizeable but overwhelmingly garlicky and not very enjoyable. When I inquired about the feta, I was told it was mixed with the aubergine paste, but I couldn't taste any feta at all and ended up leaving a slice behind.
For my main course, I chose the pea and parmesan risotto, and I added salmon, thinking it would be a nice complement. However, I expected that if they were suggesting this pairing, they would balance the flavors accordingly. Unfortunately, the dish was unappetizing both in taste and presentation; I left half of it untouched. Again, it was a large portion of food that simply didn't deliver on flavor. It felt as though the generous serving sizes were an attempt to compensate for the lack of taste.
I've noticed several five-star reviews and wonder how this can be; perhaps it’s just my partner and me who feel this way. I left the restaurant feeling overpowered by garlic and wishing I could have added salt to make the food more interesting. That’s never a good sign. As someone who usually finishes all their meals, I left half of each dish. Regrettably, I think I’ll be passing on this place in the future. I've given it multiple chances, only to have the same underwhelming experience each time."
Seafood Paella
