"The Olive Branch has become a favourite and we returned for my birthday lunch and a visit to the Yew Tree Avenue. We ate outside in the sunshine in one of their uniquely decorated gazebos, although the pub is lovely and full of character. Before...I go any further, I write this review because I know that they take on board our comments and strive to get better and better. There was a big lunch party in the barn, so parking was tight and we were worried about noise. We needn’t have worried as the hubbub subsided once their food was served. We ate from their “Lunch for Less” menu. Heritage tomato gazpacho with smoked creme fraiche and wild garlic and I had the pub made black pudding with apple, curried pickled onion, egg yolk and crispy pork. Both delicious although I’d have liked more of the pickle and the crispy pork. Decent size portions none the less. We both had the pan fried sea bass with cockles and prawn pearl barley in a shellfish bisque with sea vegetables, lemon and fennel. We were given a spoon for the “soup” but it was all absorbed by the pearl barley. We were expecting it in a little cup on the side... so why the spoon? Unfortunately, the sea bass was only one fillet cut between us. Not good enough when mains are over £18. Maybe they were running low, because of the big lunch in the barn? Having said that, the skin was deliciously crisp and melt in the mouth and the flavours were superb. We don’t tend to go for meals that are all protein and carbs, so it would have made our day if the sea vegetables and fennel had been much more evident or we’d been asked if we’d like other a salad on the side. As for asking, no one came back to ask if everything was alright... I had asked for the beer list to order another with the main, but we had finished it before anyone came back... may be because of the big lunch in the barn??? Next time we’ll book a different day if there’s a big lunch in the barn! The deserts were every bit as good as you’d expect. Banana pannacotta, dark chocolate mousse, hazelnut ice and Sticky toffee pudding, miso butterscotch and Guinness ice cream. I’d have been happy with just the Guinness ice cream! The birthday celebration was marked with petit fours for both of us, on a platter iced with Happy Birthday. A nice touch, thank you. A small deduction was made by us for the standard of service, which we explained, and were thanked. Hopefully on our next visit, these inconsistencies will be rectified. The Olive Branch can excel... and they do listen."
