Bohemic Restaurant, Barcelona

First Impressions.

When I first arrived at the restaurant I thought the taxi driver had misunderstood my language translation and just dropper me off in a back street. My Spanish is not that good, however, I was a little early and decided to try a drink outside and if things didn’t look to good  at least I would be suitably refreshed. I was politely greeted by the owner/partner, Jon, and he confirmed my reservation, so there was no going back now. After drinks we entered the restaurant and I was pleasantly surprised, This was a typical Spanish  tapas bar with a little posh twist,  the tables were laid with white tablecloths and silver cutlery. 

 

 

The Food & Service.

The menu was in Spanish however Jon walked us through the entire menu (in English) and recommended some of his favorite dishes and he recommended a bottle of Pruno, a very tasty local red wine that was delicious. We Started with Patatas  Bravas with a sour cream & a beef reduction. This was followed by an amuse bouche of yoghurt and herbs (He called it Sour Cow) and it was delicious. Our mains were recommended and we chose the same dish “ El costellam de porc de sagas enfangat I cuit 48 hores” (Slow cooked Pork Ribs with a side of garlic oil ). These were the best ribs I have ever tasted anywhere in the world, simply delicious.  The portion size was adequate with the richness of the food and deserts were calling. We choose the Crema Catalana and “Minestra de fruits vermells crema alglesa, financier de festucs I matisos balsamic” A selection of four deserts that were simple divine.  I could not resist finishing off the evening with a small cheese board and a glass of sherry. Every course was outstanding and Jon was a superb host who kindly explained every course and attended to all our requests with a smile and a great sense of humor. 

 

Overall

This small privately run restaurant was one of the culinary highlights for me in Barcelona, fabulous food, outstanding friendly service in a quaint back street restaurant. When I return to Barcelona this will be my first choice as it stood out from every restaurant I dined in during this stay.

 

 

Service-     9/10

The Food-    9/10

Value for Money - 10/10. The meal cost £80.00 for food & wine

My Verdict-   9/10

 Would I recommend ? Yes– Would I return ? – Yes

 

La Pomme d’Amour, Rue Ap Allies, Pezananz

First Impressions.

 This cosy little restaurant located in Rue Ap Allies, Pezananz and it is a little gem. We found this place by accident, however, it was a great find. The staff were outstanding, the food fantastic and it is located in a square quaint little square along with many other restaurants.   

The Food & Service.

When we arrived the restaurant was very busy but we were seated and drinks brought to the table with the minimum of fuss.  It was fantastic to sit and drink the local wine in a relaxing atmosphere whilst we browsed the menu on a glorious summer’s day. My wife and I went for the same dish on each course which is very unusual but we were delighted that we did. For starters we had Scallops St Jacques, they were delicious, well cooked and an ample portion. This was  followed by Moules Roquefort served in a large bowl smothered in Roquefort cheese, it was simply delicious. For desert I had to have Îles flottantes (Floating Island) this is a special dish in France and I was not disappointed by the quality of the dish and I have tried many different recipes. 

Overall

This was an outstanding restaurant that ticked almost all the boxes for me. Great service and fantastic food in a comfortable atmosphere, I did not want to leave the restaurant.

Service-     10/10

The Food-    10/10

Value for Money - 9/10 

My Verdict-   9/10

 Would I recommend ? –  Yes   Would I return ? - Yes

Restaurant Farolin @ Odjo d’ Agua, Santa Maria Cape Verde

Restaurant Farolin @ Odjo d’ Agua, Santa Maria Cape Verde





First Impressions.

The restaurant is located on the sea front in the village of Santa Maria and is part of the Odjo d’ Agua Hotel. The view of the shoreline from your table is just fantastic.  The restaurant prides itself on fresh caught local seafood served every day and they did not disappoint.  

 The Food & Service.

The food here was simple and well cooked. The menu was small but it did have a mix of the usual fresh fish plates and traditional island dishes. The service was very good and the staff explained the dishes very well. I enjoyed my meal and the atmosphere in the restaurant was great, the sound the sea crashing against the rocks added to the restaurant ambiance.

 Overall

I had a great evening at the restaurant the food and the service was very good and the atmosphere inside the restaurant was great. It was busy here and it is advisable to book a table and this is testament to quality of the food and service  

Service-    9 /10

The Food-   8 /10

Value for Money 6- /10  

My Verdict-   7/10

 
 Would I recommend ? – Yes.  Would I return ? Yes

Paul Ainsworth @ No 6, Middle Street, Padstow

First Impressions.

 The restaurant is located in Middle Street, in a terraced house  next to one of Rick stein’s many Padstoe restaurants. This small quaint restaurant is divided into small dining areas but they are tastefully  decorated and it gives an intimate dining experience. We were politely greeted and shown to our table for the evening with the minimum of fuss. The waiter recommended house aperitifs, whist we browsed the menu, and they arrived promptly and tasted delicious.  

 Food & Service.

I was impressed with the food here, the menu had been carefully selected and it had a good selection of local produce. I started with Jimmy Butlers Pigs Head and my wife with Dave Thomasson  Scallops. Both dishes were fantastic and cooked to perfection, especially the smoked eel with the pork, the blend of flavor’s were great. For main course I went for the braise Ox cheek and Raw Rump & my wife played safe with Slow Cooked Veal Chop. Again both dishes were delicious. We finished the evening off with desert I had  Taste of No 6 which was a selection of mini deserts from the main deserts & my wife had the cheese board. The mini deserts were excellent and there was a good selection of cheese with treacle bread and green tomato chutney. It was well published that local seasonal ingredients were paramount  at the restaurant and that was testament  to the great flavours with the dishes. The service was outstanding throughout the night, we were comfortable and never felt rushed between courses. The waiter was friendly and knew his menu and he was also very knowledgeable with the wine and made a first rate choice for our meal 

 Overall

I was very impressed with Paul Ainsworth’s restaurant. The food was outstanding, with a service to match. Great selection of food on the menu with some interesting dishes that suited my broad pallet and this was equally balanced with some tasty alternatives. I shall look forward to my next visit. 

 Service-    10 /10

The Food-    9/10

Value for Money - 9 /10 

My Verdict-   9/10

  Would I recommend ?  Yes Would I return ? Yes

Odette's, London. My Lunch.

Odette’s is located is the fashionable district of Primrose Hill, London on Regents Park Road. The restaurant is surrounded by quaint little shops that sell everything from Cutlery to Cup Cakes. It is a great place to wander and browse in small shops in a relaxed environment without the hustle & bustle of central London.

First Impressions.

On entering the restaurant I was greeted by the maître de, who was very pleasant and showed us to our table. The restaurant is compact and the décor is very warm and cozy. The exposed stone work and modern looking wall paper giving you that intimate feeling. The bar in the basement is cozy and here you can enjoy pre dinner drinks whilst you look at the delightful menu. There is a walled garden terrace at the rear of the premises where you can also enjoy your food, If the weather is good!!!

Service.

The service was outstanding throughout the lunch, all the staff were polite, helpful and very friendly. They also had a good knowledge of menu and answered many questions.  The maître d (Ceri) was a chirpy chap with a good sense of humor and very organised. He ran the front of house with military precision.    

The Food.

There was a good selection of food on the menu, with a choice of a 7 course taster menu or al la carte. There was a good selection of starters and I went with the Pigs Head & Black Pudding Terrine with crisp pig’s ears and apple jelly. What a delightful combination and well presented. It tasted delicious. The Scallops & Chicken Wings starter was also cooked to perfection and well presented and tasted fantastic. For main course we went with the Salt Marsh Rack of Lamb with seasonal vegetables which was excellent. Well cooked, tasty and a good selection of seasonal vegetables. The Halibut with Gnocchi, Pancetta and pea pure was also very good, however the Halibut was overcooked which did spoil an almost perfect dish. For desert we went with the Lemon Curd Artic Roll with Raspberries filled with lemon curd. This was outstanding, well prepared and very well presented. The Cheese served with a selection of bread was enjoyable. A good selection of 5 tasty cheeses on a slate.

Overall

I enjoyed my meal at Odette’s. The service was excellent during a busy lunch time service and the staff were well prepared and organized. The food was almost perfect and we had a great time there. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and I would definitely return.

Service-   10/10

The Food-  9/10

The Verdict-  9/10

The Bill- £125 soft drinks and 3 courses for 2 people with coffee. 

Would I recommend Odette’s? – Yes.

The Foxhunter, Nantyderry. My Visit.

After a hard day’s tastings at the Abergavenny food festival I decided to book a table at The Foxhunter, home of  Matt Tebutt. I was not dissapointed.

The Restaurant is located about 7 miles from the town  of Abergavenny in a little village called Nantyderry.  This is a stunning rural setting and here you can relax in the peaceful  and tranquil surrroundings of the Usk Vally.  

 First Impressions.

The Foxhunter is an old rural pub with a very modern and warm interior. On arrival my friends and I were greeted by a very polite young lady and shown to our table. We sampled a home made aperitif that was very tasty whilst we browsed the Menu. The restaurant was very busy and the atmosphere was vibrant. The young girl who waited our table knew the menu well and was very informative when questioned.

Service.

The service was outstanding throughout the evening. All the staff were polite, helpful and very friendly. The elderly gentleman who explained some of the wines was informative and funny. He reminded me of a retired army major and I think he could tell a funny story or two. He was a bit of a character. 

The Food.

The menu was simple however, the variety outstanding. To start I tried the Lamb sweetbreads with celeriac & apple remoulade.  A very tasty dish, well presented. This was something different from the normal starters you get at most restaurants and as a butcher who appreciates the different cuts, it was cooked to perfection. Other dishes we tried were Soy shoulder of pork, gem lettuce & pickles, Grilled squid, chermoula & cous cous & Scallops with mushrooms & ham.  For main course I had the Partridge with watercress, choucroute & game crouton. A very tasty dish well cooked with a delicious flavour. Other dishes we tried were Calf’s liver with Jersey cream mash, Longhorn Sirloin with roast potatoes and Hake with a herb crust.  Everyone at the table commented that they would have eaten each others dish as they all looked delicious. Finally for desert I sampled the Tisen Lapp with roasted figs. This was delicious, the sponge was light and tasty as it should be, and the roasted figs were delicious.  Other deserts we tried were Apple & Blackberry cobbler, Almond cake with berries and the cheeses.  All the dishes were cooked to perfection and very well presented. We all had a wonderful evening at The Foxhunter and did not stop talking about our meal all evening.

The Verdict.

The food was first class the service was outstanding and the atmosphere in the Restaurant was superb. My friends and I had a great evening and to finish it off Matt Tebutt walked around the restaurant after a busy nights service talking to the diners. This made the evening for my friends and what a top bloke, he sat at our table for 10 minutes and had a chat with everyone.  

Service-   10/10

The Food-  10/10

The Verdict-  10/10

The Bill- -£200 Drinks, 2 bottles of wine, 3 courses for everyone and coffee. 

Would I recommend? – Yes.

Purnells, Birmingham.

First Impressions.

The restaurant is inside  an old victorian redbrick building on the corner of Corwwall & New Market Street, Birmingham. Once inside you enter the chic modern décor that tastfully transforms this old building into the 20th century.  The decore is modern yet comfortable and provides a subtle and comfortable feel.

       

Service.

The staff  were warm and welcoming and gave us ample time to view the menu. We were provided with some tasty nibbles whilst we made our choices and enjoyed cocktails in the lounge area. The service during our meal was also very good and the staff explained every dish in great detail, however, some of the strong european languages were difficult to understand.  

The Food

We choose the Purnell's Tour, 8 Course Menu, with wine, that certainly appealed to our taste buds and we were not disappointed. The menu was well balanced and the variety of food and blend of spices was outstanding. My favorite dish was the Breast of Duck in a liquorice charcoal with tamarind, purple potato terrine, green beans and rocket. Who would have thought of putting charcoal on duck breast, it was fantastic.   At the start of each course the waiter carefully explained the dish and the wine. This was well executed and each dish timed to perfection even though the restaurant was very busy. 

We finished the night off with a wonderful selection of cheeses and a glass of port. What a great way to end a fantastic nights dining

The Verdict

This is fine dining at it’s best and sets the standard that others should follow. The quality of the service was very good and the food was outstanding. The dishes were creative and presented to the highest standard. A credit to the Michelin standard of restaurants. I would be struggling to find fault with the whole dining experience.  During my visit the restaurant was very busy and this boded well for a vibrant atmosphere. I am certainly looking forward to my next visit. 

The Bill  

Food £80 per person plus £50 per person for the wine selection.

Food  10/10

Atmosphere 10/10

Service 9/10

Would I recommend Purnell’s?  YES.  Would I go there again? YES.