Malbec Restaurant

Malbec has now (11/08) been up and running for some three and a half years, during which time it has made its mark in this country town where theatre rules, closely followed by tourism. One of the distinct advantages to the location is the abundance of quality raw materials in this quarter of middle England, with lush pastures, a strong farming tradition and more recently easy access to fresh fish.

The building lends itself to the purpose. A ground floor restaurant leads to the newly refurbished cellar restaurant, a place of vaulted ceilings and flagstone floors. Simon and Rebecca Malin have not been slow to capitalise on these advantages by the addition of light oak furniture and discreet lighting with outstanding results. Malbec has been awarded Bib Gourmand status by the Michelin Guide, and more recently the Outstanding Customer Award made by the Coventry and Warwickshire Food Awards.

A meal at Malbec is more than just a meal - it is an experience, a journey along a pleasurable and indulgent road. Those with time to invest in such a venture may start with a Malbec Martini, or perhaps a chilled sherry with marinated olives and salted pistachios to hand, the better to assist study of the menu and wine list. Start with a really interesting salad of pickled mushrooms, baby beets, smoked Lincolnshire poacher and quail's egg, or smoked salmon and crab roulade with avocado cream.

On then to the main course and fillet of Cornish black bream with braised sweetheart cabbage, mussels, orange and tarragon vies for first place with roast noisette of Lighthorne lamb, purple sprouting broccoli, acorn squash and mint Hollandaise. Ginger shortbread with champagne rhubarb and whipped cheesecake makes a great foil to almost any main course and there is the Cambridge burnt cream with apple, cinnamon and raisin as but one of several alternatives.

Their wine list draws from a very wide spread indeed, added to which they recently resolved the age old problem of only a limited number of wines by the glass by installing a Le verre de Vin system which holds the opened wine at perfection.

There's always something happening at Malbec. A recent guest of honour was Sabrina Bosca from Argentina, when at a special 3-course meal Sabrina showcased some of her superb collection of Malbec wines. From Tuesday to Saturday every week they offer a two course lunch for £12 or 3 courses at £15. And should you be 'taking the lobster' as they say north of the Border, a free glass of The Widow, perhaps better known as Veuve Clicquot champagne, will arrive at your table with the compliments of Simon and Rebecca.

Malbec is a restaurant that goes out of its way to meet the requirements of its customers, so it should come as no surprise to hear that it has consistently bucked the gloomy trend in terms of business, and continues to do so. A quick click will take you to their Website and further up to the minute information.