Old House Restaurant, The

A and N (4 June 2008)

Having picked The Old House Restaurant as an ideal looking spot for some rest and a good meal, my partner and I could not have been more disappointed. The menu read like the choice one finds in a Michelin starred place - impressive sounding local produce and a nice variety. My partner chose the foie gras and I had the Cheddar cheese soufflé for starters. The foie gras was pan-fried, which was not stated on the menu, and a particularly sinewy cut, and the soufflé tasted a bit like the melted cheese on a Welsh rarebit, only more sickly. The main courses of fillet of trout with a bacon risotto and speciality steak with hand cut chips were a disaster. We felt the risotto was over salted, leaving the delicate trout overwhelmed and sticky. One good note, the chips were delicious. The dessert we ordered was a passion fruit sorbet; sadly what we received was a barely edible, acidic ice-cream. The Pouilly Fume was third rate, which is unforgivable on a wine list that flaunts a Haut Brion 98. The bill was in keeping with the style and pretentiousness of the menu, but an affront when associated with the meal we were presented with.

For people who love to eat and have no problem paying for fresh, well made food we can certainly state, as the Americans like to say, we were robbed. Having complained the next day for various reasons not all to do with the meal we were told – ‘all we can do is apologise'. I reckon that the Old House Hotel could have done quite a lot more.

Jake & Hilary Welwyn (4 February 2008)

We'd recently read reviews of The Old House so decided to give it a go. We went for lunch first on Thursday, in the day and had the Du Jour menu, very cheap but great value for money. Three courses plus coffee and wine, all for £15.00 each, it was so good we knew we had to have dinner, as the dinner menu was to tempting

We had a fabulous meal, everything was outstanding from the nuts on the bar, the service to the food which was exceptional and tasty. I had pigeon cooked pink with ever so slightly sweet crunchy walnuts, halibut wrapped up in smoked salmon with little vegetables and herb, the desserts were some of the best I've ever had. Roquefort ice cream was a new one on me, but it worked and the wine list is a wonder. We will definitely be back, even if it's just to have the little chocolates they give out after dinner.

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