Olive Branch

Dr Onegin (22 February 2007)

However tempting the drinks might be, the real focus is on food. Our Monday lunchtime visit coincided with a particularly attractive offer: a set lunch for £10 for 2 courses or £15 for a nominal three (a full and varied carte is also available). What can one realistically expect at such modest cost? In this case a great deal. A leek and potato soup which combined intense flavour with real texture and a classic Salmon Benedict where every ingredient on the plate was integral to the final taste sensation which fused smokiness, wonderfully rich egg yolk and the sharpness of a pesto dressing. We both chose Game Casserole as a main which might have been anything but in the mouth was full of careful balanced flavours and the tenderest pieces of pheasant and boar paired with some glazed, roasted vegetables and topped with a dumpling made with the lightest of touches. After two so well executed courses it was felt that common decency demanded sight of the Carte menu when choosing desserts. Again the chef delivered in a deeply satisfying treacle tart with an oaty texture and a slightly spicy undertone whilst La Femme instantly opted for a bread and butter pudding which was at the egg custard end of the genre but nonetheless triumphed with élan. Throughout service was pleasant, efficient and unobtrusive and such extras as excellent home made bread and flavoursome butter add to the impression of a high quality operation.

When an espresso which might have been made in Milano arrived to round things off there seemed nothing could mar a perfect report, but then a visit to the ladies revealed a low level of lighting apparently incompatible with the successful application of eyeliner. In the interests of truth I feel duty bound to report this misdemeanour whilst refusing to give The Olive Branch anything less than 10/10. You won’t find better food than this in a pub for many a day. A word of warning: book a week ahead to be sure of a table. Enough said.

Darren Biggadike (31 January 2007)

My wife and I ate here on a Friday lunchtime June 2006. The setting is beautiful and the service we received was exceptional as soon as we stepped through the door. I opted for the half a Grasmere Pork and Stilton Pie with homemade piccalilli. It also comes with a bowl of salad which, itself, was a complete work of art (all of which were delicious). My wife, although not wanting the set menu, asked for the asparagus soup which was part of it. This was no problem and at less than £4 was a better price than many, run of the mill, restaurants for a soup. Starters were accompanied by our very own half loaf of (warm) speciality bread and olive butter. Mmmmmm!

I had the fish and chips - out of this world! The other half had risotto. It, too, was excellent. Everything at the Olive Branch is so beautifully fresh and tasty. The attention to detail - from the homemade tomato sauce and piccalilli to the artistic salad - makes eating there a real experience. We both agreed that it was the best dining experience we had ever had. In all aspects. Going back soon!

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