Our Valentine’s lunch at the Castle Hotel initially threatened to become a comedy of errors; thankfully the quality of the food shone through what would otherwise have been quite a bizarre experience….. This review is split into two parts: one dealing with the food, and one dealing with the confusion about tables and menus.
The food:
For my starter I ordered the baby beetroot and goats cheese tartan, a lovely little pastry case topped with tangy beetroot and creamy cheese; just right for a starter, and beautifully presented with a tiny salad garnish and thyme oil. My husband had the smoked salmon with soft-boiled quail egg – actually he was served three halves of quails eggs, what happened to the fourth half I don’t know! The salmon was lovely, and a nicely sized portion too. For my main course I had the fillet of rock turbot served on a clam and mussel broth, and it was delicious. There were two big pieces of turbot, cooked beautifully, and the broth was very tasty and light. My husband enjoyed the saddle of venison with red cabbage; again, beautifully cooked, and very tasty. We were both up for pudding, and so were brought both the bar and the a la carte menu, from which we ordered the warm chocolate fondant with hazelnut ice cream (a la carte) and the treacle tart with banana toffee ice cream (bar menu). The chocolate fondant was lovely, and went really well with the roast hazelnuts it was served with. The treacle tart was nice and light, but didn’t have a particularly treacly flavour, while I suspect the accompanying ice cream was white chocolate (it definitely wasn’t banana toffee, anyway). We finished with tea and coffee, each served with a wrapped white chocolate ball, and then requested the bill. On this occasion I was being treated so didn’t have to pay, but for three courses each, tea and coffee, three soft drinks and a glass of wine, the total was just under £70. It was a lovely meal, but was marred by the surrounding confusion and having to sit in isolation in the chilly restaurant – see below!
The confusion:
My husband had booked ahead for lunch in the restaurant, initially trying for a table at 1pm. He was told that it was very busy that day but they could fit us in earlier, and was offered a table at 12.30pm, which he accepted. When we arrived just before 12.30pm, then, we were directed to the bar for drinks and to place our order, before being shown through to the restaurant. But, once in the bar, we were shown to a table laid for lunch. We explained we had a table in the restaurant, and were advised that they would see if they could fit us in. No, we said, you misunderstand, we have already booked for the restaurant. So, we sat in the bar and ordered drinks, and were brought the menu – for the bar. Sorry, we said, could we see the restaurant menu? The only menu on offer that day, we were told, was the bar menu. But, we explained, we’ve booked a table in the restaurant (by implication, to eat from the a la carte menu). As we were debating whether to stay, the waiter (all the staff were very nice, by the way) went away to speak to someone, returning to say he was happy to be able to offer us the option of the a la carte menu after all. Hoorah! We ordered, and were soon shown through to the restaurant. It was set for Valentine’s Day (i.e. tables for two with single red roses on them) and otherwise totally empty – even the lights hadn’t been switched on (it was technically daylight outside, but rather dull and chilly). It will soon fill up, we thought, having had to accept an earlier booking to accommodate for their popularity. Meanwhile, our starters arrived – actually, someone’s starters arrived, but they weren’t ours. We sent them back. Ours arrived. Another couple were shown into the restaurant, and to herald their arrival the lights were switched on. They were seated, and like us, were initially given the bar menu. They queried this and, on being told it was the only menu on offer, moved back through to the bar to eat (where it was warmer). So we were still in splendid isolation in the restaurant. In due course another couple were seated, and it became obvious that they’d gone through the same menu confusion and had, like us, stuck to their guns and requested the a la carte menu. But the whole time we were there, there was only ever one other couple in the restaurant – so much for being very busy. I can imagine that what happened was this: someone took the decision that, aside from the special Valentine’s menu to be offered in the evening, only the bar menu would be offered during the day, and only the bar area would be filled. Fair enough, but only if this is explained to people specifically booking to eat in the restaurant. As a result we spent our Valentine’s meal sitting in the far corner of the otherwise empty and chilly restaurant (although my husband did manage to switch a nearby heater on – good man). At least there was plenty of privacy!
www.castlehotel.uk.com
Visited Sunday 14 February 2010
