RattusNorvegicus (rattusnorvegicus)

This is somewhere I've wanted to try for a long time, but as my husband doesn't eat seafood, for a long time there wasn't a lot on the menu that appealed. More... Weiterlesen This is somewhere I've wanted to try for a long time, but as my husband doesn't eat seafood, for a long time there wasn't a lot on the menu that appealed. More recently, there has been more chicken, beef, veggie and vegan options, all of which he enjoys, so we decided this time we were giving it a go. it opens at 12, and we arrived more or less on the dot there. the decor is quirky and cosy, and very comfortable. loved the skull mirrorball in the bar alcove. we were easily able to get a table, but for the time of day on an off peak weekday, it soon got busier. it seems very popular. we were able to order quickly. and didn't have to wait too long for our food. I had the Gumbo, which is a favourite of mine, but not available as widely as you'd hope in many UK eateries. (I do make a very good one myself, but can't resist it) the portion was generous, with a good sized side of delicious rice and beans, which had a lovely spiciness to it, and a lovely, light almost brioche like cornbread, delicious for dipping in the rich, flavourful sauce. the gumbo comes with plenty of tender chicken, spiced sausage and king prawns. the flavours were lovely. not overly hot (not that I mind a hot gumbo) but had a lovely rich depth to the sauce, with all the different flavours mingling beautifully. fortunately, as I don't have the biggest appetite, they were happy to provide me with a container to take my leftovers home in, as it would be a tragedy to let it go to waste. I only have a smaller appetite, despite how much I LOVE food, so this way I get two fantastic meals out of it instead of just one. staff were very accommodating, the house lager was decent, and my husbands burger looked really nice too. on future visits I'd love to try out some of the cocktails, but it was a little early in the day for that sort of thing for me. great atmosphere. fun decor. delicious food. quick and accommodating service. can't fault it. the prices tend to be a little higher than we would normally pay on a meal out, but you definitely get your moneys worth, so it's perfect as a bit of a special treat. the only downside I can see is that it is up a stone staircase, so will not be accessible to everyone. but for those that can visit, it's definitely worth it. part of me wants to work my way through the entire seafood menu, and part of me wants to just keep going back for that delicious gumbo.

Absolutely brilliant dinner tonight. The reviews convinced us to give them a try and it's lived up to everything people said. The staff are polite and friendly,... Weiterlesen Absolutely brilliant dinner tonight. The reviews convinced us to give them a try and it's lived up to everything people said. The staff are polite and friendly, and even the condiments with the poppadoms are better than average. The chutney has a lovely sharp tang, the lime pickle has a lovely deep, complex warmth, where many are just hot, and I think the raita has more of a mix of herbs than the usual green minty yoghurt. Our main courses were lovely and fragrant, a nice earthiness to the tikka biryani, and the massala wasn't too sweet, as is often the case. And the naan was amazing. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meal tonight, and the restaurant was comfortable and had a pleasant atmosphere. Will definitely visit again another time we are staying in the area. The prices were a little more than our local, but for poppadoms, two mains, a side, a naan and two large cobras, it was £22 a head, which for the quality, pleasant atmosphere and great service, with enough leftovers to take home is more than worth it. Thank you all for a very enjoyable evening and a delicious meal.