Restaurants and stuff

I remember when the Edinburgh Castle, Ancoats was a well rough pub in the 90s.

 

Yes, the Crown and Kettle is a cracking pub. I didn't know it before it was closed for years, but it was a post-work regular haunt along with The Fringe and the Marble.

 

Always nip into the C&K when over that way.

Back to the Gastropub list, I don't get how the Angel at Hetton can still be called a pub, and The Star Inn was still at number 2 while it shut for refurb after the fire!

 

Bavette, totally overrated imo.

 

We went there about six months ago and thought it was very good.

 

It's local for us so have been a few times. The food is very good and not over elaborate, but it is expensive - particularly the wine. I think tough times are ahead for a lot of restaurants. We went to Pranzo Italian in Horsforth at the weekend and it was half empty on Saturday night......and it's almost half the price of Bavette.

 

I must have just been (twice) on a bad day, as everyone raves about it.
Tori Nori in Leeds was pretty good.

 

That looks really tasty. I've never had proper Japanese other than tepanyaki. There's one in Headingley called Tada that looks good. It's just moved to a bigger place on the other side of Otley road.

 

I would want to be greeted at the door like this...

 

Recently went back to Quinta, on Wells Rd, Ilkley, for lunch. I had the fish stew, which was truly excellent; rammed full of fish and seafood and exceptionally tasty.
It’s Portuguese owned but worlds away from your standard Nando’s piri piri fayre. I’ve been a few times in the last few years, both lunchtime and evening, and it’s never been less than very good.

 

Due to go to Norman's this weekend, Kirkburton way. Owned by ex-Shibden Mill Inn crew.

 

Good to know. I was in Friends of Ham next door recently and it looked popular.

 

Our son went to a new Korean restaurant on Bingley Road Saltaire yesterday called Seoul Kitchen. He reckoned it was very good so we are going to try it out as it is just down the road. Prices look very reasonable.

 

Just returned from a two night stay at The Game *@?$ in Austwick.
I really enjoyed our stay, OH less so. The chef/owner is French and OH has an aversion to onions, which featured in many dishes.
I had a superb bavette steak, chef will only cook it rare or medium rare. Rabbit in mustard sauce also excellent.
Chef is a trained pastry chef and there is a bakery attached to the pub. I bought a few pastries to bring home for a family meal. Absolutely superb.
Reasonable prices, good portions, excellent service.
It is a family run place and all the better for it.
I would say make sure you choose things that are clearly home made, they use a wholesaler for some things such as the tempura prawns and squid.
Good breakfast, but I am not sure what pea shoots are doing on a full English breakfast.
It leans towards a pub more than fine dining but it does what it does very well.

 

I can't help the name of the pub! FFS

 

Use the zero in place of the O.

 

My significant birthday celebrations continue. We went for Sunday lunch at the Shibden Mill Inn yesterday. After all the rave reviews I was really looking forward to it, not having been before. Sadly I was a bit underwhelmed although the starters and puddings were excellent. On reflection, I think a very busy Sunday lunch service probably does not showcase the place at its best.
We were shown to our table and the waiter said he would fetch some menus - that was the last we saw of him the whole time we were there. We waited and other diners were shown to their tables around us and given menus straight away, we had to ask another waiter for them. Our table was I think the worst one in the restaurant, right next to the busy corridor of waiters and customers walking past the whole time, and quite dark. The diners and waiters had to push past my chair to get to the 2 raised tables next to us so it wasn't very relaxing.
Our starters were excellent, I had belly of tuna with wasabi, kiwi and basil dressing. OH had a stonebass fillet with chilli and mint. Both were great, so I thought things were looking up.
We both ordered the roast beef, cooked pink. Sadly it was only just pink in places and was over in others. A pet hate also appeared with the veg - undercooked green beans, I don't like eating them raw. We weren't the only diners to leave half of them. The Yorkshire puddings were bordering on burnt too. Compared with the roast beef I had at The Timble Inn in April the main course here came in second place.
On to puddings. We waited an age for them to appear after ordering and had to chase them up. My strawberry delice was lovely. OH had a ginger sponge which he said was lovely but the accompanying pears were a bit on the hard side.
So it was excellent in parts, not in others.

 

Not the biggest fan of a Sunday lunch, wife and kids love them though. Ox Club in Leeds is our go to.