Monday 27 August 2012

The Victoria, Walton Street

The Victoria is a nice pub with a decent atmosphere, a good location for a summer's evening drink. However, this is a food blog, so I have to conclude that it's only worth eating in if you really like pies but have a small appetite.

Tuesday 14 August 2012

[Out of Oxford] The Jetty, Christchurch, Dorset

A couple of years ago I ate one of the worst meals I’ve ever had in an establishment that afforded a wonderful view of sunset over Loch Lomond. Situated in a similarly idyllic spot - especially so on a warm, still August evening - right on the edge of Christchurch Harbour in east Dorset, the Jetty could be forgiven for not trying that hard. But in a restaurant just across the water from a busy fishing port with a head chef, Alex Aitken, who is a former Michelin star holder (and ex-trawlerman), standards are higher. 

Wednesday 1 August 2012

[Out of Oxford] Côte, Reading

There are some meals of which I don't have particularly high expectations. Although it was a sunny evening and the atmosphere in Reading's Riverside area was busy but pleasantly relaxed, I wasn't too taken with the plethora of identikit chain restaurants, which include a Slug and Lettuce, a Bella Italia and (shudder) a Nando's. My brother steered me towards Côte, an establishment with a vaguely Parisian air, recommending their three courses for £11.90 menu, but our arrival after 7pm made us too late for that. So I wasn't sure if the food was going to be either good value or impressive generally. Still, in the end we had a more than acceptable dinner, seated right by the River Kennet (I later found out this section has the charming name of 'Brewery Gut').