Food & driNK
great
resTAurANT revieWs
Modern british dishes
served with a twist
6
winter pubs
Winter pubs are all about
roaring log fires, a cosy
atmosphere and great food
and drink. Here are six near
house on the hill, 115 London Road, Sevenoaks tel: 01732 450120
Sevenoaks that fit the bill perfectly – great places
With Christmas around the
guaranteed to take your mind off the
to stop when walking or to enjoy a relaxing pint
corner, you might be pondering where recession. if it is a few drinks after with the Sunday papers
to celebrate your special occasion. You work then combine it with the tapas
may already have a few ideas, probably menu and sample blackened fish of the
big name chain restaurants. all very day with rocket and parmesan or field
1
the White rock, Underriver
Cosy bar and restaurant area – a well-
pleasant with good reputations, places mushrooms stuffed with mozzarella,
established pub with a variety of menus, covering
where the menus offer reliable, if a little wrapped in proscuttio. If it is fine dining
simple bar snacks through to full à la carte. black
unadventurous options, and the interiors you’re after then that too is on offer and
rock brewed by the westerham brewery can be
mean you could be in any suburban town does not disappoint.
sampled here. The landlord is a keen fisherman so
in the country. for those of you who andre regularly updates his menu
expect mouth-watering fresh fish most days.
fancy something a little more unique, ensuring it stays seasonal and fresh. he
and a little more memorable, house on spends time investigating the ingredients
www.thewhiterockinn.co.uk tel: 01732 833112
the hill is the place to go. making certain they are of the highest
Underriver, Sevenoaks Tn15 0SB
Nestled between the shops on london quality available and sources as many
road you may be forgiven for not as possible locally, although he’s honest
knowing it exists, but over the past three in his admission that sometimes buying
2
swan on the green,
West Peckham
years its reputation for consistently locally is just too expensive to justify.
excellent regularly-changing, seasonal menu and
delivering high quality food has some dishes have proved so popular
rustic bar with separate restaurant area. boasts a
established itself well amongst the locals. that they have remained on the menu
microbrewery and the beers are fantastic – worth
owner and executive chef andre since the start and after sampling the
walking to (jump in a taxi on the way back).
woodward has stayed true to his twice baked parmesan soufflé it is easy to
www.swan-on-the-green.co.uk tel: 01622 812271
sevenoaks roots: a wilderness boy, he see why. A range of fish and meat dishes
The Green, West Peckham, ME18 5JW
went on to hone his skills at westminster are offered as mains. these are cooked
College (Jamie oliver’s former college), to perfection with an original twist: the
then on to a top restaurant in bristol avocado, lime and tomato salsa proved
3
the Bricklayers arms,
Chipstead
before he finally realised his dream and to be the perfect accompaniment to the
the bricklayers has been under new management
opened his own in 2005. at house on subtly spiced seabass fillet.
since early 2008. it has the feel of a well run
the hill, he has delivered his promise Having enjoyed the sumptuous first
community pub – with sunday lunchtimes being
of an ‘open house’ atmosphere with two courses i was unsure whether i
particularly busy and friendly. well worth a visit.
a flexible attitude towards ensuring could be tempted by the dessert menu,
customer satisfaction. until i spotted a modern twist on the
tel: 01732 743424 39 Chevening Road,
there are various menus to choose childhood favourite – baked alaska.
Chipstead Tn13 2RZ
from so you are bound to find one that a taste-bud-tickling, raspberry sorbet
will suit your occasion and budget. if concealed beneath the snowy folds of
you are feeling the effects of the current meringue provided the perfect 4
the fox and hounds,
romney street
economic climate then pop in for a analogy – house on the hill is a true this little pub is tucked away in the lanes near
‘credit crunch lunch’ and choose from hidden gem. lAurA PArKer Knatts Valley and stages a host of different events
a selection of freshly prepared dishes – one look at their website and there seems to
be something happening most days of the week.
Voted ‘destination Pub of the year 2008’ by
Michelin-star food on
destinationpubs.com. try it soon....
www.foxnhounds.co.uk tel: 01959 525428
the doorstep of sevenoaks
Romney Street, Knatts valley, Tn15 6XR
gavin gregg restaurant, 28–30 High Street, Sevenoaks tel: 01732 456373
5
the harrow inn, ightham
renowned locally for it’s great food and an
Sevenoaks is very lucky. My
Next i opted for the sea bass, which was ideal cosy place to spend a chilly winters’ evening
dining partner and i were utterly blown honestly the finest fish I have ever tasted with friends. Close to a number of great walks,
away by what can only be described and the mozzarella crust was divine. including oldbury woods.
as Michelin-star food on our doorstep, desserts were phenomenal and my
tel: 01732 885912 Common Road, ightham
which we had never discovered before. fruit textures plate, including a banana
Common, Tn15 9EB
greeted by gavin, owner and host, ice lolly and pure tangerine juice, to
we were wined and dined to the highest name just two of the six elements, was
standard. exceptionally well presented presented elegantly and tasted beautiful.
dishes and stunning flavours were with the brassiere downstairs and two
6
the golding hop, Plaxtol
tucked out of the way, this truly traditional
awaiting us. Eating from the fine dining Michelin-star-trained chef andrew
pub offers perfectly cooked pub food and very well
menu, competitively priced at £30 for wilson heading up the kitchen, gavin
kept beers – beware of the Cider! locals joke that
three courses, we had wonderful canapés gregg restaurant really does offer
it’s a charming throwback to the 1970s.
and a selection of warm breads. this was something for everyone. i was left with tel: 01732 882150 Sheet Hill, Plaxtol Tn15 0PT
followed by a goat’s cheese starter, which just one question: “why have i never
was full of amazing textures and flavours. been before?” KATie WilliAMs
Words & research: karrie Curd
0 vine November 2008 onlinevine.co.uk
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