Perfil de glasshalfempty

This is a great warren of a place, nicely decorated, and quite busy and buzzy. Lots of families, and little nooks to sit quietly and read, and well as the main bar. TV in main bar only, on silent with subtitles. The Ruddles was excellent. The food is basic fare, burgers, steak, fish and chips, etc. There is a steak night on Tue, and curry night on Thurs. We had a curry and beer for £6.59 each. Came with rice, poppadums, chutney and naan bread. Nothing to write home about, but a good tasty meal none the less. They do Lavazza coffee too.

Quirky cafe in quaint pedestrianised lane. Takeaway downstairs, dining upstairs. Absolutely delicious and unusual range of food, from hot mains to cakes and pastries. Some vegetarian. Illy coffee. Only open during the day, closing ‘around five o’clock’. Licensed.

On a recent visit, I had cheesy chicken pie, and my partner had pesto baked potato and butternut squash. All for £11.40. Highly recommended, in a town not over-blessed with light lunch opportunities.

This is a Young’s gastropub, and it does what it says on the tin. Surprise, surprise, it overlooks the river. Distant views of the Eye above Vauxhall Bridge, with Battersea power station upstream. Outside seating with parasols to make the best of the view. Food is competent modern European (seared scallops with pea risotto; free range Somerset pork belly with honey crackling; you know the sort of thing). Good beer goes without saying. Free wifi.
UPDATE January 2012 – Oh dear, they have installed a blaring TV in the food area, seemingly only for the entertainment of the bar staff. Now makes eating there a ghastly experience. Avoid.

The Bistro is out of the HdV cookie cutter – clattery space with wine bottle & photo decor, shortish brasserie menu with specials. Plat’s du jour are mainly off the main menu, which defeats the object. A recent lunch had salmon fishcake with a poached egg, and mustard sauce (which was ok but nothing special, and the egg was cold); a spicy warm butternut squash and lentil salad which was acceptable, but barely tepid, and a dry and bitty mushroom risotto. The wine list seems to lack wine by the glass or house wines, and is generally very pricey. A Californian Viognier was pleasant, but dear. All round, to be honest, a disappointment. Food at the HdV chain in the past has been very good, and this wasn’t. Service was friendly enough. There is outside space for warm weather.

In a town not brimming with fine dining options, this is a welcome seafood restaurant, specialising in locally landed fare. I recently enjoyed grilled sardines to start, followed by bouillabaisse. It was good but not stunning in any way. The restaurant is a modern airy room, with the kitchen visible as in-flight entertainment.

On a perfect day in the Indian summer, we stumbled upon this gem. I had one of the best crab sandwiches ever, and the Zennor Mermaid beer is sheer nectar. The menu for evening meals looked interesting and adventurous too, in an unexpectedly gastro pub sort of way. And the walking nearby is stunning. (See photos). As well as the main bar, there is outside seating at the front, and in a garden at the rear. Car park too.

I’m a hard marker, but this is almost perfection as a seaside cafe. Located on the great surfer beach of Porthmeor, with expansive views of sea and sky, it’s a great seaside location. Choice of inside or on the terraces, all with that view. Eclectic and varied menu, especially the tapas. Oz chefs in the kitchen turn out some tasty treats (but beware – the chefs go home to Oz for THEIR summer, and the restaurant closes for the winter). Some examples of tapas dishes on offer – Son in Law egg – soft boiled egg crispy fried with chilli caramel and asian salad; pork pistachio and green pepper terrine; cajun squid; grilled sardines with salsa verde; whitebait fritters with rosemary and confit garlic dressing. Tapas dishes are £3 to £5 each. Mouthwatering, and different. However, I went for the prawn curry with green beans and butternut squash, and steamed rice an flat bread. It was perfect, with interesting and separate flavours, not just a generally curryish flavour, and a heap of big prawns. (£13.95) This was followed by churros and chocolate sauce. (£3.50). We tried to go back the next night and they were fully booked. We could see why!!

This restaurant is within the excellent Pallant House art gallery, in the heart of Chichester. A great opportunity to combine the painterly and culinary arts. A recent lunch there from the set menu revealed a sure hand in the kitchen, though front of house was a bit scatty. I had pan fried hake, with Indian spiced potatoes, spinach, and cockles. The superb creamy sauce had just a hint of curry flavour, and the whole thing worked wonderfully. My partner had roast neck fillet of lamb, with saute potatoes, pancetta, and Calvero Nero. This was a bit salty, and the lamb a bit chewy (although flavour was good). Puds were better still. I had cinnamon macaroon, maple roasted banana, pistachios, and chocolate mousse. It was a sort of deconstructed banoffee pie, and a marvel – especially the creamy mousse. My other half had the vanilla poached Cox apple, lavender marshmallow, and blackberries. The marshmallow was stupendously tasty and soft. The set menu was 2 courses for £17.95, three for £21.95. A glass of house wine was an extra three quid. So, great tastes, imagination, and good value. Wait for an exhibition at the gallery that catches your fancy, and go.