Dinner at Home

Tag: Restaurant

Restaurant reviews, opinions and news

  • Goodliffe’s Bistro Loughborough

    With the other half down at some boat show in London and my older daughter doing Duke of Edinburgh stuff my younger daughter and I decided to venture in to Loughborough for a cheeky lunch!

    We headed towards Goodliffe’s which is just off the main street and has a relaxed informal atmosphere. We were seated immediately and the staff were friendly and helpful. It was very busy with families, couples, single diners as well as people having a quiet drink at the bar. The menu is varied offering sandwiches, paninis, small plates (with lots of tempting options) as well as many mains including steaks, burgers, sausage and mash and fish and chips. Specials are also offered on a daily basis.

    Scarlett ordered mussels in a garlic and white wine sauce accompanied by french fries  (£10.95) and I ordered a potato cake with poached egg, chorizo, asparagus and a hollandaise sauce (£6.45). We couldn’t resist a garlic ciabatta as well to dip in the mussels sauce!

    The food came promptly and was really tasty. The poached egg was perfect, the potato cake was crispy and the hollandaise was just right. My daughter loved the Scottish mussels which were big and juicy and the sauce was perfect for dipping.

    The overall experience was really enjoyable and we will certainly be returning. I noticed they do Tapas and live music on a Friday night – I might just book us in in the near future. Thoroughly recommended.

  • Moomba Loughborough

    After a really tough week we decided last night that we should get out of the house and go and have dinner in Loughborough. We had planned to go to the Swan Street Social where we went at Christmas time and had a nice lunch but it has ceased trading – what a shame.

    A bit of research threw up Moomba Australian Restaurant & Bar so I booked a table and off we headed after a cheeky drink in the Orange Tree on the way.

    The atmosphere was really lively and the staff were welcoming, attentive and efficient. We started off with a cocktail while we browsed the menu. There were some really interesting options including camel pie (I asked and yes – real camel apparently) , kangaroo burgers and a kangaroo rump steak.

    We chose the Moomba Platter to share as a starter which included spicy squid, spicy chicken wings and garlic ciabatta. It was very fresh, tasty and didn’t last very long!

    We both chose a special for main – Jon had a swordfish steak and I chose the “spider” beef steak which was cooked medium rare and served with delicious creamy mash and a red wine sauce. Both were delicious and all got eaten. We also ordered a Barbera Shiraz at £13.95.

    The bill came to just over £60 which felt like great value considering what a relaxing, enjoyable time we had had. We will definitely be returning – I’m sure my daughters will enjoy it just as much!

    Moomba Australian Restaurant and Bar on on 01509 210202 – check it out.

     

     

  • Cinnamon Lounge & Restaurant Loughborough

    Having lived in Loughborough now for nine months it seemed ludicrous that we had not yet been out for a curry here so with no children in tow last night we headed off on a five minute walk in the snow to Cinnamon Lounge and Restaurant on Epinal Way.

    Being fairly early (7pm) we thought it might be quiet but were pleasantly surprised to find a warm, welcoming atmosphere which quite a few families settling down to a early evening meal in the Restaurant side and a few couples having an evening drink in the comfortable Lounge area – full of inviting sofas.

    We were brought poppadoms and relishes straightaway and ordered a refreshing beer each. We then ordered two main courses and two pilau rice as well as a garlic nann bread. I ordered the Garlic Chilli Lamb  which was cooked with diced onions, tomatoes, special herbs and spices topped with sliced fresh garlic and green chillis – very tasty and just the right heat. Jon ordered the Chicken Jeera  – chicken marinated in herbs and spices cooked with cumin and black pepper – also delicious.

    The staff were attentive, friendly and helpful and with a nice bottle of Shiraz the whole meal came to just around £55 which we felt was reasonable.

    Definitely worth a visit if you like friendly service, a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere and tasty food! Takeaway also available with free delivery within 5 miles on orders over £10. Parking also plentiful.

    Cinnamon Lounge & Restaurant Loughborough – 83/87 Lansdowne Drive, Loughborough, LE11 2BX.  Tel 01509 265980.

  • The Dun Cow, Dunchurch, Rugby

    Today I had the pleasure of meeting up with an old flatmate from my uni days at Goldsmith’s College – we hadn’t seen each other for eighteen years so we had a lot to catch up on. We decided on the Dun Cow in Dunchurch village just near Rugby in Warwickshire as it was convenient for both of us.

    It was very busy when I arrived so was relieved that my friend had booked a table. This is a traditional country pub with warm fires, lots of beams and generally cosy. It seemed perfect.

    We were seated immediately but alarm bells started ringing when the family next to us were complaining about having waited an hour for some food. With this in mind we ordered immediately and got on with eighteen years of catching up. Unfortunately everything took forever to come and we were amused at the waitress who spent her entire time apologising for the terrible service.

    Jools had the calamari to start whilst I had the beer battered mushrooms. Both were very pleasant but were were famished after waiting 45 minutes. We both had gammon, egg and chips for main – again, very nice and only brought to the table after asking for them , again with an apology.

    Overall the Dun Cow is a warm, cosy (obviously busy!) pub / restaurant that is well priced with nice food. Sadly the poor service let it down and I will not be returning.

     

  • The Manor House Quorn

    Today was an interesting but enjoyable day when I met up with an old friend from Goldsmith’s College who I had not seen for nearly twenty years! It is amazing how time flies but it was great fun to reminisce about those Deptford days before responsibility kicked in.

    We decided to go for lunch at the Manor House in Quorn which is officially the “Best Pub in the East Midlands” according to their website. I have been for dinner before and had decent food so thought we could sample the lunch menu.

    There is a restaurant area if you desire or a less formal bar area which is where we sat. The staff were friendly and helpful and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. The lunch menu is fairly limited to sandwiches and omelettes but the full A La Carte is also available which has a huge choice of all your favourite dishes including a rump steak and chips, traditional haddock and chips and chicken, ham and leek pie as well as more unusual dishes such as Toulouse sausage cassoulet and a spiced Moroccan lamb tagine.

    We opted for the same option – the roast beef and balsamic onion sandwich with hand cut chips. Presentation was good, the bread was very fresh and the beef was tasty.

    I would recommend the Manor House for any occasion.