The Old Bull & Bush: Heidi, Jack and I returned to The Old Bull & Bush for dinner tonight (Nov. 26). The results were mixed. We liked the ambiance of the dining room: the black wooden tables were well spaced and provided a nice colour contrast to the light floor and walls, and the indirect lighting provided a soft, comforting glow. We sat in a cushioned banquette built into a bay window that was particularly nice. They had three cask ales on draft: London Pride (of course), Adnam's Broadside and Sharp's Doom Bar. I had a pint each of the latter. Both were in very good condition. I had a side dish of wild mushrooms sauteed in garlic, and they were fresh and meaty and delicious. And, somewhat surprisingly, the espresso drinks we had to finish the meal were excellent.
On the other hand, the service was spotty -- the waitress seemed only sporadically to remember that we were there, and getting her attention (particularly when she was on the telephone) was a challenge. The scallops in our appetizer, set on a delicious bed of cold mango and mixed vegetables, were sweet and flavourful, but needed a better sear. The biggest disappointment, though, were the mains. Heidi's mussels were overcooked and had the texture of a kitchen sponge. My pan-seared duck breast was chewy and flavourless.
The verdict: Overall, disappointing at this price point. Given its convenient location, though, we might give The Old Bull & Bush another shot for a pizza and beer in the "bar" area.
The Spaniard’s Inn: The upside of London's inability to cope with even a moderate amount of snow is that I'm working from home this week (the week before Christmas). Yesterday, Heidi and I took Jack for a snow trek across the Heath to the Spaniards, trusting it wouldn't be too crowded on a Monday lunchtime. We were right, although a fair number of tourists and even a few locals also had braved the snow. We really liked the ramshackle, rambling charm of the place, with an open fire in the main room, dark cushioned pews and worn wooden tables. The hot mulled wine was fruity and refreshing, and the pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord was perfect. It's easy to see why this place attracts the crowds.
One caveat: We did not eat, so I can't comment on the food, but the weekday lunch menu looked overly elaborate to me, and suspiciously so -- I cannot imagine them prepping and cooking so many different and diverse dishes well or with fresh ingredients, particularly on a slow service day.
The Holly Bush: We returned to The Holly Bush for dinner again last Saturday night (Dec. 18) and we were pleased. We tend to eat early by London standards (the better to accommodate Jack), and yet the place already was buzzing with a Saturday-before-Christmas vibe. Sure enough, our dinner was pleasantly interrupted by a round of communal caroling as the village choir came to call.
Score a big one for The Holly Bush -- although they never received our reservation and despite the crowd, they found us a table promptly. (We made our reservation through Toptable; this is the second time we've had trouble with reservations made through them.) We started with a very nice terrine of foie gras and chutney dish. For her main, Heidi again had the steak-and-ale pie, which looked so appetizing that it tempted the drinkers nearby to cancel their dinner plans elsewhere to get their own. My roasted lamb breast was equally attractive, and although the cut was fatty and the texture a bit chewy, the flavor was very good.
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