Restaurant Reviews

 

rrpa260256.jpgThe Somerset Arms

Chruch Street

Maiden Bradley

Tel: 01985 844207

www.somersetarms.co.uk

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 12-2.30pm, 7.30-9.30 pm, closed Sunday evening, Mon evening bar food only

We visited: Tuesday evening

Prices: Tue-Fri 2-course lunch menu £9.95

Do they welcome children? Of course

Vegetarian choice: Enough alternatives

Disabled access: Possible

Wine list: well considered

Service and atmosphere: service could be better, atmosphere in bar hoppin’ and jumpin’

“The Somerset Arms successfully walks the fine line between somewhere to go for a quick beer in the bar, settle in with the papers in the comfort of a large sofa, or enjoy an excellent dinner and, even better, it’s great value for money.”

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60 Fisherton Street

Salisbury

Wiltshire

SP2 7RB

Tel: 01722 414142

www.anokaa.com


Opening hours:
Mon-Thu lunch midday-2.30pm; dinner 5.30pm-10.30pm, Fri-Sun 5.30-11pm.

Vegetarian choice: Plenty of choice

Prices: Starters from £3.55, main courses £9.95-£14.55, puds   

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Accessible

OUR VERDICT

As special as it proclaims, a culinary twist to the usual Indian menu and everything presented with panache. Waiters couldn’t have been more charming, yet weren’t intrusive.


"It certainly wasn’t the usual crowd one expects in a curry house on a Saturday night…what credit crunch? The couple next to us were drinking Taittinger champagne – yes, the tables are somewhat close together, but it does encourage people to chat to their neighbours – and everyone looked prosperous and happy."

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 The Alice Lisle

Rockford Green

Ringwood

Hampshire BH24 3NA

Tel: 01425 474700

www.gales.co.uk

Opening hours: Drinks: 11am – 11pm, Food: Mon-Fri midday-2pm and 6pm-9pm; Saturdays midday-9pm; Sundays midday-8pm,

Prices: Starters from £3.95, main courses from £7.95

Our verdict: Great place for families at the weekends, and not half bad in the evenings either.

‘It’s a funny thing, but when you have children things change. No, I don’t just mean the sleepless nights, dwindling bank account and the inability to spot baby sick on your shoulder: or is it more that I am sooo tired I just don’t care anymore? No, one of the other things is your world starts to shrink. There are places you used to frequent happily that are suddenly no-go areas. I’m thinking of peaceful gardens, quiet churches and…decent pubs…
‘…Now I am not holding The Alice Lisle up as a shrine to Heston Blumenthal, but it ain’t half bad and they are making a big effort to make things even better.’

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 The Oak Inn

Pinkney Lane, Bank
Lyndhurst
Hampshire

SO43 7FE

tel: 02380 282350
www.fullers.co.uk

"Neat, clean and tidy with scrubbed wood tables, stripped wood panelling, milk churn bar stools, beamed freplace, candles and just the right amount of nic nacs to be interesting without being fussy and cluttered. Bit surprised to see spears on the ceiling though."

“The staff must have art O-levels – the puddings were a work of art”

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 11.30-3.30pm, 6-11.30pm   Food 12-2.30pm, 6-9pm Sat: 11.30am-11.30pm. Food midday to 2.30pm, 6-9.30pm, Sunday: midday to 11pm. Food midday to 2.30pm, 6-9pm,

Prices: Starters from £4.75, Mains from £6.95

Reviewed: Issue 85

Published: September

 

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The Ship Inn
Burcombe Lane
Burcombe, Salisbury

Wiltshire SP2 0EJ

Tel: 01722 743182
www.theshipburcombe.co.uk

  “We spent a good five minutes just feasting with our eyes”

 

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11am– 3pm; 6pm – 11pm Sunday and bank holidays: 12 – 3pm; 6.30pm – 10.30pm.

Vegetarian choice: Yes

Prices: Starters from £6.85, mains from £11.95, puddings £5.75

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Yes

 

The George

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14 Bridge Street

Fordingbridge

Hampshire

Tel: 01425 652040

"One agreed to take my drinks order when I asked, but then lost 10 points when she asked whether I wanted soda water or lemonade in the spritzer. AAAAAh!" 

 
Opening hours: Week days 10am – 11pm Food served 12 – 3pm. 5.30pm – 10pm. Weekends: Food served  12 – 10pm.

Prices: Starters from £4.95. Mains from £5.95.  Puddings from £4.95

Vegetarian choice: Yes

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Yes

Reviewed: Issue 83

Published: August

   

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Après LXIX
9-13 St John Street
Salisbury
Wilts
tel: 01722 340000

"Sharp shards of what looked like a decoration" on a Philip Treacy hat" 

 

Opening hours: Mon-Sat midday to 2.30pm, 6pm to 9.30pm; Sun midday to 3.30pm

Vegetarian choice: good selection of interesting-sounding dishes.

Children: no particular provision, ie special menu or high chairs.

Disabled access: possible.

Reviewed: Issue 82

Published: July

 

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The Mulberry Restaurant

Bishopstrow House Hotel & Spa

Bishopstrow

Warminster

Wiltshire

tel: 01985 212312

 

Bishopstrow is an imposing Georgian mansion set in acres of grounds some five miles from Warminster.  

OUR VERDICT
Should be better than it is for the prices charged – excellent food in places, but let down by carelessness in the detailing.

Opening hours: lunch 12–2pm; dinner 7–9pm

Vegetarian choice: excellent, but turn the page of the menu to find it

Prices: à la carte: two courses £32, three courses £40, coffee/tea £3.95

Children: welcome

Disabled access: ramp available

Reviewed: Issue 81

Published: June

 

p5120003.jpgThe Cross Keys

Lyes Green

Corsley

Warminster, Wilts

tel: 01373 832406

 

An evening meal with friends at this country pub found Nicola Cunningham enjoying the atmosphere and food. A gastropub with villagey atmosphere, serving good food, with a choice of surroundings – trad or contemporary. “Enough fish to keep a piscivore as happy as a sole could be, Pam pointed out that I had actually ordered monkfish tails”

Opening hours: Food served Mon-Sat midday-2.15pm, 7pm-9.30pm; Sun midday-2.30pm, 7.15pm-9pm

Vegetarian choice: good choice

Prices: on the steep side

Children: over 14 only and not on Fri or Sat evenings – dogs always welcome . . .

Disabled access: difficult

Reviewed: Issue 80

Published; May 

     

bell_inn.jpgThe Bell
High Street
Wylye
Wiltshire
tel: 01985 248338

 


A real village pub that caters for locals and people looking for a takeaway pizza or something more, says Nicola Cunningham. “All just as a village pub should be: flagstone floors, not over-decorated”

OUR  VERDICT
For a village pub, this is perfection: nothing too poncey, a fine old building, and food that is honest and may yet improve. “The chef had decided the loin of cod wasn’t good enough”

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-11.30pm; Sun 12-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm;

Food served: Mon-Thur/Sun 12-2.30pm; Fri/Sat 12-2.30pm, 6pm-9.30pm

Vegetarian choice: yes

Prices: starters from £5.25, pizza from £6.45, puddings from £4.25

Children: welcome

Disabled access: yes

Reviewed: Issue 79

Published: April

 

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Paprika

32a George Street
Warminster
tel: 01985 212064/215558

 

 

There’s nothing like a curry on a cold Monday night, so Nicola Cunningham and friend ventured out into Warminster.

OUR  VERDICT

A friendly local takeaway and restaurant that delivers sustaining food in an intimate and pleasant atmosphere. Prices are pretty good too.

Opening hours: Midday-2pm, 5.30pm-11pm, Fri to Sat 5pm-11.30pm

Vegetarian choice: Plenty of choice

Prices: Cheap and very cheerful

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Possible

Reviewed: Issue 78

Published: April 11th

 

p3050165.jpgThe Beckford

Fonthill Gifford
Salisbury
SP3 6PX
tel: 01747 870385
www.the-beckford.co.uk

 
Nicola Cunningham enjoys a mid-week lunch at a traditional hostelry in Fonthill Gifford – once she manages to find the door, that is . . .

OUR  VERDICT

A comprehensive and seasonal menu with home-cooked lasagne and fine gourmet food. Like the food, the décor is a mix of traditional and modern, a bit of everything. Staff lackadaisical (but friendly enough), with no-one seemingly in charge.

Opening hours: 11am-11pm daily

Vegetarian choice: Good – there’s a separate menu

Prices: Starters approx £5-£7, mains approx £8-17

Children: Yes, as long as they’re well behaved

Disabled access: Unfortunately not

Reviewed: Issue 77

Published: March 20

 

 spreadeagle.jpg                                        The Spread Eagle Inn

Church Lawn, Stourton

Warminster, Wiltshire

BA12 6QE

tel: 01747 840587

www.spreadeagleinn.com

 OUR  VERDICT

A return visit to a favourite local turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for Nicola Cunningham. “I felt like Eeyore on  his birthday: a bit short-changed”

A change of hands has brought with it a distinct lowering in the standard of cooking, but the building is beautiful and no doubt the tourists will buoy up trade in the summer months.

Opening hours: Daily, lunch 12-2.30pm, cold food until 3pm; dinner 7-9pm

Vegetarian choice: limited

Prices: Starters from £4.50, main courses from £9.95, puds from £3.95

Children: welcome

Disabled access: Listed building so not easy, but can be done

Reviewed: Issue 76

Published: Feb 29

 

 

 

salisbury_rest_pic.jpgGastrobistro at the Pheasant Inn

19 Salt Lane

Salisbury

Wilts SP1 1DT

Tel: 01722 414926

OUR  VERDICT

Bistro within trad pub serving unpretentious but seasonal food – pleasant atmosphere and staff
The idea of the gregarious Gallic owner of the Gastrobistro at the Pheasant Inn drew Nicola Cunningham and daughter in for dinner. “Cabbage that would have won the approval of my mother-in-law”


Opening hours: Daily, lunch from 12-2.30pm, dinner 6-9.30pm; Sat & Sun breakfast 11am-2.30pm; Bar open midday to 11pm

Vegetarian choice: limited

Prices: three courses + wine £60 for two

Children: welcome (special menu)

Disabled access: yes

Reviewed: Issue 75

Published: Feb 8

 

 

trough_imagesl74res.jpgThe Trough

The Ginger Piggery

Boyton

Warminster, Wilts

tel: 01985 850381

OUR  VERDICT

Pigging out at a café serving locally-sourced food saw Nicola Cunningham happy as a pig in clover. A relaxed café where meat takes centre stage and puddings come a close second. Everything is sourced locally, within 48 miles of the Piggery.

Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm. Lunch from midday to 2.30pm

Vegetarian choice: Not a huge choice, but there are salads and quiches

Prices: Excellent value

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Easy access

Reviewed: Issue 74

Published: Jan 18

 

 

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The Bath Arms

Clay Street, Crockerton

Nr Warminster

Wiltshire BA 12 8AJ

Tel: 01985 212262

www.batharmscrockerton.co.uk

OUR  VERDICT

With some reluctance, Nicola Cunningham reveals the identity of one of her favourite pubs and what attracts her to it. “A wonderful confection of soft meringue and griottes in brandy”

Opening hours: 11am–3pm, 6pm–11pm; food served midday to 2pm, 6pm to 9pm daily

Vegetarian choice: Always something available

Children: welcome

Disabled access: accessible at the back

Reviewed: Issue 73

Published: Dec 28 



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