Anonymous Review on 29th March, 2005

Add your review
Having read great reviews of the recently refurbished Crown, my wife and I had made a couple of late minute attempts to book and had been disappointed both times to find the restaurant fully booked, so with Easter Sunday approaching and family due to visit we made our booking a few weeks ahead. On our arrival we were impressed by the decor, all Farrow and Ball paint scheme, leather sofas and a contemporary clean feel to the place. The bar and restaurant are open plan and the place has a buzzy yet comforatble feel about it. Our table was ready and the high chair requested was in place. Bar staff were friendly and efficient, and children are made to feel welcome. The menu had a good choice, with fixed prices for two and three courses. Starters: prawn cocktail nicely presented but frugal on the prawns, which were also small; the pate was a popular choice but came overly processed. Mains: Being Easter Sunday we mostly opted for roast turkey or roast pudding with trimmings. Oh dear, the meat was sparse (2 small slices each) and overcooked, roast potatos and vegetables portions came on separate dishes and were not cooked properly, not hot enough, and of inadequate size for the number in our party. Desserts: With dark chocolate mousse on the menu, one of my all-time favourites, I was disappointed that my young daughter decided she'd had enough of sitting at the table by this point so I opted out and went for a walk on the common, leaving my wife and family to tuck into the dessert menu. I didn't miss anything, the dark chocolate mousse was neither dark nor chocolat-y, more like supermarket homebrand instant whip full with sugar as the main ingredient. Wine: Good choice, and both the white and the red selected were enjoyable and felt to be fair value price-wise compared to other establishments. Drinks, food, and a bottle of wine, plus service came to £20 per head. I left feeling disappointed, and perhaps my expectations had been set too high from the start with inaccurate rave reviews. This pub has a good feel, has been nicely refurbished, but misses by a wide mark with the food. We may go back for a drink some time but won't be rushing back to sample the food.

Date visited: 27th March 2005