The Rummer Hotel Restaurant

Not being able to get into the Ibis Hotel where we normally stay, we ended up in the Grand Hotel for a one night stopover before heading to the airport. The Grand's menu looked decidedly, dodgy not to mention expensive, so I thought a stroll around the (very attractive) area would reveal more affordable eateries. Down a back alley leading to an indoor market I came up on The Rummer Hotel, which is not a hotel in fact, though I never did work out quite what it was! Suffice to say the curtained entrance revealed a cosy bar with the most amazing collection of rums (over 70 I would guess), gins, vodkas and whiskeys together with a list of bottled beers from all over the world. A decent wine list at friendly prices (if you ignore the two priced around the £400 mark, more as a joke than a serious offer I think) and a warm welcome.

On the food front the menu had an interesting mix of old and new styles (Slow-Cooked Pork Belly, New Potatoes, Courgette, Apple-Smoked Bacon & Sorrel £9.50, Gilt-Head Bream, Merguez Sausage & Chickpea Stew with Harissa £11.95) with a good selection of starters (Arancini Risotto Cakes with Spinach Puree & Gremolata, Ham Hock Terrine with Piccalilli & Toast) priced around the £5 mark.

The cooking and presentation were first class as was the ambience of the venue, my only (tiny) criticism would have been with the pudding which was a tad on the small size, but very tasty!

Altogether a great find, look forward to returning in the near future.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, January 06, 2010