[Gastro Pub Club...]

The words Gastro and Pub just don't sit well together with me...

I think of pubs as spit, sawdust, the smell of beer, rickety chairs, bare wooden tables, skittles, smoke hazes, darts and cheap conversation.

Gastro on the other hand says smart, comfortable, special night out, sommelier, decor, ambience, service and meet and greet.

I guess it comes back to the age old question of 'how do you rate a restaurant?' Is it simply the food? Or do other aspects justify the bill for you - The setting? The atmosphere? The Service? and so on.

Someone said that one of the Gastropubs had an ex-chef from Chez Bruce...well you can have three courses for £32.50 at the One Star, 6/10 GFG Chez Bruce so why have it in a Gastropub?

Have I missed the point?

[There are too many mediocre restaurants]

Hi

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post ....

I live 30 miles South West of London and find myself making a weekly pilgrimage to the 'Metropolis' for a decent, value for money, gastronomic dinner.

Locally there are a few places (within 12 miles) - Bray for instance; I have eaten at each of The Waterside, Fat Duck, Riverside Brasserie and Jasmin Oriental. On the traditional versus scientific debate I'm on the side of the traditional and a long standing fan of Michel/Alain Roux & Diego Maciaga at The Waterside Inn.

I've also made several visits to L'Ortolan and The Vineyard for lunches (over time both under three different head chefs and felt the latter was over-rated at 8/10 in the GFG due to substandard front of house). On my doorstep is Pennyhill Park (headquarters to the England Rugby Team), which has 5/10 in the GFG but have not got round to a visit.

From a traditional French Gastronomic perspective the provinces are generally lacking; simple economics and the potentially parochial nature of the locals make successful ventures hard to come by...I believe Nico Ladenis was disdainful of the local 'gin and tonic brigade' that sent him packing to London to win his 3 stars.

Restaurants like La Trompette, Chez Bruce, Foliage, Berkeley Square Cafe, 1880 and Rousillon are all worth the journey for me!