david goodfellow

Not been here in a while John, even though its one of our favorite pubs. Its wonderful inside and out, but on a sunny Cheshire day it really comes into its own. The food was a bit patchy on one of our last visits but I love the Brunning and Price brand and generally they do a cracking job.

Welcome back Gary, another "old timer", ( along with Bapi ) resurfaces. Sounds like you really enjoyed yourselves, but to be honest anyone who faults this place should stay at home. Looking forward to your Trullo review.

Tasting Menu Roast scallop with celery and orange puree and sweetened chicory Warm foie gras and carrot mousse with carrot sorbet and lemongrass Wild seabass with confit tomato, black olives and basil Loin and breast of texal lamb with cepes and aubergines Honey parfait, granola and huckelberry Banana chocolate, peanuts, caramel and cumin ice cream £40.00 Sommelier recommended wine selection £20.00

Looking forward to your reviews folks, I'm hoping you enjoy as much as Ambra and we did.

You'r a star Pam, Tasting Menu Chilled beetroot gazpacho with avocado and lime sorbet Roasted scallops with white chocolate and truffle risotto Foie gras terrine with ginger bread and cherries Roasted langoustines with broccoli puree and ricotta gnocchi Wild Seabass with chicken Satay, avocado & sesame Anjou squab pigeon with pickled cabbage, pigeon mousse and sweet garlic butter Cucumber, lemongrass mojito Confit pineapple, yoghurt, fennel Smoked apple terrine and bison grass mousse Coffee and Petit Fours £85.00 Sommelier recommended wine selection £40.00 Hillbark classics wine selection £60.00

Happy to help, although they are in a Microsoft Word document and I don't know how to copy them. I don't have time to type them, it would take me an age. If anyone can help I will try to do it later on this evening after sorting out my business stuff.

I agree, most welcome return, looking forward to a report from one of the "old timers"

My dulcet tones, even when I,m angry, can not be mistaken I really hope our American friends don,t get ripped off like I was at a restaurant on South Beach, some years ago now. Still back on topic, its worth a try if your in the area. In the main we enjoyed it.

Just to set the record straight, I did receive copies of the menus as requested, (on 28/8). All nine of them. Not sure what involvement Aiden has with them as there is a Sunday lunch and afternoon tea one included, and I'm sure he is back at The Church Green at weekends. Been down the shmoke quite a bit recently so will look oop north a bit now

I thought I would revive this thread as we are currently comparing Italian "small plate" places and along with Zucca and Polpo this fits the bill nicely. There is now quite a choice in our great City. We tried loads of times to get in here when the place was red hot, but to no avail, perhaps not helped by only able to take weekend tables and living out of town did not help matters. I recall even driving up to the door one Saturday lunch and having my extremely persuasive wife plead with the manager for a table. Still no luck. The place is exactly as I remember it, with its cosy bar/eating area sporting happy chatty people, although no where near as busy as it was. Some of the chefs in action, although no Jacob Kenedy, but as listed on the menu perhaps sous chefs, Alberto, Stefano, and Daniele. Give us a smile guys. Bread was decent quality, especially the onion topped Focaccia. Good olive oil, quality salt and olives completed the picture. There is a choice of small or large plates also listed by region, for example, Veneto, Piedonte, Bologna, etc, etc. We went for the small plates and kicked of with an extremelly refreshing and zingy combo of Shaved Radish, celeriac & pecorino salad with pomegranates and truffle oil dressing.(£6) This was a recommend from our waiter and we would perhaps have not ordered it if not for him I,m glad we did. Next up was, Fritto di paranza (£9.50) A selection of tasty, crisply battered prawns, squid and "baby fishes" which I forgot to ask what, however it all ate well especially the crunch down to virtually nothing prawns, yum, yum. Black figs, bresaola & stracchino ( Italian soft cows milk cheese)(£6) was served on a wooden platter and first impressions were good except for the mean portion of bresaola, and I am able to make comparison to Zucca and Polpo here so it is not nit picking. Quality of ingredients were of course what you would expect, but " Can I have some more Sir " Its clear they have spent a few bob on the place and since its been open it has weathered well. Our table in a cosy corner was not my first choice but my wife does not like sitting at a bar (much to my annoyance) so this was ok-ish. Oversize oil paintings of food laden tables line one wall, and a couple of flower paintings the other. Looking at the paintings whets the appetite and Pork an veal agnolotti with butter and sage (£8.50) arrived in time to avert my gaze back to the table. We enjoyed this dish, although for me the pasta could have done with another minute or two of cooking, having said that my wife disagreed. Our last two dishes were Sardines "beccafino"- with breadcrumbs, pinenuts, & raisins (£7.50) and a house speciality sausage, Laganega, a thin pork sausage with nutmeg, cinnamon, & cloves, served pink. (£6.50) The sardines were a winner, deep flavour from the fish, evened out a bit by the toasted pinenuts, breadcrumbs, and the sweetness of the raisins. Good portion size also, especially when compared to the sausage dish. The photo was taken by my wife (excuses, excuses ) so the fish is obscured a bit by the bush of rocket. Now I like sausage, cause I,m a bloke of course, but her indoors, has an aversion, ( perhaps like most ladies? ) I think this dates back to chewing on a bit of gristle or "jaw wobbler" as she refers them too. Shame that but it means a bit more for me of course. Oh, and it was pretty decent, if a little salty. We had a carafe of Casone rosso wine (£11) for 500mm which was decent enough and spot on for me as I was driving. All in all we enjoyed Bocco, not as much as Zucca of course, as Zucca quite frankly is unbeatable. I still have to write up my Polpo review, but again by way of comparison perhaps Polpo and here are about even food wise but Polpo loses out by spending zilch on creature comfort. Service was good, informed and mostly efficient with one caveat. We were parked on a two hour time limit in a traffic warden swamped Soho, I made the waiter aware of this and paid the bill in cash. The bill including a clearly stated 12.5% service charge came to £61.88 and I offered £70 in cash. My wife went to the loo to do what ladies do, taking the amount of time ladies do and still my change has not arrived at the table. Cue my walk to the bar, till area where I am thanked for my business but still no change. Now I have to annoyingly ask for a copy of the bill and MY CHANGE PLEASE. Which takes minutes and more minutes to arrive with apologies. I am prepared to accept that this was not a deliberate attempt to screw me out of £8, but this has happened to me before at a Michelin starred place ( I am sure deliberately ) and it left a nasty taste. I am convinced a lot people are confused or maybe too shy to ask for a couple of quid back and just walk away putting it down to experience. As I say I am prepared to accept this was an oversight and in no way intended, however it did make me feel very uncomfortable, and I am by no means a wallflower. Managers beware, your reputation is at risk if you allow your staff to try this on.

Things are not looking too good my end either, as this coming week is one of my busiest of the year. I would love to go because I've heard so many good things about it. Still there must be a saviour on here who can post a review. Fingers crossed.

Anyone going to Ludlow? I know there are more than a few fans on here. Hosting Note: Click here for the guidelines under which this event is listed at the eGullet Forums.

Looks a decent menu especially for £20 John. Little wonder they were packed out Thankfully the £5 offer has been extended into September, best get up there to try Lisa's cooking again. I dare say these were picked fresh from their kitchen garden in the morning, as chef Tom Kitchin states, "From nature to plate"

Did you bring this up with the management at the time? It seems to me if it states " morels" it has to contain them or its a breach of the Trades Descriptions Act. Same again really, if its advertised, it should be provided. I had no complains about my meal thankfully, however I am sure Mr K would like to rid his kitchen of any inconsistancy. I wonder if Clive Dixon (new chef) has taken up his position yet.

I am thrilled that you enjoyed it so much, they really did spoil you though with that lobster in the risotto, we only had lobster butter I shall make a point on our return to demand the same treatment Service sounds super also, good on them, Thanks for reporting back.

Thanks for the info Pam, was not meaning to be nosey, but I have learned something new today. I also now understand your insight into the Pork cheek topic on Cooking and Baking.

Linda, I read this review and thought of you, as the description has me licking my lips in anticipation. Happy eating

Pam, I am intrigued, you really have my attention with that statement And yes, Zucca and Polpo (which I have to write up) are the way forward.

You know me John, I'll try most things once. Thankfully I did not share your revulsion, but having said that it is a bit of an aquired taste and I don't think we will dash back to order it.

I think I,m in love. Or is it infatuation? I,m not sure. Its most certainly cupboard love and definitly love at first bite. Virtually every review of Sam Harris,s new Bermonsey restaurant positively glows and I will add to that. A brisk walk from Tower Bridge and of course the Tower of London down Bermondsey street, lies Zucca housed in a modern glass fronted building. Quite an interesting neighbourhood and I bet its residents are well pleased with this addition. Inside is smart, chic and minimal, with clinical white table and chairs, bare concrete walls and a long open kitchen at the rear manned by a trio of chefs including Mr H to your left. I was quite exited at the prospect of eating here especially having learned Mr H had worked at River Cafe, Bibendum, and spent four years as an Egon Ronay inspector, so during those four years alone he certainly was able to sort good from bad. Now we have never been to the River Cafe due to an aversion to their pricing, which to describe as grasping is not being unkind. I am justified in bringing this up as Zucca is at least a third of the price with antipasti starting at £3 and ending at £4.25. This is truly astonishing pricing for food of this quality anywhere in the country never mind London. Mains are no more than £13.95 and half are a quid less than that. Bread is home made and terrific quality, soudough, ciabatta, and a fantastic olive oil soaked, salty focaccia. Some maldon sea salt and Planeta Olive oil are complimentary, as is a jug of tap water. "The use of mobile phones is both unsociable and unnecessary" reads the menu, and I wholeheartedly agree. Ban the buggers, send them outside with the smokers. Before we start and before the pedantics have a pop, some of the photos are a bit blurred, this is because I am diabetic and my blood sugar dropped very low causing a bout of shakes at the start of the meal. And I am not looking for a sympathy vote just giving an explanation. Sardines, sweet and sour (£4.15) was a generous portion of very fresh fish served with pine nuts, raisins, chilli, and onions and jolly nice they were too. Vitello tonnato (£4.25) is a classic Italian dish that we have not tried before perhaps because we don,t eat much Italian food. However after our recent excursions that will change I assure you. The dish was cooked Veal served cold with a tuna, anchovy, caper, and mayo sauce and was surprisingly good. Fregola with clams and tomato (£6.50) was next up. As you can see from the photo the tomato skins should perhaps have been removed at the pass as they are inedible, having said that the clams were tasty, the broth full of flavour. The Fregola (Sardinian pasta) was a welcome first also for us, nothing to fault, except those pesky tomato skins. Beetroot, rochetta cheese, and tarragon (£4.15) another steal from the generously proportioned antipasti menu was a delightful summery plateful of seasonal joy helped along with some more of that wonderful bread. San Daniele ham with figs (£4.15) was another steal, top notch produce, seductivly ripe fig melding perfectly with the full flavoured nicely salted and black peppered ham. Mozzarella "Norma" (£4.25) is another dish that we are not familiar with again simply excellent prime ingredients, the mozzarella topped with a tasty aubergine and tomato sauce. Now by this time and especially due to the portion sizes we know we have ordered way too much food and are beginning to feel a bit full. No probs we press on regardless. We have now reached the stage where we are feeling guilty about eating all this food, and its beginning to feel like a form of theft because of the low, low prices. Carpaccio of Sea Bream (£4.15) was our last antipasti, and don't ask me how they can serve portion sizes and quality this good for four quid, a skinny model would last all day on this portion. Spankinly fresh with flecks of chilli and red pepper lemon juice and olive oil, this was a real joy to eat. The marathon nearly over we can,t resist a main course of Roast Suckling Pig, chard and castelluccio lentils (£12. 95). Very good but not as stunning as I thought it would be, the crackling was a bit rubbery in parts which was a shame as the dish itself was very good in the main. We finished the meal with an astonishingly good vanilla flecked Panacotta which was accompanied by some poached peach. Light, sweet, and pleasurable it slipped down a treat to finally fill the very tiny pocket of space in our gluttonous bellys. As you can gather we rather enjoyed Zucca somewhat enormously. It truly is fantastic value fom money and well worth travelling too from afar. I did not keep the bill but from memory all of the above, and easily enough to feed four, came to £71 and that included a handsome bottle of wine at about £22, stunning value and very well worthy of much continued success. It may come as some comfort to you that Sam Harris confirmed to me that no matter how successful they are prices will not go up. Fantastic, all the success in the world to you, Sir. I forgot to mention no service charge is levied and I am assured the staff are paid a decent wage, not relying on tips to make their wage up. Nevertheless we tipped on top of the £71 to make it up to £80 partly because we felt guilty and part because the service was charming and informed.

I can't wait to read one of your reviews, it will be a first will it not?

The Mark Sargeant recipe that I use is now such a doddle to do, it comes as second nature to get it done and into the slow cooker on medium heat to devour later, or the next day. I have now tweaked it to my wifes taste as she does not like it quite so sweet.

Flattering piece in todays Guardian. Anyone else been recently? Apart from John (Harters)and MalO obviously.

There is a 2 for 1 offer on the tasting menu on Toptable. Normally £68pp this is an absolute steal. Be quick though it ends 27 August which is too bad for me as I can't get there before then,

I phoned the Hillbark last week to find out when the website would be up as I would like to look at some sample menus. "No problem I will email them to you,and the website will be up soon" " Now you won't forget will you" " No, of course not" Guess what? Yes I'm still waiting. We know Aiden and have eaten his food three or four times I don't think he would be pleased if front of house is letting him down.