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Blumenthal's Pub Lunch 2009-07-25 Heston Blumenthal's 15th century pub, The Hind's Head, is just across the road from his famous Fat Duck restaurant where diners pay £150 for dinner (plus service of course). Now it would be foolish to think the Hind is going to serve food on the same gastronomic scale as the restaurant and at the same price. This is a pub after all, isn't it? Well I'm glad to tell you it is. Our visit was on a busy Saturday lunchtime so the place was going to be under pressure and full of diners, but we could have easily stayed for just a drink and felt at home. There were several real ales to chose from, Rebellion IPA, Tim Taylor's Landlord, Greene King IPA and one from an unidentified local microbrewery. Having made the effort to get to Bray, which incidentally is tiny, comprising a church, two pubs, a few gorgeous houses and of course, a Fat Duck, it would be churlish not to sample the food. The ground floor bar is beautiful, full of ancient beams, oak panelling and an open fire, not at all 'gastrofied' and with an unexpected cosiness. We ate in the upstairs restaurant area which has high vaulted beams and the look of a rustic tea rooms. Here the tables were set with plenty of elbow room and no shoe-horning. The menu is pretty impressive and having toyed with a Venison Cheese Burger or Rump Steak, we opted for the Scallops and Black Pudding and an Oxtail and Kidney Pudding, with a side order of Triple Cooked Chips. We wanted some peas and although not on the menu it was not a problem. When the food arrived we were a bit surprised at the portions, okay this isn't pub grub but it all looked a little, well little. However the quality of the ingredients was obvious and we both let out plenty of 'mmms.' What it lacked in size was made up in flavour and we were both amazingly full at the finish, so much so we passed on the dessert. Our two main courses and two side orders came to about £37, which for a pub lunch is quite a lot, but it was worth the experience and the food was excellent. The Hinds Head is a nice pub with exceptional food, as you'd expect. We were made welcome at all times and despite a full house, the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. The staff were pleasant and helpful, without any pretensions. Our excursion didn't exactly test the menu but we enjoyed our food and decided we'd definitely go again. Take a look at the full menu at the Hinds Head website. See our entry for the Hinds Head. |
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