Finally got around to trying the closest non-regional restaurant to the flat, Heller’s Kitchen. It’s not the best location, and previous attempts in the same spot have generally only lasted a year or so, but hopefully they’ve got a good formula – essentially a fairly convention bar menu (burgers, wraps, brunches) but with a bid daily specials menu with a soup, a couple of starters, and some excellent main courses. Oh and deserts. Don’t forget the deserts.
Starter: scallops and black pudding with a cauliflower sauce – really intense flavours, the sauce was only a drizzle, but worked well. Main – excellent venison, rubbed with some spices prior to cooking, and served as small chunks, with the centre of each nicely pink. Served on mash with a dark gravy. Desert – vanilla cheesecake with a strawberry coulis; a really nice biscuit base, huge amounts of real vanilla in the cheese, and a thin layer of coulis on the very top. All the courses were well presented, but the food is the only aspect that feels fancy – a very relaxed environment and staff.
Need to go back and try the Sunday brunch fry-up, as a change from Toast.
