THE ROAST dinner is a British dining institution all of itself. Served up in thousands of pubs and restaurants the length and breadth of the land 52 weeks of the year it is the dining out experience, more than any other, which brings family and friends together. Meat and veg and lashings of gravy. It is not rocket science and nor should it be.
Then why do so many get it wrong? Flavourless meat, rock hard uncooked veg, lukewarm gravy. There is no excuse for it. It is not something the diner at The Terrace in Leamington have to concern themselves with.
The stylish Victoria Terrace restaurant in the banks of the River Leam has been serving Sunday roasts for a couple of years now, and those who have discovered them have been regularly returning for good reason.
There is the option of both starters and desserts from the restaurant’s regular A La Carte menu, and well worth investigating they are. However, starters and desserts and not listed on the separate Sunday Roast menu. Diners may have a better understanding as to why when their order arrives. The Sunday roast has a reputation for being piled high and The Terrace plates are no exception – the portions are generous to put it mildly.
But, and this is a big but, it is certainly not a case of quantity over quality.
The meat comes from award-winning independent butcher Aubrey Allen and the kitchen at The Terrace deliver it with aplomb – flavour packed 28 day-aged beef, sweet tender Cotswold leg of lamb, and beautifully moist roast chicken.
Even choosing from the mouth-watering selection is made easy – just opt for the Trio of roasts which includes all three meats.
There are some small subtle twists for those keen to try something new – none better than the date and prune accompaniment to the lamb giving it a north African.
All the veg is perfectly cooked and presented from the rosemary roast potatoes, herb-roasted root vegetables, and another of those little twists, in the cinnamon and orange braised cabbage sauerkraut.
And a Sunday roast would not be the same without a Yorkshire pudding and gravy – homemade of course.
Non-meat eaters are also well catered for by a Ratatouille wellington stuffed with seasonal veg in a Pomodoro sauce.
In these difficult economic times it should also be noted the quality first and foremost, and the quantity, represent very good value for money with the half chicken £19.50, the lamb roulade £21.50, the Striploin of beef £22.50 and the Trio £24.50.
Visit www.theterrace.uk for full details.
