Belated catch-up - June and July

I’ve got behind on my Chompers blog recently so here is a quick catch-up. Sadly some of the details have now faded in my (fading) memory.

The Old Spot, Wells:  Our friend H lives in Wells, so when it came up in “1000 places to eat before you die”, we thought it was too good a thing to miss. With T&K we venture down to Somerset and head off out to the restaurant.  After a quick drink in a pub which used to be a prison, we head round to the restaurant.

The back garden is beautifully positioned with an excellent view of the Cathedral, but from inside there is practically none.  The main feature though, is a particularly grumpy Head of House, who clearly wishes she was somewhere else.  Service is slow and offhand, and we are unable to get a second bottle of Pinotage, going for a Malbec instead.

Which is a shame, because the food itself is not half bad.  Starters included a salmon roulade, feta salad, pork terrine and a salad. From the main menu two of us have the duck breast and three the lamb with hummus.  We also share a cheese plate.

At £205 (3 bottles of wine) it’s pretty good value, except that the service has left a very sour taste.

Percy and Founders  opened up on the site of the old Middlesex Hospital, off Mortimer Street , so is a convenient location from Oxford Street.  Six of us descend one lunchtime. It’s quite a large place, so they concentrate the few diners into one section of the restaurant, with a window through to the beautiful décor of the old hospital chapel.

Starters include a tuna tartare, “heritage” tomato and goat’s cheese and for me the speciality crab and lobster scotch egg (£12.50).  Coincidentally (or perhaps because of a limited menu), 3 of us order chicken salad, and 3 crab linguine – the latter is very good.  We also have desserts – crepe, ice cream and a stunning peanut butter parfait.

With three bottles of wine  - Picpoul  @ £23 and Poivre d’Ane @ £28 (we had two tee-totallers) and service, this comes to £260.

I’ve reviewed Chez Bruce before, but this is the first time I’ve been there with B – plus M&G and C.  Again there is the calm smooth service that makes you feel so relaxed, though this time perhaps a little jollier – maybe in response to a group rather than a couple.

I’m afraid I don’t recall the details of our meals – the bill simply records two 3 course lunches and three 2 course ones, plus a John Dory supplement (B). It also records 3 apple and elderflower G&T’s, a strawberry bellini, 3 bottles of Viognier, a half carafe of house red and a glass of muscat !  Not surprisingly perhaps I do recall a feeling of warm contentment!

The set meals are such good value at lunchtime (£29.50 for three courses, £24.50 for two), so a total of £335 for 5 (£67 a head) seems very reasonable.  Do go.

One of the extra benefits of Chez Bruce is a special offer of half price meals at its sister restaurant, the Glasshouse in Kew, also Michelin starred.  So B and I take ourselves off there a few weeks later.  Rather more beige than the Wandsworth place,  the Glasshouse still has a good relaxed feel. It’s surprisingly busy for a mid-week lunch, but the service remains unruffled.

Again my memory of the dishes has faded. The half-price £12.25 for 2 courses, £14.75 for three, though, clearly can’t be beaten. We have kirs to start, a bottle of white at £29 (that’s the challenge with offers like this) and two glasses of red to go with the cheese course, so the bill, with service, comes to £115.

I’ve also reviewed Babur Brasserie at Honor Oak Park before.  A bit off the beaten track, but “worth the detour”.  Six of us again arrive for their annual birthday event, to sample both their special menu and a very wide-ranging standard one.

Our starters included crab idli, cod cheeks, scallops, and some fiery goat patties.  Mains included special butter fish, goat curry, lamb back strap and (for me) Kalaunji prawns, which sadly were rather dry.  Sides of spinach, daal, and aurbergine were excellent.  But overall a good meal.

With four bottles of wine (Viognier and Carmenere), Cobra and coffee, we got up to £300 before service.  One of the best value up-market Indians around.