Spectacular conversion of the former printing hall of the Bournemouth Echo, to create an ambitious…read morecombination of bar, brasserie and patisserie. This is another venture by serial restaurateur Andy Price, who already has Aruba and West Beach. A recent 'Business lunch' was good value at £15.50 for three courses. Starters included an excellent pork terinne with shallot jam. For mains, we enjoyed fish & chips, lasagne, and bangers and mash. The lasagne was very generous, coming in big oval cast iron lidded dish. The bangers and mash could have done with a green vegetable. Puds of berry compote and ice cream; and American style pancakes with maple syrup and vanilla ice cream were both done well. The overall verdict, though, was competent but pedestrian brasserie fare, rather than anything special. Will have to try dinner, or go a la carte, next time. And may have to hurry, because they were practically empty, so this may not be venture that is sustainable.
UPDATE (Nov 2010)
This place folded in the summer, and has been bought out of administration (sans the debts) by the same owners. It reopened this month.
A recent visit for lunch found it much improved. There is a large area of upholstered seating for teas, coffees, etc, which also improves the formerly clattery acoustics. There's also a counter selling the marvellous homemade chocs from Chococo in Swanage. The food was also a big improvement our eggs Benedict and pumpkin & sage risotto were both spot on. Desserts were imaginitive like the deconstructed Mai Tai, and fig tart with licorice parfait. Pretty good for thirty quid, incl coffee. Let's hope it doesn't go downhill again, as Bournemouth needs a place of this ambition. The Maitre d' doesn't auger well, as he has no idea how to do greet and seat, and neglects new arrivals to such an extent that several gave up and left!! Here's hoping for the best
UPDATE (July '13)
The restaurant now seems to have stabilised as one of the best dining options in Bournemouth. A couple of recent lunches have been spot on, and service is good now as well. Still imaginative cooking. Fig, blue cheese and parma ham salad excellent, and the fishcake, wilted spinach and poached egg consistently tasty. Lunches about £30-40 for two with drinks, incl. coffee ain't bad for this quality. Do go, and support a venture that deserves continued success.
