So I'm going to try something a little different today...
A live blog! Let's see how this place shapes up!
Entrance and welcome: perfectly acceptable, polite and friendly. Drinks order taken swiftly. I wish I had known my only option was a giant bottle of sparkling water, would have been nice to have been told initially.
Menu: expansive, typical of Italian cuisine. A little on the expensive side. The fish specials looked delicious but unfortunately the waiter could not confirm where the fish came from; I am currently on a sustainability kick and have decided only to eat fish if I can verify how and where it was caught, so I opted instead for a chicken dish.
Main: oh how my hopes were raised upon the first mouthful of my dinner, but sadly the delightful flavour of the creamy mushroom and dolcelatte sauce was not to be continued throughout the rest of my meal. I'm saddened to report dry chicken and floppy veg, I can almost forgive the slightly overdone chicken (as it seems to be the done thing in restaurants at the moment) but I most certainly cannot forgive limp broccoli. The inventors of the concept of al dente should know better! Points for utterly impeccable potatoes however, dauphinois I believe.
Feeling a bit disappointed after the main, I decided to go whole hog and get a dessert...
Menu: very disappointing. I was hoping this meal would at least finish with bang, but judging by the menu I won't hold my breath.
Dessert: opted for a pannacotta with butterscotch sauce, currently sitting waiting with bated breath. Despite the lack of atmosphere tonight (forgiven due to tonight being a Monday evening) I'm excited due to the anticipation!
Sadly...
I shouldn't have.
I got a thick and grainy pannacotta with what tasted like shop bought butterscotch sauce. I'm devastated. Pannacotta should be light and silky, it should melt in the mouth and be a joy to eat. Unfortunately, although the flavour was pleasant enough I could never recommend this dessert at the price the restaurant is asking.
Which leads me to my conclusion: I could easily have given one or two extra stars on my review tonight if the menu had not been as expensive as it was. For a few pounds less on everything, this would have easily got 3 or 4 stars. Value for money this ain't, but if you're looking for a restaurant that isn't a chain in the marina, you could do worse than coming here.
Oh and one final point, the waiter hacking away in the distance is slightly disconcerting. I know illness can't be helped, but take those coughs into the bathroom or something! read more