Hull Truck Cafe - Michelin star quality food in a casual setting…read more
At the front of the Hull Truck Theatre, nestled in the hustle and bustle of the City streets, lies the Hull Truck Cafe. It appeals to a variety of patrons from the young and shabby chic to the more adventurous and refined palettes.
Strangely casual would be the correct epithet to describe the surroundings, and I was pleasantly surprised by my visit there. I admit, I had been expecting a mediocre meal with a small selection of cheap wines, but I was in for a massive surprise.
They say time flies when you're having fun. Guess what? Time flies even faster when you're eating one of the top ten meals you have ever had the pleasure of tucking into on a cold and rainy day.
Upon arrival, we changed tables three times; The leather-chaired tables were too low for eating, the one by the window was too drafty, but the third one was just right.
The menu was very unpretentious and the specials looked amazing. They even have a soup of the day (today was potato and leek - my favourite) and both Amara and I sat back and watched in awe and admiration as the food from previous orders came out. We saw everything from the most amazing sandwiches (stacked incredibly high with amazing ingredients), jacket potatoes with numerous fillings to Eggs Benedict (properly done) being served.
Now let's get to the more interesting part of this review; the FOOD.
I have travelled extensively throughout the United States, United Kingdom and across the world, dining at some of the best restaurants money can buy, and was literally taken aback by the amazing quality of food.
I can only review what I have eaten today, and will now try to walk you through my culinary experience.
My meal: The Steak and Ale Pie
The Pastry:
At first inspection, the pastry looked average yet home-made. Once I pierced my fork through its outer crust, the layers of flaky perfection crumbled throughout and fell apart like thinly wafers of soft amber glass waiting to be devoured. I immediately presumed that they had their own pastry chef, as pasty that good does not come without years of dedication and experience, but indeed they do not. I shall talk about the lovely chef later in this review.
The Steak:
Having had every type of meat possible, from grass-fed beef to Venezuelan steak, I was already familiar with how outstanding good beef can become if treated well. As it turns out, the steak and ale pie was one of the best meals that I have ever had. It was tenderer than any other steak I have experienced in a pie, with an unexpected depth of flavour, it rivalled the quality of some of the top-dollar, triple-digit meals that I have had in downtown New York City, London or even in Portugal. It was that good. I was convinced it was beef brisket, but the chef later assured me that it was locally-sourced chuck steak that had been slow cooked. Cooked to perfection, I say!
The Twice-Cooked Chunky Chips:
Now the menu does not reveal that these are twice-cooked, but anyone who has ever had the experience of something so devilishly delicious will know the difference, and these were magnificent. Much to my joy, they were not pre-seasoned or salted. I prefer to do that myself.
The Roasted Vegetables:
Drizzled with a slight bit of honey, these were roasted to perfection. Just crispy enough to bite into, yet fully cooked and incredibly delicious.
The Shot of Ale:
Yes, a shot of ale. The meal comes with its very own shot glass full of ale as accompaniment, seeing as it is the same ale that the pie is cooked with. What a splendid idea!
Amara's meal: Honey-Glazed Chorizo with Goats Cheese Risotto:
I have to admit that I am not a big fan of risotto, but this may have changed me. I do love chorizo, and these had a slight tinge of honey to them, complimenting the goat's cheese and tantalising my taste buds, daring me to have just a bit more.
The "side" Caesar Salad:
Literally the largest side salad I have ever seen. Complete with greens, a full chicken breast, poached egg, a fresh anchovy, homemade croutons and dressing and the most divine pan-fried smoked pancetta, I could have easily had this on its own.
The Service:
We had a great waitress who was happy to cater to our every whim, but did not pester us. Finding the right balance between the two is a very hard thing to do, and she has it down to an art. The portions were large, and the staff were more than happy to put everything into small containers for us to take home - a major positive in my eyes.
The Prices:
I was surprised that the prices are very reasonable. Our full meal, complete with drinks, was around £22. Looking back, I paid something similar for a meal at a pub recently, and the quality was nowhere near as good as at the Hull Truck Cafe.
The Wine List:
The wine list is surprisingly better than average, with a selection of House wines as well as champagne. I was also happy to see a good bottle of Rioja on
