Faustino's - Midhurst

I love nibbly type food so was over the moon when a friend suggested we went out to Faustino's in Midhurst for dinner.  Despite being a local, somehow I'd managed to never visit before so was really looking forward to it.

I have to admit to being a bit dubious because I'd heard both good and bad things about it beforehand, but as usual, I went with an open mind.

It's a place full of character when you go in, cosy and closed in.  We had a table reserved and were sat down very quickly.  The only downside to our table (and in fact the whole night) was that our table was closest to the bar area and there were people hanging around the bar almost leaning on us (so tip - sit as far from the bar as you can).

Anyway, there's an extensive choice of tapas available that should suit all tastes from meat and cheese lovers to vegetarians.

We chose goats cheese, garlic mushrooms, meatballs, chorizo and a few others and they came out quickly and were really delicious.  You can essentially just nibble on a few bits whenever you feel like it or can order a load at once.  They also do paella's and other main meals but the ethos really is to nibble and share.

As girls it was essential that we tried the pudding of chocolate fondue and we were suitably impressed!! A huge platter of fruit, biscuits and marshmallows came out with enough chocolate to satisfy the strongest of chocolate cravings!

Overall, recommended for a casual, fun night out with friends.  Go!!

The Urban Reef, Boscombe beach, Bournemouth

Apologies to my South East followers, it's another from Bournemouth!!

This time, I'd like to mention a fab place on Boscombe beach called The Urban Beach.

Situated on the sea front to the left of the pier, this is a cafe/bar/restaurant with a real seaside, modern, funky and casual vibe.  Colourful outdoor seating overlooking the beach, it's the ideal place to relax with a drink or coffee during the day and a great place to meet friends for a beer or two in the evening.

Unfortunately we didnt' get to eat here as it was fully booked (certainly seems that all the good places in and around Boscombe get booked early!!) but we had a good look around both the day time menu and evening menu.  Also, we made sure to have a sneaky peak at all the food going out during the day and the bar snacks at night and it really looked great. Very popular, fresh and local wherever possible and a reasonable price.

Next time we're down, we'll definitely be booking dinner.

The Urban Reef, Boscombe

The Larderhouse, Southbourne, Dorset

I know, I know, it's not technically the South East but having just spent a weekend in and around Bournemouth I have a few reviews to make.

The first of these being The Larderhouse.  This unique little gem is hidden behind a bus stop on the pretty non descript high street of Southbourne in Dorset. 

During the day, this place is a coffee shop but in the evening it transforms into a really quirky eaterie with a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

Decor is understated and a bit rough round the edges, lighting low, buzzy feel to the place.  We hadn't booked which we should have for a Saturday night, but managed to get squeezed in thankfully.  The service was excellent - friendly yet not too much. 

I ordered potted rabbit with sourdough to start, calzone for main. Hubby had a melon and freshly sliced serrano ham starter and the calzone.  Both were absolutely delicious and came pretty quickly. 

I really can't fault the place and would recommend a visit but BOOK your table in advance!

The Larderhouse

Yesterdays World, Battle East Sussex

So Tuesday and Wednesday involved a visit to Bexhill on Sea to visit the old folks and what better activity to take part in - a nice gentle wander around Battle (not the Abbey unfortunately as it's nearly £8 each to get into and the olds thought that was too much to spend from the pension pot - fair point, come on English Heritage it's up to you to make it appeal to a wider audience).

Battle is a pretty little town in East Sussex steeped in history and character property.  Unfortunately it's high street is split by a major road and the traffic is intense and never ending.  Anyway, we decided that their budget could stretch to spending a couple of hours wandering around the Yesterdays World museum (at £6 pp to get into).

What a great place!! As long as you don't get offended by the occasional historical trinket being in the wrong time slot, it's a wonderful place to mooch around, reliving the memories of products and lifestyles gone by.

It's not somewhere that the hard of movement should be visiting as it's set on approx 3-4 floors with lots of steep stairs and dim lighting.

Hundreds of genuine original bits and bobs from shop packaging, to clothing to
medicinal bottles and soooo much more line the walls.  There are a few buttons to press on the way around with commentary coming out of hidden speakers.

I have 2 critisisms - 1, the lighting in places is too dim.  A few more bulbs would definitely be appreciated.  2, The Royal room is something they've obviously spent some money on recently and has been quite well done but was like a sauna in there and the music over the commentary video was too much.

Surprisingly for the centre of a busy town, the layered garden was beautiful.  There's a good sized cafe overlooking the fields and hills behind and a garden that if it wasn't raining and i had kids, would be have fantastic to spend some more time in. 

I could write an awful lot more but overall I'm going to let you make your own minds up.  My recommendation is go.  You'll enjoy it.

Yesterdays World, Battle, East Sussex

Prezzo, Midhurst

I don't usually go to many chains if I can at all help it, but went to Prezzo in Midhurst with some friends on Friday night and felt obliged to write a review. It's a bit funtional I'm afraid due to time constraints but I think it covers the point.

This restaurant is tucked away round the back of Midhurst and you wouldn't know it was there unless you were familiar with the town.  A lovely building on a corner that welcomes you in with excellent lighting and design.

The staff were friendly, fast and attentative but without being too much.  The menu, as you'd expect, was large and the choice of foods was excellent.

I opted for a classic Fiorentina pizza (something about the combination of egg and spinach on a pizza sounds revolting but is actually delicious), the others had another pizza, spaghetti with meatballs and a risotto.  Everyone was very happy with their meal and definitely no complaints. 

The prices aren't too steep and the portion sizes were plenty big enough but nevertheless we even managed to scoff down a pudding and to use a discount voucher!!

I'd definitely go back if I wanted something quick and local.  For a Friday night it wasn't packed but there was a great atmosphere and everyone seemed to be in a jolly 'end of the week' sort of mood.

Prezzo, Midhurst

The Halfway Bridge, near Petworth

So it was the hottest day of the year so far yesterday which always makes me want to find a nice pub and sit in the garden with cold G & T.  As it was lunchtime I stuck with just the T due to my intolerance of lunch time drinking if I want to be at all productive in the afternoon!!

So we chose to visit the Halfway Bridge near Petworth.  Been there before for an evening meal and knew they had a nice little patio area round the back so off we went.

Its just off the main road from Midhurst to Petworth and has plenty of gravelled parking.  It was just after 1pm when we arrived and didn't seem very busy.  We had our pick of seats outside and chose one slightly in the shade. It's a lovely character building that sets the scene perfectly from the moment you pull up and park.

Service is as usual very good. Very friendly and professional. We ordered our drinks, mentioned that we were going to eat and handed lunchtime menus.  No need to leave a card at the bar or pay for drinks yet.

We sat outside and perused the food offerings.  I thought it was quite a nice choice for lunch, a variety of sandwiches from brie to steak.  Some mains such as gammon egg and chips and a couple of nice looking salads.

The waitress came outside with some complimentary olives and we both decided to opt for the steak sandwich (rare to medium) with handcut chips.  At £12.50 we wondered what we were going get and when it came out, we were initially disappointed - it was handed over on a massive thick wood board (both felt for the waitresses wrists) and was a simply a steak and a half in an oval ciabatta roll, with a portion of chips in a metal basket.  After getting a bit of mayo for the chips (call me uncouth but chips just aren't right without mayo), we tucked in.

Well, it was delicous. The steak was really cooked well, very tasty and melt in the mouth.  The chips, crispy and again very tasty.  Our initial thoughts of being hard done by were soon gone and although still on the pricey side, we both felt very satisfied by the time we finished.

To summarise, it's a lovely place with plenty of character and excellent service.  The food might be on the pricey side, but it's delicious.  Worth a visit at lunchtime and definitely worth visiting in the evening for a more special meal out than your usual pub grub.

Halfway Bridge, near Petworth

Mumbai indian restaurant, Fernhurst

I'm no curry expert but I do thoroughly enjoy some of the tasty spicey stuff.

Friday night started with a phone call from some friends suggesting meeting at Mumbai in Fernhurst for a curry.  Seeing as I was in the middle of cooking a curry it sounded like a great idea to freeze what i'd cooked and go out instead!

Mumbai is a no frills, what you expect in a small village, kind of Indian restaurant.  It's small, lazily decorated and very popular!  For the first time ever, we turned up with no booking and managed to get a table for 4.  Generally at the weekends you have to book (tip).

The menu is to be expected, drinks the same.  We started with a few obligatory poppadums and the relishes and moved on to a variety of rice, saag aloo, vindaloo's, lamb badaami, chicken raz special, peshwari naan and bhaji's.

I can't compare it to authentic indian cooking but I can say that it's very tasty, comes in just the right portion size, is very affordable and the service is fast and very friendly.

I've been quite a few times and wouldn't hesitate to take friends there or recommend it to others.  Don't expect fine dining, just a good cheap curry.

Looking forward to a visit to The Earl of March next week.

The Earl of March, Lavant, nr Chichester is somewhere we've been before but are revisiting next week.  On the way to Chichester this place looks a bit downtrodden from the outside (in my opinion could do with a freshen up of paint) but I guess as it's set right on the main road from Midhurst to Chichester, traffic dirt soon builds up.

However, don't let this stop you from going in.  I last went a couple of years ago and had the best lamb ever, so I go next week with high expectations.  Fingers crossed it remains as good as it used to be.

The Earl of March, Lavant, West Sussex

Call me a creature of habit.....

...... but if I find somewhere I like, I do tend to go back until I either get bored of it or have a bad experience.

So last week saw me back at Gartons in Midhurst for a quick lunch. 

I'm not going to harp on too long about the place but suffice to say I had another great meal.  This time it was macaroni and cheese, came with a small side salad and I opted for bacon as an extra - yes, was very hungry!!

Delicious! I'm not sure that any other cheese was added other than a strong cheddar, but was really yummy and very filling - all for about £6.  Great service as usual, friendly owner and staff and didn't have to wait long for it.

Also found out that if you live or work in Midhurst, Gartons seem to do takeouts which I wasn't aware of.  Judging by the stream of people coming in and out it would suggest that this is a popular service for workers looking for something fresh and tasty that differs from a dodgy soggy sarnie pack from Tesco's Direct!

The Squirrel Inn - Hurtmore, Surrey

So another day, another pub!! This time it was The Squirrel Inn, Hurtmore, Surrey.

Just off the A3 near Milford, this pub is lovely and full of character.

Looks fairly small as you drive in and walk to the bar but step into the restaurant area and it's a bit like a tardis, just opens up and is huge! There's a lovely seating area outside, both right at the front and around the back.

We sat inside and as it was a Monday lunch, it was fairly quiet.  A good menu with plenty to choose from and also a few fish specials that I was advised change daily.

I fancied something really filling and chose the battered haddock with chips and minted mashed peas and my colleague had a salmon fillet on a bed of stir fried vegetables. 

The service was excellent - all drinks and food taken at the table.  Friendly, quick and professional.  The food arrived in about 10 minutes and was really well presented - my plate was loaded with a large piece of fish and some lovely chips!

We worked our way through the food and decided that as full as we were, we were going to treat ourselves to a pudding - obviously I chose sticky toffee pudding which I think I'm addicted to, and my companion chose iced-cream.

Well, my pud was one of the best pub stick toffees I'd ever had, gooey, heavy, surrounded with toffee sauce and iced cream and just perfect. Whether or not they make it on site I don't know, but even if they don't, they've found the ideal supplier and I would have that over and and over.

Overall, I would definitely go back to eat.  Highly recommended.

www.thesquirrel-hurtmore.co.uk

The Spotted Cow Pub, Angmering, West Sussex

So what a lovely weekend weather wise!!

A little trip to Angmering in West Sussex, found us at the Spotted Cow pub for lunch with family.

We arrived about 1.30pm which was just enough time to get a drink, sit and peruse the menu before ordering.  The pub from first impression is a bit grotty.  It's nothing special but was very welcoming and seems to be quite large inside. I didn't get to have a good look around as we were with an elderly relative so sat fairly close to the door, but there were plenty of people there, families, couples and groups of friends.

The menu had some good choices and the chap behind the bar said he'd come to our table to take our order which was nice.

I chose a goats cheese and beetroot salad and asked if it was possible to get some chicken added and was very pleased when they said they could.  Some pubs are very rigid and stick solely to what's on the menu, so this was a good surprise.  Hubby had a pie with chips and veg and there was also a fish and chips ordered.

Food arrived after about 10 minutes and my salad was great. Very well presented in a huge bowl with lots of cheese and chicken. The pie also looked very nice and I'm told was tasty too. The fish and chips was pretty standard but went down well.

Price wise, I thought it was at the upper end of what a pub should charge for fairly standard fair (on average our mains were £11-£12 each) but I'm beginning to realise that this is fairly standard these days.  If anyone knows anywhere I can get a great pub meal for under a tenner, I'd be very happy to hear from you!!

The service was excellent, friendly and chatty yet unobtrusive. 

Would I go back? Yes, if I was in the area but I wouldn't chose it as a destination to make a special visit to.

The Spotted Cow, Angmering

The King William IV, West Horsley, Surrey

This is a lovely pub in the pretty village of West Horsley, Surrey.

I've always liked this place, despite it probably being in need of a bit of an update.  It has lots of character, a restaurant area, plenty of seating in the bar area if you want to eat there or just sit and a lovely garden.  It's not the biggest of pubs but a popular place and very good option for a Sunday roast out.

The service is always very friendly, the prices what you'd expect from a Surrey pub (about £10-£12 for a large roast dinner) and they have a good selection of beers to chose from.

I ordered beef, husband lamb and both our plates came out full to the brim and we were both extremely happy.  It's not gastro food or chain food, just good old fashioned home cooking.  Tasty, affordable and filling.

Would definitely recommend coming here, specially if they're holding a barbeque in the garden in summer, or just to enjoy a Sunday lunch that doesn't involve any cooking or washing up after!!

King William IV West Horsley, Surrey

What makes going out to eat an enjoyable experience?

Is it cost? Quality of food?  Ambience?

Certainly I've been to some very expensive restaurants, featured in guides as 'the place to go' with numerous stars and recommendations, yet have had a thoroughly miserable time.  On one experience, there was no doubting that the food was fantastic - fresh, seasonal and perfectly cooked. The service impeccable - always there but never felt and even though the price was steep, it was worth every penny.
 
So why did i have such a bad time?  Because the atmosphere was so taught that anyone who laughed aloud or just didn't look part of the crowd, was scrutinised and made silently to feel very uncomfortable by the other diners.
Maybe I was wrong, it's possible that just one group laughing aloud and having a great time would have lightened the collective mood, but I doubt it. It just seemed like the sort of place where people just went to be seen and spend more time looking at other diners than chatting and enjoying the company of their own party. I haven't been back!

Ambience most certainly plays an enormous part when it comes to enjoying a dining experience. Getting the atmosphere right is an art form.  To me, it's comfortable and relaxing but with a hint of formality. In the evenings, I like to dress up a bit, make an effort and I like to go places where it feels like a special occasion. Don't get me wrong, I also thoroughly enjoy going to a local pizza place with a group of friends or a quick dinner with hubby, but there's something magical about putting on a nice outfit, donning the heels and going somewhere away from the norm.

The quality of food is always important. Why go out to enjoy an evening meal at a restaurant that serves a vast selection of bought in food from chain suppliers? It's tasteless, glues your stomach and intestines together and shows a complete lack of respect for the people who go and eat it. It's surely not that hard to find local suppliers, train the chefs to make a few pies and understand how to use herbs and spices?  Maybe it is which leads back to cost.

There is no doubt a market for low cost pub grub and that's fine. It serves it's purpose and gets bums on seats and allows those who don't earn much to enjoy a night out, but consider this - instead of going out once a week to a chain, why not miss a week then choose somewhere the week after that serves real, fresh food that's homemade?  I challenge you to try it and let me know how you got on.

For me, I love going out to lunch. It's informal, it breaks up the working day and there's far more choice of what to eat.  From sandwiches to steaks to full 3 course meals, the choice is entirely yours. There's not much better than finding a good pub on a summers day and finding a table outside with a lovely view.

I'd be very interested to hear what other people find enjoyable about dining out, so please feel free to comment.

Cowdray Priory Cafe

The Cowdray Farm Shop and Cafe is set in the Cowdray land just on the outskirts of Midhurst.

Now this place both makes my blood boil and seeth yet for some reason I keep going back to see if it's changed!!

The farm shop while attached building wise to the cafe, is great. Lots of local meat, fruit and veg as well as plenty of other organic and unusual foods and a nice selection of gifts. We'll ignore the Farm Shop in this instance.

So, the Cafe. A lovely setting, a lovely looking cafe with plenty of seating inside and out.  They've won awards for their food as it's all made entirely from scratch using as many local suppliers as possible.

When I first starting going here, it had recently opened, still looks the same but over time and a big gain in popularity, it just doesn't hold the same appeal.

Our last visit we ordered 2 x sandwiches, 2 x latte and a portion of chips to share.  Out came our sandwiches at nearly £7 each with no garnish at all - just a sarnie cut in half and slapped on a slate slab or plate.  The chips were £6 per portion and we counted 7! Yes - 7! My hubby is not a complainer but felt compelled to ask the waitress if she thought 7 chips was acceptable for £6 and was met with a blank gaze and 'well it's how we sell them' comment. Hmmmm. The sandwich itself was nice despite falling apart a bit and quite tricky to eat, the lattes were very nice and the chips were nice, just not enough.

To me, a sarnie should at least include a bit of a salad garnish and maybe a few kettle chips. Not here. So our bill came for the above came to approx £25 and we went away promising never to go back. We haven't actually been back since and this was a few months ago. I'd definitely return to meet friends for a coffee, but not to eat.

On a side note, most of the patrons are very wealthy with children called Tarquin and Elsbeth (yes, I've heard parents calling those names out), and drive Range Rovers, Porches and Aston Martins so maybe to them, it's fine. And if that's you, then great - go, network and enjoy. Me? I'd rather go to Gartons and enjoy the same quality at half the price and twice the portion.

Cowdray Cafe

The Red Lion, Fernhurst

The Red Lion in Fernhurst, just south of Haslemere, Surrey, is set in a wonderful position right on the village green surrounded by a handful of very expensive characterful properties.  The pub from the outside is just as quaint.

Step inside and you get the feeling that its a little bit shabby and could do with a bit of a revamp.  There's still plenty of character though which includes a big open fire and wood beams.  

Out the back, there's a lovely garden with a covered area to one side and plenty of outside seating.

Food wise, the menu seems to be full of typical pub staples - a pie, fish and chips, a steak and a chicken offering among others.  There are specials on a board which seem to change daily.  A sandwich menu is offered at lunch times.

We opted for a chicken and ham pie with chips and peas and a fish and chips with peas.  Service was friendly and once our order was taken, our table was laid with placemats and cutlery.

Food arrived after about 10 minutes.  My pie had a puff pastry top and alot of filling but was quite salty and both our fries were uninspiring presumably bought in from a large supplier.  The fish and chips again wasn't very inspiring and the best I can say was that it filled a gap in hubby's stomach.  The portions were fairly large and we would both be hard pressed to eat 2 let alone 3 courses.  It was also quite expensive, an average main meal being around £12, starters approx £6-£7 and puss around £6, which might not sound too bad to some, but for me the quality was lacking for the price.

There is a separate restaurant area for those that don't want to eat in the bar section.

I think overall, this would be a nice pub in which to sit outside and have a drink on the way back from somewhere like Goodwood, or to enjoy the open fire on a winters evening but aside from that, there are much better pubs within a short drive.

The Red Lion, Fernhurst

Gartons Coffee House - Midhurst

Gartons Coffee House in Midhurst is a real delight.  I really love this place.  It's tucked away round the back of Midhurst near the church and once discovered, I promise you'll go again and again.

It's not the biggest place inside and hard to get a table in peak hours if you can't sit outside in the sun, but have a wander around the shops and go back and try again.

It's a simple menu, variety of sandwiches in various forms, jacket potatoes, salads, some hot meals which vary, lots of coffees, teas and cold drinks to choose from.  They also have a wonderful selection of cakes and sweet treats!  There's also a breakfast menu for those who want to eat out early on their way somewhere.

The prices are fantastically cheap considering the quality of food and the size of the portions.  It's a regular haunt for us to meet with friends, chew the fat, drown a few lattes and fill our stomachs with excellent freshly cooked food.

Well, well worth a visit.  Gartons Coffee House Midhurst

Note that in summer 2013 there is a lot of improvement works to the cobbled square going on and the cafe is hidden, still open and restricted space outside for a short while, don't let this put you off though.

The White Horse, Haslemere, Surrey

I have to mention this place as I come here probably twice a month. 

My last visit was 25th April 2013 for a mid week lunch and catch up with my husband (both have many interests and business activities so need to go and dine out regularly in order to catch up!).

We parked in the car park at the back of the pub, small but a reasonable amount of spaces even at 1pm.

Inside, the shabby chic interior is a mix of old furniture, clashing colours and an oddball mix of styles including low slung rustic leather sofas, victorian style wooden chairs and high tables with tall stools.

The staff are always friendly, the service usually fast.  This time, we sat down and the bar guy took our order at the table which isn't standard but they try to as often as they can.

I opted for the new Southern Fried Chicken with coleslaw and fries and hubby had a fish finger sarnie with calamari on the side.  Only 5-10 mins later out it came and we tucked in.  My chicken was delicous, a crispy coating and moist chicken pieces with a lovely coleslaw. The fish finger sandwich was more like a burger and included fries - both were large portions.  We finished it all off of course!!

The menu choices are good, not too much, not so little that you can't find something to enjoy.  The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere relaxed and friendly.

As I mentioned earlier, we go here a lot and Sunday roasts are our favourites. 

Recommended.  The White Horse Haslemere

Lurgashall Winery and Cafe

Lurgashall Winery - a beautiful specialist winery in West Sussex that mainly produce a variety of unusual wines, meads and liqueurs. 

The first impression as you pull up in the car park opposite is that of peace as you're surrounded by woodland.  Cross over the road, through the main gate and you arrive at a lovely little courtyard laid out with tables and chairs and an imposing wood building on your right which is where the production takes place. 

The shop and cafe entrance is straight ahead of you.  Through the door and into the loveliest shop and cafe.  Small but very well formed with bottles of their produce everywhere as well as a really good selection of other local produce including bread, eggs, meat, beer, chocolate and English grape wines.

There's a little tasting area enabling you to try before you buy and towards the back of the shop are more tables and chairs where you can sit and enjoy something to eat and drink if the weather isn't nice enough outside.

There was a wonderful looking selection of cakes, biscuits and flapjacks to tempt us so we opted for a couple of coffees, a massive slice of carrot cake and a large flapjack.  The cakes vary day to day, so it's pot luck but they all looked fresh and homemade.

A few minutes later, our order was brought over and silence ensued while we ate our treats.  Fantastic. A moist, gooey cake full of flavour and enough icing to satisfy but not overwhelm.  The flapjack was again moist, fresh and full of flavour and not to mention a bargain at £1.25 for a huge chunk!  Coffee was freshly made and plentiful. 

It's a wonderfully relaxing environment that's typically English and quite unique.  We met the owners who are as eclectic and unique as the establishment, very friendly, very knowledgeable and very welcoming. 

Well worth a visit.

Lurgashall Winery