Last night I had a really good meal and it would be a mistake not to review it straight away – so here I am again!
Because last night was something of a special occasion, we booked a table for 7 people at The Red Lion in Eaton on a Tuesday night – and it’s a good job we did! The seventeenth century coaching house was remarkably busy and all of the tables were taken when we got there at 7.30.
After getting a drink at the bar we were shown to our table and given a deceptively minimalist menu: with just one side of A4, it wasn’t much to look at. Oh, how wrong we were. There was a great choice of meat and fish, from pheasant and duck to prawns and salmon. I really struggled to make a choice.
Thankfully, after just the right amount of time (i.e. time enough to deliberate but not to long to change my mind) I ordered risotto balls in a tomato and basil sauce followed by sea bass with chorizo on a bed of spinach and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice.
Sensational starters
The starter came out beautifully presented with a small rocket salad on the side. It was just the right amount for a starter – filled with mozzarella and herbs – and they tasted delicious. My companions’ meals were equally good, with baked camembert cooked to perfection and large scallops alongside bacon salad.
The mains were just as good, if not better. The sea bass was so fresh and well-cooked that it tasted amazing and fell apart on the plate. I really enjoyed it alongside the stronger flavours of the chorizo and the sweetness of pan-fried cherry tomatoes.
I must admit to a small twinge of food envy though, because the mussels in a white wine sauce looked and tasted amazing!
Although I didn’t opt for a dessert, others went for the ice cream, and we expected a couple of scoops to be presented in a little bowl. How wrong we were; a huge sundae dish was brought out, piled high with creamy rich dessert. I did sample the rum and raisin and can highly recommend it.
All in all, the meal had an excellent pace, the service was great and the portion sizes were very generous; the location is perfect too – a classic British pub – all cosy, warm and welcoming. In fact, I can’t wait to go again!
For more information about the menu and the history of The Red Lion, visit the website.
