THE RESTAURANT AT WICKHAM VINEYARD, BOTLEY ROAD, SHEDFIELD.

Commended by the Good Food Guide last year and UK & Ireland Restaurant of the Year in Les Routiers Guide 2003, this is the place to go for a special meal.
Whether for a two or three course lunch, an evening meal or their unique Menu Gormand.
A business colleague recently joined me for a two-course lunch at the
restaurant, where I had enjoyed an exceptional meal several years before. This time it was even better - a good table overlooking the vineyards, attentive service by friendly waiters and charming and helpful advice from Erica who runs the restaurant so well. The lunch menu, which changes several times a week, was nicely varied. The first course offered a choice between Jerusalem artichoke soup, terrine of gammon with quince chutney and smoled salmon with crepe partmentier. My fellow diner was tempted by the terrine of gammon, while I plumped for the smoked salmon. Both excellent, served stylishly and just the right portion to be swiftly despatched with some complimentary home-baked bread.
The choice for the main course was between glazed pork hock with croquet potato, braised rabbit with a cassoulet of beans and fillet of black bream with risotto of pumpkin and parmesan. Rabbit for me and fish for my guest, and a lull in our conversation as we concentrated on two superb meals. Bursting with flavour and superbly cooked, they were both superb.
If we had opted for a sweet there was plenty of temptation there too - pear and grangipane tart with cinnamon ice creahm creme caramel with run and raison mascarpone, or a selection of French and British cheeses. Coffee and drinks come extra, so expect to pay around Ł40 for two altogether. Not a restaurant I could afford to go to every week or even every year, but it would be top of my list, and their wines produced at the vineyard are first-class, too. The evening menu offers a much wider choice of dishes at Ł31 for 3 courses and Ł25 for 2, while the gourmet menu comes in at Ł41 per person.
Erica and her staff can be contacted on 01329 832985 to book a table -
February 14 comes to mind for some reason as a perfect time to enjoy a gourmet experience.  (©Peter Ashton 2004)
 

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