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Recommendation added: 24/02/2006 11:57
By: hippychick (YSUK rating +24)hippychick has been thanked 1 times for this contribution
"At the bottom of South Road in Emsworth Hampshire nestles a little piece of heaven. 36 on The Quay is one of the most divine restaurants I have ever been lucky enough to be taken to. A few years ago they opened their upper floor as hotel rooms and advertise themselves as a restaurant with rooms. This indicates that they still place more emphasis on good food above accommodation, however whilst the food is still utterly divine the room I stayed in came a very close second!
Mid morning on Friday the 17th September 2004, the first day of Emsworth Food Festival the army barriers were raised at the top of the high street in Emsworth to allow our car to process down the narrow South Street. This was a very apposite beginning to a divine evening – I felt like royalty or at the very least a Hollywood star. A moment of slight panic as we arrived at 36 On The Quay; their car park was full. Luckily the helpful staff shuffled various vehicles around and we managed to squeeze and go off to indulge ourselves at various tastings around the festival
At 4 o clock sharp we were back ready to check in to Vanilla Suite, chosen specifically because on their website they suggest one can: “relax in the large bath whilst watching the boats from the window in the bathroom”. We checked in and entered the accommodation area via a door hidden behind a bookcase in the restaurant – very Famous Five! The room was even better than I had hoped and definitely better than it looks on the website. A large, light airy room in natural colours overlooking the harbour with a corner cut out to make the bathroom.
After a relaxing soak in the corner bath watching the world go by we dressed and sauntered down for our dinner, not going through the hidden passage this time as didn't want to knock down other diners! To the rear of the restaurant is a delightful lounge area where there is plenty of room to sit with a glass plate of large olive and homemade crisps while you peruse the menu.
Be warned this restaurant is not a fast food joint, dinner here really does take all evening as each meal is made individually. Personally that is a great bonus for me as I have always enjoyed the French style of eating; if food is good it is worth lingering over
Making a decision form such a mouth watering selection was not an easy task, especially as the menu has a set price of £42.00 a head, so we did not even have the help of cutting our choice down by price! Luckily my lovely fella and I always share bits of our food so we were able to select choice we both liked, as we knew we would be able to experience more that way
After choosing from the delicious menu and extensive wine list we sat with a drink enjoying the ambience and admiring the small courtyard garden visible through patio doors whilst we waited to be taken through to our table. The décor in the restaurant, in contrast to the simplicity of the rooms, is sumptuous with layered drapes on the tables and at the windows. One wall is almost covered with large award platters showing just how good this resteraunt really is for food. The crockery is attractively patterned and the silver and glassware sparkle and shine beautifully.
Our table was tucked away in a romantic corner, but not squashed as although the Food Festival was happening and the restaurant was fully booked, the owners did not attempt to cash in by packing their customers like sardines just to get another couple of table's worth of money in. Our choice of wine was brought promptly to us as we sat down and was poured along with chilled water. Before the starter arrived our young waitress proudly presented us with a complimentary appetiser of wild mushroom broth flavoured with truffle oil, presented in a tiny espresso cup. This heavenly little touch is an excellent idea as it stimulates your taste buds so that you really get the most from the flavours of your ensuing meal
Our starters arrived looking like works of art. I have a great love of scallops and when they arrived I was initially disappointed to see only two. However this really was sufficient, as they were decent sized ones nestling gently on a tangy apple and asparagus reduction and accompanied by a melt in the mouth tart of buttered leeks. I was so enamoured with my scallops that I forgot to ask to sample my partner's quail but he pronounced it sublime. It certainly looked wonderful; the meat had been carefully separated and piled into a neat construction topped with the drumsticks and a fried quail's egg
We lingered over the starters enjoying the subtle tastes and sensations, then enjoyed they gap before our main courses were brought to us. At all times the staff were excellent. Although mainly young they have clearly been very well trained and take great pleasure in their jobs. They all seem very happy and proud to be working at 36. Our wine and water glasses were unobtrusively kept topped up at all times and when we wanted to order more wine we had no problem in attracting the attention of our waitress.
If we thought the starters were good the main course almost put them to shame. I had ordered a fillet of beef, cooked bleu, which stood in a small pool of scrumptious piquant sauce, accompanied by the freshest, crispest vegetables. I prefer my meat cooked bleu, but few restaurants can actually manage this, as expected 36 On the Quay cooked it perfectly; they don't get all those awards for no reason! The meat was so tender and moist that I could have cut it with a butter knife. The duck that arrived opposite me looked (and tasted) just as perfect; slightly pink, very tender with a gentle crisp to the skin, it was perfectly laid out in a fan shape on a subtle jus that smothered the tongue with a gentle citrus zest.
Before the dessert was served we received a pre-dessert of passion fruit mousse served in a dollhouse-sized tureen to prepare our mouths for the sweetness to come. Although a complete chocoholic I was unable to resist the idea of a warm strawberry soufflé, this was accompanied by fresh strawberries and a tiny dish of homemade vanilla crème anglaise. It was an amazing experience; the warm soufflé was so full of real fresh strawberries that it took me right back to when I was a child and we used to go strawberry picking in the summer holidays. The chocolate mousse was also delectable, smooth and creamy without being too sweet, but I am still glad I opted for the soufflé.
The size of all the portions is not vast, just perfect. If they were any bigger they would ruin the meal, as it is at the end of three courses we were left feeling completely satiated yet comfortable and not overstuffed. Just very ready for our bed upstairs overlooking Emsworth harbour.
The finish to our stay here was every bit as perfect as the beginning. While we sipped our liqueur coffees we had been asked what we would prefer for breakfast and had been offered a choice of being served in the elegant lounge area with terrace upstairs or in our room. Being a naturally lazy person I chose to have it served in the room rather than have to extend myself to walking the few feet to the lounge.
At nine in the morning as requested our breakfast arrived as I was sitting curled up on the large window seat watching the harbour and the stall holders as they set up for another day of the Food Festival. This last meal was of the same high standard as every mouthful the night before. A selection of warm bread, brioches and pain au chocolat washed down with freshly brewed coffee and tea and freshly squeezed orange juice. A nice touch was dishes of natural yoghurt, fresh raspberries and sliced nectarines.
Our total bill was an eye watering £250.00, but that included the price of the best suite with breakfast at £110.00 so realistically it was what we would expect to pay for one of our extra special treat dinners. And we're already booked in for the another trip this coming Food Festival 2005!! Can't wait!!"
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