Swinbrook Village

Third time back - It is the best value around and the food is excellent.

Go there.

Finally made it here for lunch with Joan, Terry & Quill.

Warm friendly greeting from Mandy, Paul Griffith's wife, and the happy bar staff.

First things first. I was about to order a bottle of Merlot when Mandy suggested that she had 6 bottles of a Chilean variety that were left (Santiano Merlot @ £12.95) and was £2.00 less expensive and better. We took her word and she was right. Joan and Terry felt the need for a second bottle later on.

I ordered Roll Mops with Potato salad to begin with (£6.99) and Terry had 4 Scallops in their shells with a Gruyere and Garlic sauce (£10.99). We all helped ourselves to 2 portions of fresh rustic breads accompanied by delicious olives dressed with oil (£2.75).

Terry declared his Scallops, "stupendous" and my Herrings were soft and delicious, melting off their skins and into my mouth along with the freshly made Potato salad.

I ordered the Ribeye steak with 'string' chips and a Roquefort butter (£15.95). Terry went for Calf's Liver served on a bed of Bubble & Squeak with aged Balsamic (£12.95) and Joan ventured for the Beer battered Cod with 'fat' chips and a Tartare sauce (£10.99).

My large portion of meat was cooked perfectly, soft, juicy and very tasty. I realise now that I probably could have asked for the 'fat' chips, which I would have preferred, but there's always next time. Terry scoffed his Liver down with delight.

The acid test was passed when Joan left an absolutely empty plate. The last time she did that was when I excelled myself by cooking her a breaded Chicken Escalope with French Beans and Tomatos in Olive Oil and crunchy Asparagus.

The other two then laid into a Lemon Tart with Raspberries and Katy May's Rhubarb Crumble with pouring Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream (all desserts £5.00). Terry, preferring hot with hot, asked if he could have his Crumble with Custard (not on the menu) and he did. Desserts are made on the premises, said Mandy, and I don't doubt it. They were extremely good.

Freshly brewed Coffee for me accompanied by Chocolate Truffles. Not being a keen Chocolate eater, myself, I finished them all.

Total bill for three, £98. Satisfaction, total.

Their secret? Excellent ingredients, sourced with care and cooked well along with a warm and friendly welcome. I think we all felt we'd been there before.

The Carpenter's Arms boasts a rolling menu which changes according to the day's best buys. I get the impression that aficionados of Fish and Seafood will be particularly well pleased to eat here.

The Carpenter's Arms - 01993 823275

Two birdies have told me that this is a very good pub with excellent grub since it was taken over by ex chef to Andrew LLoyd Webber (this won't put me off), Paul Griffith with his wife, Mandy. I haven't been yet, so this is next on the list for sampling. Will report…

Firstly, to be fair, I have to say that I resisted writing about the restaurant in case I should be accused of sour grapes as I had tried for it prior to the refurbishment. I had things to say but was waiting for another villager to comment about her experience of "crappy" fish cakes and so I desisited.

But I'm not getting any younger and she has not been quick enough to re-iterate what she had told me privately and, having now heard much the same from someone who knows someone in Chadlington, I feel that I can give my view.

My friend and I, accompanied by Quill, toddled into the place on a Monday lunchtime. There were about 7 other patrons who were sitting eating at tables.

First the good points: Dogs are welcome and this is not a small consideration in my view (as long as they are well behaved), so full marks. The young staff are pleasant and helpful, though it remains to be seen how things operate on a busy Dinner night (I'd say probably the same but I don't know for sure).

Tony ordered the Steak and Ale Pie (£11.50) and I opted for the Sirloin steak, medium rare (£14.95) along with a bottle of Cahors (£15.00).

The food arrived pretty promptly and Tony tucked into his pie, declaring it delicious. It was served in a ramekin not much larger than one you'd use for a Creme Brulee so three mouthfuls later and it was gone. He was impressed, too, with the 3 carrots lying beside it along with their stalks (maybe Londoners don't know they grow that way?).

Sad to say, my Sirloin was about as thin as it could be cut without a laser. It might as well have been a minute steak. There is no way to produce flavour from such a thin cut and still declare it medium rare (which it was). It was accompanied by 'string' chips which overlay 2 large diameter dark brown mushrooms of little flavour. This was a very dark meal and I wondered why someone couldn't have gone outside, picked some Nettles and wilted them onto the plate just for colour. A fried tomato would have done but it still wouldn't have made much difference to the tasteless meat.

I was disinterested by now but I think Tony had Sticky Toffee pudding (£5.95), declared it delicious and was finished in 2 mouthfuls. The bill was £60.00.

We both had coffee - no complaints but, really, is it impossible for restaurants in this country to offer you a complimentary top-up, especially if you're not busy (most people would probably say 'no, I'm driving', anyway). This comment applies to any English restaurant.

Conclusion: I may have just been unlucky with the steak but it seems to me (and I've heard this from someone else) that the ethos here is to give you as little as possible for the money. The portions are simply too mean. I got back home and started fretting about what I could cook and eat that evening - I was hungry.

This is not a village pub anymore - It can't afford to be - but I can't agree with the person who describes this as a Gastro Pub. You only have to visit the Havelock or the Bollo in London to see, feel and taste the difference.

added 22 Feb 2007: We shared a Bread & Olives to start with (£?). Was good.

The Swan Tel 01993 822165

I don't get around much, so why don't some of you write in with comments about local pubs, restaurants you've eaten in or propped up the bar. Constructive criticism and praise, where due, is a requirement along with guide to prices.

Also, any recommended local shops or services for a new section - to be added soon.

Come to think of it, don't bother - you never have before - just leave it to me.

Unlike an English County Court (I'm referring to Slough) where you think you have a good case and find that the newly appointed District Judge doesn't like the cut of your cloth and then screws you to the wall, things started out badly at the New Inn but did get better.

My brother had turned up from London on a Friday afternoon and suggested we go out to eat. I suggested trying the newly refurbished New Inn as I wanted to see what it was made of after the lengthy works carried out and I'd heard that the food was very good.

We arrived, unannounced  and without a booking, at 7.05pm and found a few tables occupied but plenty of tables available. I approached the bar and found a gaggle of staff psyching up like an American football team for the evening's event.

I asked for a table for three and was met with the inevitable, "Have you booked?". (more…)