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If you are
looking to dine in stylish, comfortable and elegant surroundings
then look no further than the award-winning Olivier’s Restaurant
at The Inn, Woburn. We sampled their A La Carte Menu on a
midweek night in February - if you are looking to dine here at
the weekend, booking this hugely popular venue in advance is a
must. Overlooking the menu is Head Chef Olivier Bertho. Olivier
and his team serve a range of English and continental cuisine
and their exciting menu will leave many spoilt for choice.
Importantly, a glance at the options does suggest you are in for
not only a treat, but an affordable one; something that we are
all likely to be looking for in the year ahead.
Decor
The
surroundings have a very ‘classic’ feel and the restaurant
itself, with high ceilings, spotlights, oak flooring and
eye-catching high-back leather chairs is incredibly inviting.
The tables are well spaced, ensuring your dining experience will
be a relaxed and intimate one.
Food
The wine list,
whilst extensive, is not overly complicated and the waiting
staff will be only too pleased to recommend the ideal
accompaniment to your meal. Every pocket and every palette is
catered for. We opted for the Deen De Bortoli, Vat 8, Shiraz
2006 (£20.50) that was brought to our table, opened and allowed
to breath before being served. Wonderfully dark in colour with a
delightful aroma, this is a soft and fruity wine.
 I
could have opted for pretty much anything on the menu but
ultimately decided to start with the intriguing-sounding Smoked
duck breast with a pistachio and apple dressing with a sweet
potato basket and citrus salad (£6.95). Thinly cut layers of
succulent duck had been rolled to form an attractive rose,
whilst to the other side of my plate I found the basket of
citrus fruits. This was an immaculately presented dish and
whilst I found the citrus fruits did overpower the duck at
times, it still worked for me. The contrasting flavours and
textures helped to form a tasty starter. My guest sided with the
Pan fried scallops with tempura courgette, lime caramel and herb
salad. Lightly seasoned, the scallops were lovely and crispy on
the outside with an almost buttery texture inside.
My Braised
lamb parcel with pan fried liver, crispy pancetta, mashed potato
and black pudding gravy (£16.50) for main course was a delight
and my dining experience was becoming more memorable with each
and every mouthful. The lamb was wonderfully cooked but this
dish was made all the more enjoyable by the black pudding gravy.
It can take countless attempts and hours of effort to make the
perfect gravy. I felt the kitchen had got this one spot on. My
guest’s choice of Loin of Woburn venison bourguignon with
wholegrain mustard mash, chantenay carrots and curly kale
(£17.65) was described as fantastic, with a wide range of
flavours and textures that accelerated the taste buds.
We finished by
sharing the Assiette au Chocolat (£7.25) a white chocolate
fondant, milk chocolate mille-feuilles and dark chocolate
sorbet. I will spend a very long time indeed trying to find a
better way to finish my meal – this was bordering on perfection!
Service
You will, like
us I am sure, be looked after and made to feel special by an
incredibly knowledgeable team of waiting staff. This is an
establishment that goes that extra yard when it comes to service
with everything possible done to ensure you enjoy your visit.
With the table wiped down between courses, your wine poured just
at the right times, and courteous enquiries as to whether your
food is as expected – your every need will be catered for.
Atmosphere
The
sophisticated surroundings, the quality of the food and the
service all add to a unique and relaxed atmosphere. This is a
place to not only treat someone special, but also a venue to
chill out and relax.
You are
certain to enjoy the experience that is Olivier’s. The service
and attention to detail is first class and we were pleased to
see the majority of the main courses were complete courses – not
many people will find the need to spend more money on side
orders. A lot of thought has gone into every aspect of this
restaurant, resulting in a dining experience that you will want
to savour time and time again. |
