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This restaurant review was conducted on
Sunday 12th July 2009.
 As we
approached, an ‘A’ board outside the Black Horse asks you to
come inside and enjoy the “Best Sunday roast in Woburn.” Quotes
like this can often be cannon fodder for any reviewer if the
food does not live up to your expectations but from my
experience I know the team at The Black Horse do not make these
comments lightly. Nor should I add, are they cocky or big headed
about what they do.
Food
We had booked
early (12pm) and took our seats immediately. My partner and I,
with two boys in tow, were hungry and looking forward to a treat
before spending the rest of the day shopping (lucky me!).
We ordered a
bottle of the Prosseco Spumante Brut, Villa Sandi described as a
fashionable Italian fizz. The Black Horse never produce overly
long and confusing lists of wine so they do need to be more
careful than most about what they choose in order to get it
right. They’ve certainly got it right here as this is a
fantastic summer drink. If you fancy an afternoon in their
lovely garden when the sun shines, then I would definitely order
this. It’s creamy (not that dry) and easy to drink so you will
probably find yourself needing another bottle!
We were served
by the impressionable and knowledgeable Carrie who presented us
with a black board containing a whole host of specials. My eyes
had however, moments earlier, caught sight of the shredded confit duck salad, hoi sin dressing, roasted cashew nuts (£6.50)
from the main menu. This was my choice to start. I did not
expect quite so much food as this could quite easily have passed
for a main course. Full of colour and fresh flavours, this was
simply a fantastic looking and great tasting starter. What made
this dish stand out for me was the balance, not just in terms of
the flavours - but the ingredients – the kitchen have come up
with a dish that has the right quantity of everything. The
contrast between the soft duck and the crunchy cashews was
great, and the flavours were allowed to shine through and were
not overpowered by the hoi sin dressing.
My partner
started with the breaded pont l’eveque, rocket salad, tomato and
basil salsa (£4.50) from the specials board. This is a strong
cheese which is pungent but tastes fabulous. The kitchen
delivered again on outstanding presentation – this food screams
“eat me!” and looked stunning. Not many places serve this type
of cheese and if you’ve yet to sample it, I suppose it is
similar to camembert but stronger and not as elastic or quite as sticky on the lips.
For mains I
couldn’t resist the choice of lamb kleftiko (£12.50). This
really was cooked fantastically well with the quality meat
falling off the bone. If you’ve sampled lamb kleftiko before,
you really need to try this – it’s in a different league!
Incredibly moreish and tasty - I was in food heaven! The roast
potatoes were very tasty and soft and whatever fat they were
cooked in – I would love to know.
My partner
opted for the roast beef (£12.50) with all the trimmings. Like
my own meal, this arrived with a lovely Yorkshire pudding with
the freshest of vegetables. The meat was seriously good and with
the same tasty potatoes, this was a dish that couldn’t fail to
impress.
The boys were
equally delighted with their food. The youngest enjoyed his
“best ever” sausage and mash with a “lovely, rich gravy”, whilst
the eldest had opted for the roast chicken breast, baby
vegetables, fresh basil salsa (£13.50). Despite being fulsome
meals, not a thing was left on their plates.
My partner
opted to finish with the crème brulee – another dish that is
larger than we expected. This was faultless and just writing
about it (I did sample some myself) makes me want to return. The
option of finishing with a chocolate brownie and mint chocolate
chip ice cream was taken up by the remainder of us and this
arrived hot, with a flaky, melt-in-the-mouth crust. This was one
of the lightest brownies I’ve ever had and not surprisingly,
despite eating so much, we all finished our desserts with ease.
Service
Carrie, who I
have already mentioned above was simply outstanding. With a
great smile and welcoming persona, everyone was at ease.
Alongside the great food, the service was equally as impressive.
Décor
The Black
Horse is one of those venues that looks just as inviting by day
as it does by night. An eclectic mixture of modern tables,
wallpaper and sofas combine beautifully with the old-fashioned
low-lying oak beams.
Atmosphere
We were very
relaxed from the start and the fact that we never once felt
rushed, meant we could sit back and chill. The restaurant was
soon packed with couples, families and older clientele. When
food is as good as this, it’s no wonder everyone around you
looks so content.
After eating
my meal I did think “God help me if ever I found myself running
a pub next to these guys!” So, being nosy like I am, I left the
pub and turned right and had a quick look through the window of
some of the alternative eateries which include a couple of pubs
and a brasserie. In comparison, and not surprisingly, they were
empty and this simply confirmed what I already knew – that if
you want outstanding pub food in Woburn or Milton Keynes for
that matter, there really is only one venue to spend your hard
earned cash.
There was
never much room for improvement in the quality of food at The
Black Horse but where there was room, it certainly looks like
they have found it and for that, everyone deserves praise. So
was the ‘A’ board correct? The best roast in Woburn? I wouldn’t
like to be on foot in the quest to find pub food as good as this
– I doubt Id ever get there! |
