Review of the Chancery before it goes on my site:
The Chancery
It was a day full of food for the Jones’. Keeping up with us would take some doing.
I arranged to go to the Chancery after two weeks before the date Bruno Loubet (where originally booked) emailed and informed me that our party had to pick from the Christmas menu. Nothing was mentioned of this at the time of booking, and doing so this close to the date irked me somewhat. Anyway, that aside we then booked the Chancery as there was more choice and it was recommended to me as somewhere to try.
My criteria was simply; nice food, reasonable cost and good wine.
Table booked for 8, gave just about enough time to let my lunch go down and squeeze in a couple of bottles of bubbly.
Arrived and were greeted by friendly front of house staff and shown our seats (as requested, by recommendation, main floor in the middle). I had mentioned that it was my birthday meal over email, and as such we were given a bottle of prosecco which was nice and being a champagne snob, I normally dislike prosecco but this was actually OK. Not too sweet at all, so thank you to them for this.
We had, what seemed like, a number of people looking after our table but this was a little disjointed and although they were attentive, they just seemed a little unorganized. We ordered our food and wine and continued the merriment. One thing I have to say is that the wine is very reasonably priced here. You can get a very nice bottle (for example a nice Sancere for £26 I think it was) which is hard at a lot of places, or you do pay for it.
Before the starters came, the bread came round but these were cold and a little tough, and like I say about being a key indicator of somewhere I eat. For starters I chose the confit belly of lamb, baby leek salad and tomato fondue. The girlfriend had the Tiger prawn linguine.
My lamb came breaded and deep fried after the confit, which I think was a shame to be honest. On the plate there was one baby leek, so not certain I would call that a salad and there was a small amount of frisee lettuce hiding some red cabbage that I didn’t find until the end. I expected more from the lamb I have to say. It didn’t have the flavor I was hoping for, which I think you could really get with a nice confit belly, but it didn’t deliver much at all. The lettuce seemed to add nothing to the plate, other than hide the cabbage and the sole leek, again, didn’t link anything together for me.
I did try the prawn linguine, which was packed full of garlic. Prawns were nice but not many present, but cooked well. The taste and flavour was bold and there mind.
At this point there seemed to be a bit of a mistake made somewhere as 2 main courses arrived but then were quickly removed again, followed by the main front of house person coming to confirm what we all had ordered for our mains. Quick thinking for the kitchen though, and to obviously buy some time, they brought out a small Bass taster for us. This was nice, fresh and simple but again seemed to have been put together quickly, I’m not sure this dish was on the menu with the bits it came with.
The mains were then served, which I had chosen the roast saddle of venison, benyuls and chocolate and blueberry sauce. The girlfriend chose the braised lamb shoulder, crushed new potato and parsnip purée.
My venison was beautifully cooked and texture was great, but what were, or seemed like just non cooked blueberries on the plate, with the quenelle of chocolate and beetroot (which was not on the menu?) just didn’t all come together for me. I was having a discussion about the chocolate and venison with the mother who also had the venison. She said it did go, I said it might do, but it overpowered everything else. The blueberries didn’t, nor did the beetroot and the sauce seemed much for much. It also came with the smallest potato galette, which would have been nice to see more of, or left out in my opinion. It just seemed like a dish that in theory should work, but in practice it didn’t come together. The parsley garnish I saw no place on the plate as well but hey.
The girlfriend said that her lamb was cooked well, but it didn’t really deliver on flavours. Nothing sung out, which you would really expect from a lovely braised lamb shoulder but she said that it was a bit meat and veg-esque.
Two of us had cheese for dessert, which was really nice. I like a bit of cheese and this was, just as it was, cheese and walnut bread. They also brought out a Happy Birthday dessert for me, but I couldn’t comment on that, due to it being hoovered up by my girlfriend, Mum and Brother in law. Apparently it was very nice though.
All in all I was a bit disappointed. Don’t get me wrong I did have a good night and we had a great laugh a good drink, but in the meal itself, it didn’t reach the mark. Firstly, it wasn’t exactly cheap (other than the wine, which was great value), they charged for water, which I think is a bit off in my eyes and the service although attentive (the FOH main guy was good, with a good sense of humor and warm) just seemed disorganized and unpracticed at times, but this wasn’t at all bad, just needs polishing. The food for me promises on paper, but then on the plate just fails to deliver. It just didn’t quite work.
I think the most important question would be; would I go back? Honestly, no. I’m sorry to say. Ticked off the list, tried it, but I would spend a little extra and go all out or I would go back to Galvin's Bistro again which is probably cheaper but streets ahead in my eyes.
Pics found:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.227553307318168.54185.220021181404714&type=1
Marked at the Chancery, not to be mixed with the Ledbury pics.