Entertainment | Dining Guide | Clarendon House Hotel
Clarendon House Hotel, High Street, Kenilworth
PERHAPS it was the shelter from the storm which gave me such a wonderful first impression of the Clarendon House Hotel.
Stepping out of the rain into the warmth of the brasserie certainly did nothing to harm my eating experience.
Opting to go for a Sunday lunch rather than an evening meal was not as unusual as it first seemed - the restaurant was packed with diners throughout the afternoon.
And with good reason. The dining room was laid out perfectly - tables were not placed together too tightly, allowing you to have a private conversation, while never giving you the feeling of isolation.
From the moment the waiter took our wet coats, the service was impeccable.
The staff could not do enough for us, whether it was ensuring we received our meals simultaneously to the prompt clearing of the plates, without ever making us feel rushed.
Choosing the melon with pineapple and passion fruit jelly for my starter, my companion selected the tomato, basil and mozzarella salad.
Barely had we begun talking again and our meals appeared before us looking as tempting as they had sounded.
Both proved to be excellent choices with the dressing on the salad a particular favourite.
For the main meal there was a wide selection of roasts: beef, pork, lamb and chicken as well as a chilli vegetables with cheese crumble for vegetarians.
Making our decision, I had the pork with apple compote and crackling while my companion went for the chicken with apricot, sage and onion stuffing.
Accompanying the meal was a selection of homemade breads, some containing fruit, which has to be tasted to be believed.
Again the main courses came incredibly quickly but, while the food tasted divine, it was the same moment we spotted the downside.
While the meals were certainly not cold and had certainly been cooked, they were not piping hot either. Although the taste helped to compensate, there is something rather off-putting about eating something which is only lukewarm. Forgiving them this slight transgression, we returned to the menu for our sweet.
I had the creme brulee while my partner had the banana and rum mousse, selections which once again proved the quality of the cuisine.
As we sipped our coffee, we reflected on a fine afternoon with good food and fantastic service in a beautiful setting.
With a varied menu for evening meals as well, the Clarendon House Hotel provides all you could ask for from a restaurant.
Our rating: 4/5 (Reviewed October 2001)
