Tasting the New Menu at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse @ Alea

Reviewing the New Menu at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Nottingham

We love great food and when we were offered the opportunity to visit Marco Pierre White's Nottingham Steakhouse within the Alea Casino we jumped at the chance. Alea is more than a casino offering a broad entertainment experience for those of us not usually of a gambling persuasion. Sitting in the old Co-op building on Upper Parliament Street it's a brief walk from Market Square and the Theatre Royal Tram Stop with access via Wollaton Street if you'd prefer not to have the temptation of the roulette wheels on your way to dinner.

The launch of a new menu at the steakhouse sees Marco wanting to provide the best possible dining experience in the city.
 "I want to make sure my restaurant offers the people of Nottingham the best dining experience there is - delicious, seasonal meals that really deliver on quality and taste at an affordable price. The new menu combines our customers’ firm favourites with some exciting new dishes such as Macaroni of Lobster with Fresh Tarragon ‎& Smoked Salmon, caviar and creme Fraiche, that are sure to impress"

The interior of Marco Pierre White Steakhouse within Alea Casino Nottingham

We love a good piece of anything that's been clucking, mooing or bah-ing so an invite to a steakhouse for the blog was always going to go down well. Having never visited Marco Pierre White Nottingham before I was certainly intrigued by what would be on offer and how it would fare when compared to other options within the city.

A Little Munch on the Table- Pork Scratchings

Having perused the menu before our attendance I knew exactly what I wanted to try as a pre-meal snack. Marco's Pork Scratchings. Whenever we go to the pub it's hard not to order a pack. Our pork scratchings were absolutely beautiful. A lot more subtly flavoured and much less salty than we're used to but that made them a great accompaniment as you weren't left feeling full. I'd definitely order them again. Alternate options included bread and chorizo bites but give us a portion of pork scratchings and we're happy!

Beautiful Pork Scratchings. 

Our Starters

For our Hors D'Oeuvres (as the menu states) we opted for the Baked Camembert with Crusty Bread and Lobster Bites with Onions and Grilled Cheese.

The Baked Camembert and Crusty Bread

Baked Camembert is a classic on a pub menu so I was intrigued at what additional twist it could have and just what would justify it's £9.50 price tag. On my plate came a generous sized Camembert with two gently toasted slices on bread drizzled with a balsamic dressing and topped with cherry tomatoes. As a starter it was lovely. The crusty bread worked well for dipping into the cheese and I couldn't make a case that not enough cheese was on the plate.

Lobster Bites with Onions and Grilled Cheese

We also opted for the Lobster Bites with Onions and Grilled Cheese which was a very nice, mourish starter with succulent lobster pieces complemented well with the grilled cheese. For the finicky amongst us it was hard to tell that there was onion in there. A seeded cob worked well for soaking up the last of the juices from the plate at the end.

Our Main Meals at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Nottingham

Having a main meal at the steakhouse is a little bit different to what you would normally experience. Prior to ordering you're greeted by a member of staff to showcase the steaks available. Whether you go for a simple rump, sirloin or a more choice cut like a fillet steak, it's all right in front of you to see exactly what you would be getting. An intriguing choice is the Tomahawk steak for two which we'd like to have tried but we're always looking to sample and share so the same meal twice was never going to be a suitable option for us. 

The selection of different steaks to choose. (Left to right) Sirloin, Rump, Tomahawk, Fillet, T-Bone

Steaks viewed we posed the question of whether the veal on the menu was 'Pink' veal. Pink veal indicates a better welfare of the animal. Once again a steak came out the restaurant to showcase the quality of the veal with the knowledge that it was indeed pink.

The Veal. We were happy to know it was Pink Veal

As a result of what we had seen we opted for the 10oz Sirloin cooked rare and the Entrecote of Veal with Pommes Frites, Roast Vine Tomatoes and a Bearnaise Sauce. (Both £27.50). We also opted for an additional side of garlic mushrooms. (£3.75)

Marco Pierre White's Guide to Ordering Steak- Adapted from the menu. 

After ordering, we got a little bit of a shock when we were presented with a tray of knives to choose from. This was a touch we loved and gave us the chance to choose a blade we thought would suit our cutting although we did describe this as our chance to "Choose your weapon of mass destruction".

Choose your weapon of mass destruction. Choice of steak knives at MPW

My 10oz Sirloin Steak at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse

The 10oz Sirloin came out looking like twice the steak I'd receive on many a local pub menu. A
beautiful slab of meat cooked perfectly rare as requested with chunky chips. They must have been cooked at least twice as the inside was tender with a lovely crisp to the outer. As an addition I'd asked for the blue cheese sauce as an accompaniment. I was offered the choice of a sauce or a slice of blue cheese and opted for the cheese. It's no secret I could be Wallace in human form.

The Garlic Mushrooms looked to be an excellent addition to the meal. Steak and mushroom usually works well and we received a generous number to share between us.

Our side of Garlic Mushrooms

The Veal came out looking a little more interesting. Served on a wooden board the veal came out also cooked to perfection with a little more in it's presentation. Portion size was something that would work into the traditional 'A big meal is a good meal' approach whilst the food served was of exceptional quality cooked consistently throughout.

The Entrecote of Veal at MPW Nottingham Steakhouse

Wine to Accompany our Meal

Alongside our meal we took advice from Panna, the duty manager on a good wine choice for with our

steak. Her recommendation was to go with a Malbec so we opted for the Trapische Malbec (Oak-aged Cask, Mendoza, Argentina, £10.20 for 175ml) which was a hearty, light red, oak aged and with elements of damsons it worked very well with both meals with a smoothness meaning you could easily finish a bottle without realising.

The Amarone Cantina with the Trapische Malbec in the background

We also opted for an Italian red. The Amarone Cantina (Di Negrar, Italy, £17.50 for 175ml) which was a beautiful, full bodied red. Not as smooth as the Trapsiche but with lots more body and robustness to satisfy ourselves ahead of the following weeks trip up to Speyside on the Whisky Trail where we like something to enjoy that also keeps our senses alert. Whilst we went for wines off the Steak Lovers Delight section of the menu there are more options at higher and lower price points to satisfy anyone's budget.

If you asked people if Marco Pierre White had a restaurant in Nottingham I'm pretty sure that about 8 out of 10 people wouldn't know it existed. Set within the Alea Casino on Upper Parliament Street you'd only really know it was there if you looked hard at the sign as you walked past and that just shows some association with Marco Pierre White. Sadly this edge of Nottingham city centre is one where you tend to walk pretty fast along. It's no wonder the old Co-op that Alea replaced disappeared with the standard of what's outside their front door. The area is trying to change with a number of modern eateries moving in but many of us will always see the area as grotty and it's going to take a lot to change that. Alea might be another step up the area needs but with the standard of shops facing there needs to be some serious investment to make this area of Nottingham desirable for us to spend money.

On to Dessert

By this point in time we were well and truly full and have to admit we don't think we could manage another morsel. Therefore we declined the offer of dessert which I have to admit is a personal rarity. We did have a little view of the desserts menu and have to admit that it was the only area we felt that the restaurant was lacking. There were just 5 choices and all of these were what we would usually expect to see on a menu with the exception of Cambridge Burnt Cream which is very similar to the standard Creme Brulee. Whilst from our experience earlier in the evening we expected the desserts to be fantastic, had there been something a little different on the menu we might have been able to make room for dessert.

After dinner we were given a selection of chips to go and try out the casino for ourselves. We're not really gamblers but it was interesting heading over to the roulette wheel to sample this side of Alea.

What We'd Really Like to Try- Sunday Lunch

I'm always looking for somewhere to take Mum out for Sunday lunch. Her current favourite is the Lion out at Farnsfield although I now have a new suggestion. Sunday Lunch at Marco Pierre White. For £17.95 for 2 courses of £20.95 for 3 if it's anything like what we tasted it will be absolutely fantastic and is very reasonably priced.

Our Experience

We had a wonderful meal at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Nottingham. The dining experience from start to us leaving the restaurant (with some chips to try out the casino) was fantastic. Staff were attentive and the food was awesome. We'd be happy to go back at some point, especially to see what we missed out on by not having dessert. The atmosphere was one you'd go back to, even if you're not a gambler using the casino. 

For Reservations- Book online or call 0115 8713 862


Alea and Marco Pierre White have gone for a very subtle frontage. If you drove past Alea on Upper Parliament Street you would be hard-pressed to tell there was a steakhouse there at all. Many eateries want a prominent place and showcase but it seems that if you're going to Marco Pierre White you're part of an elite that don't need the glitz of a giant advertising board. It's also nice to eat somewhere that the world isn't walking past peering in on you.

The only sign you'll see that Marco Pierre White is associated with Alea Nottingham

Celebrating Taste of Nottingham with a Food Tour of the City

We Send Mark on a Food Voyage of Discovery Around Nottingham's Best Eateries to celebrate Taste of Nottingham 2015. 

Nottingham BID recently put together a promotional event to showcase some of Nottingham’s best eateries as part of the 2015 Taste of Nottingham event. Mark was treated to a culinary tour of the hottest venues in town and it was a thoroughly amazing night. It was all put together to celebrate the upcoming Taste of Nottingham 2015 event which offers visitors to the city chance to try something different with many establishments putting on special dine for £10 menus and other promotions

If you're out and about in Nottingham and sample something you'd like the world to know please use the #TASTEOFNOTTS and share it with the world

During the week of 21st to 27th September (Next week) a selection of the city’s must-eat establishments are taking part in a special Dine for £10 scheme. You can get your fill of Nottingham’s offerings at 4550 Miles from Delhi, Chino Latino, Carluccio’s, Harvester, Patisserie Valerie, Rub Smokehouse, Wildwood and World Service. 

For more information visit itsinnottingham.com

The evening featured four choice venues with a course in each to tantalise the taste buds and wow our senses with great food and so to the point of this little article!

Starting Our Tour- The Bear and Lace 

The Bear and Lace on Maid Marion Way

We started our tour in the Bear and Lace, a new champagne cocktail bar on Maid Marion way. A 2 minute walk from the city centre the bar has a clean and modern exterior on entry. As you enter the bar you enter a classy and well set out bar modern but also classy at the same time. In the main entrance way 9 great chandeliers hang giving a warm glow and feel to the place.

Inside the Bear and Lace

With introductions made to a couple of the organisers at the door I am shown upstairs – closed to the public for the event – for our first treat – The Bear and Lace signature cocktail the “Angel de la Muerta”

I am not a cocktail kind a guy, give me a good beer or a solid red wine and I’m happy- So when passed a champagne glass with a strawberry on the edge of the glass I am wondering what I am In for!

The Angel De La Muerta in the Bear and Lace

So on the first taste you get the classic taste of champagne then you begin to get subtle taste of cognac and schnapps. It’s a subtle flavor enhanced by the strawberry. For those that don’t know, Strawberries serve to enhance the flavor of champagne.  All in all it’s a great drink simple but enjoyable. It was also a nice informal way to get to know the other guests on the nights tour. So for a good and classy beginning to your night out a good place to start would be the Bear and Lace.

Beer, Sausages and Quail Scotch Eggs in Oaks

All to soon we are ushered on to our next venue- Oaks.

We enter the bar and are greeted by the warm and unmistakable aroma of oak fires and grilled meat.  The decor is all natural wood panelling and then the oak tables. It’s a classic decor for a grill type establishment but well done.

By this time my taste buds having been awakened by the cocktail are beginning to salivate! With the prospect of truly delicious grilled meat!

But first things first, Drinks! From a choice that was selected for our sampling, they had a beer by Nottingham’s own Castle Rock Brewery Harvest Pale – a just simply great flavoursome IPA not too heavy and for a person who likes lager as opposed to beer this is a great beer full of natural flavor and in my view correctly served in a pint jug not a straight glass!

Oaks then start warming up our taste buds with quail egg scotch eggs and the lightest pork scratchings  (with a little kick of chili) I have ever had the pleasure to devour. There were marinated olives – all most a taste overload – then came the home made sausages!!

Quail Scotch Eggs in Oaks

Beef with Gruyere cheese, Chicken with asparagus and ricotta, wild boar with purple broccoli and smoked mozarella, Lamb with aubergine, tahini, rosemary and garlic and by far my favorite of the night pork with pancetta and smoked paprika.

Chicken sausages with Asparagus and Ricotta

Lamb with Aubergine, Tahini, Rosemary and Garlic

Pork sausages with Pancetta and Smoked Paprika in Oaks

Each sausage had its own character, a course texture with great flavors some on the slightly sweater side like the chicken or a richness like the wild boar.

These sausages were simply full of flavor and whether you like all the individual ingredients or not no one taste over ruled another – such a great and delicate balance of flavors’ that will simply leave you wanting more.

But I have to point out two of my favourite dishes there; the Quail egg scotch eggs and the pork and paprika sausages. The scotch eggs were small with a crispy exterior the egg was just cooked with a softer but not runny yolk – a testament to the chef’s skill- was simply full of flavor and the creamy yolk adding subtle tones to the flavor of the herbs and spices. A great starter that left you wanting more!

Now for me what was probably the star of the night, the pork and paprika sausages! On the first bite there was the explosion of flavor from the hot spice of the paprika to the blend of the pancetta and pork. The additional seasoning gave a great flavor while the smoked paprika didn’t make the sausage to hot – enough to know it’s there but not over power the flavors. I would have happily tucked in to a large plate of these with possible little else other than maybe a bit of coleslaw to lighten it all up a bit.

All these great flavors the beer and general feel good atmosphere willing and helpful staff make this a must go again place to visit for a proper blog review. 

Going Greek- Moving on to Yamas

Moving on to Yamas in the Lace Market

So onward bound we are ushered on to the next venue Yamas.

The disappointment of having to leave Oaks and move to Yamas was lessened on discovering it is a Greek restaurant – I love pretty much all things Greek – food, wine, culture to me its all good and so diverse.

Again, we`re ushered upstairs which had been held for our sole use. In general appearance it wasn’t as …slick or polished as The Bear and Lace or Oaks but it had character.

So to drinks – I was pleased to see that they have 2 Greek beers Mythos and Keo and a couple of Greek wines- I went for a glass of the Makadonikos a nice red wine fruity with out losing substance and with subtle oak flavors – a great accompaniment to what we were about to be served.

The what was now effectively the main course, was in effect a mezze a buffet of traditional Greek dishes Lamb kebabs, rice pasta with peppers and garlic, garlic prawns, Greek salad, then there were the toasted pitta bread with Tzatziki, a blended feta and chilli dish called Tirokafteri and Houmous.

Part of our Mezze at Yamas, Nottingham

As ever I quickly tucked into the various dishes all I have had in one version or another on my trips to Greece. I would have liked to see a souvlaki or a stifado but there was little room left on the table for more food! It was packed with the tasty Greek morsels.

Kebabs at Yamas

The familiar dishes brought back fond memories of previous trips to Greece, Tzatziki cool creamy and fresh tasting great with the kebab or with Pitta.

The Tirokafteri nice and spicy but again not to much, a great accompaniment to the meal.

The staff were really friendly and so we started talking about my favourite pastries Backlava was one, other I found out was called Karidopita!.

Technically we were not having the sweet here but when offered to try some from Yamas I was delighted. What is Karidopita? I hear you say – well its walnuts, cinnamon and cloves soaked in lashings of honey. A traditional Greek sweet I can highly recommend. I loved it!

The hubbub of conversation that was present all night between the invited guests bringing a great atmosphere to the evening, a sharing of experiences and tastes and a common interest- FOOD!

Our time at Yamas came to a close and we moved to the final destination of the night, Rub.

More Great Food on Our Tour- Rub Nottingham

Here came the gut busting sweets and I mean that literally! so much so they included the kitchen sink! No really! they did!  Not a sink but a stainless steel hand-washing basin used in kitchens complete with taps! It was 4-5 inches deep 8-10 inches wide and the desert was piled 4-5 inches high! You would need an army to eat it! 

Dessert at Rub in a Stainless Steel Basin Complete with Taps

Filled with ice-cream, waffles, cream, sweets and cookies, it was a diabetic attack waiting to happen! It is Weight watchers arch-enemy!

Another looked like a waffle burger doughnut with chocolate fudge sauce, waffles ice-cream and so many other goodies only held together by 2 strawberry topped skewers.

More of the Dessert Selection at Rub, Nottingham

The last was a take on the Italian folded pizza a Calzone! I have to say I never found out what was in that, by this time I was beat and on the verge of collapsing into a food coma! But all around I could hear exclamations to the size and sheer extravagance of the sweets. A truly great outing.

So my take on the evening, all credit must be given to the organisers Nottingham BID and Gemini PR marketing. This was a well run, slick and fun evening out. In my opinion, what a great way to get local people who love food and writing about food together. My thanks also to the venues for making us feel welcome and showing us the delicious fruits of your labours.

Next week sees Taste of Nottingham (21^st -27^th Sept) it will be a great opportunity to try something new, so go on let your hair down forget the diets and get experiencing some of the venues above and of the many more restaurants that grace Nottingham city.

Having a Soft and Fluffy Summer Thanks to Roberts Bakery

We're contacted quite often with various press releases, offers of being part of projects and some rather random requests. At the start of summer we were offered the opportunity to be part of a project for Roberts Bakery to showcase our Soft & Fluffy Summer Moments and decided it could be a good project to be a part of. We've been filling a Kilner jar full of ideas and now is our time to share.

Our Soft & Fluffy Summer Moments and a Very Sporting Summer

Our summer has certainly been an eventful one. With lots of highlights and so far very few low-lights which has been a blessing since breaking my leg back in January. We've done a lot as a family and also as a couple. Summer has certainly been a very sporting one for us with myself now getting back into my cycling (and building up the kind of appetite a food blogger needs) and Jemma taking steps forward as an Obstacle Racer.

Here's a selection of our favourite summer moments

We started our summer down in Cornwall hoping for sunshine and some great food and we weren't disappointed at all. Our real highlight was lunch at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall with beautiful views out to the impressive Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay from inside Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall restaurant

One of the biggest things this summer has been myself (Liam) becoming an Uncle for the first time. Liffey Jayne is the new addition to the family and she's settled in well to the Hallam tradition of aiming to be early for everything. A month before her due detail she decided that she'd been in the dark for far too long. Her arrival is one of the softest and fluffiest things to happen in the Hallam family for a long time. Holding baby Liffey for the first time is a moment that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Liffey Jayne at a week old with Grandad

We've had a few adventures with Jemma's Niece Shanai too. June saw her first Spartan Race event. With Auntie Jemma competing in the 5km+ Sprint event in the morning and 10+ km Super events in the afternoon it was left to Liam to spend the morning with Shanai and help her through her first obstacle race.

Shanai at her first Spartan Race

After Shanai's race we took the camera out onto the course to capture some of the action with Shanai fascinated by taking photo's of all the racers. We might even have a future photographer in our midst.

Jemma tackling the high walls at Spartan Race in Manchester

Shanai loves parks and the forest so what better than a Friday evening trip to Sherwood Pines.

Shanai with the Gruffalo at Sherwood Pines Park

A Soft & Fluffy Sporting Summer

The summer has been very eventful for us in a sporting way. As a treat after recovery from my broken leg I bought my first proper Mountain Bike. Jemma will tell you just how much of a big kid I was when I got top play with her (a man rarely rides a male bike) at Cardinham Woods on the way to Newquay.

Testing the new Radon ZR Race at Cardinham Woods

Jemma' been getting the biking in too ready for the forthcoming Rat Race Coast 2 Coast event

Jemma's Summer highlight has to be finishing the tough endurance test that is the Fan Dance. Taking place in the Brecon Beacons and mimicking the route special forces soldiers use as part of their selection process the event is a tough 16 mile trek over the formidable Pen Y Fan- twice with a heavy weighted rucksack to add to the suffering. Out of a couple of hundred men doing the event the number of women went barely into double figures in the loaded category. It was a tough event and a real achievement for Jem. 

Jemma at the Fan Dance event in the Brecon Beacons

August saw my return to running events at the Dig Deep 12.12 in the Peak District to see how well my ankle has been healing. Easily described as a tough trail race the 12.12 featured a pretty heft 632 metres of ascent in the course which just shaded over 12 miles (Although my Garmin showed 12.5 miles). 51st out of 153 competitors was a real achievement even if it was nothing like what I would have expected pre-injury. After the stresses of getting my ankle back up to a level to be able to run again it was actually nice to be able to take things relatively steady even if every time I was on a technical or rocky section people were overtaking me. The main thing was getting through the event unscathed and my ankle held up well.

Liam at the Dig Deep 12.12 in the Peak District

Our Soft and Fluffy Blogging Moments

This summer has been a busy one for us here at the Nottingham Food Lovers Blog. We always try to get out as much as possible. We've had invites to a food festival and a number of restaurants across the city whilst sampling somethings we might not have tried. As well as pursing our own food choices.

One of our surprise food highlights on our food travels has been the Dovecote Inn out at Laxton. Having cycled past it many times and not really paying much attention it proved to be a really fantastic country pub which serves exceptionally good food. We'd not originally planned on going but issues at our first option disintegrated and I knew the Dovecote Inn was pretty much on the way home.

Our blogging find of summer 2015- The Dovecote at Laxton

Would you like to share your soft and fluffy summer moments for a chance to win £100? Head over to the Roberts Bakery Facebook page to share your summer moments. 

A Saturday Night Find- The Dovecote Inn at Laxton

Sometimes you stumble across a great place. We'd hoped to visit the renowned Fountain at Tuxford which we've been debating a visit to for months only to find that they we're serving food and were in the process of changing ownership. This prompted the "Where could we go" question being in the North of Nottinghamshire and not 100% sure on where would be a good option.

A cycling friend had previously remarked that they'd had a good experience at the Dovecote Inn a short distance away in Laxton. It seemed like a good opportunity to pop in, have a look at the menu and see what we thought. If we weren't sold we could always venture across to Bengal Cottage in Warsop for a curry. So off to the Dovecote Inn we went for an initial look

The Dovecote Inn at Laxton

On arrival at the Dovecote we could see a really well presented pub in a great location at the heart of the village. There's a tourist information centre next door too and just down the road is the Holocaust centre of Beth Shalom if you're looking for something different to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

On arrival at the Dovecote Inn we were impressed by a clean, friendly atmosphere. Even though we hadn't booked the team were extremely accommodating and whilst we were only a couple looking for that table for two they still went out of their way for us.

On tab were a small but targeted selection of four ales including Black Sheep, Everard's Tiger and Castle Rock's award winning Harvest Pale so there was plenty to tick the box of a real ale lover out for a nice meal.

Thyme Roasted Pork Loin Steak at The Dovecote Inn, Laxton

Food wise we opted for Thyme Roasted Pork Loin Steak which was served with Parmesan infused mashed potatoes, steamed seasonal vegetables and an apple salsa Verde for £12.95 and Lamb Tagine with slow braised tender lamb in a classic, lightly spiced Moroccan style tomato and chickpea sauce served with herb yogurt bread for £12.50.

Gorgeous Lamb Tagine at the Dovecote Inn

Our meal was fantastic, the Thyme Roasted Pork was a beautifully put together dish with a fantastic piece of meat and a nice tart apple salsa Verde that really complimented the pork. It was a dish that you'd happily eat as Sunday lunch and of a good size too.

The real highlight for us was the Lamb Tagine. Flavoursome slow cooked lamb in a lovely spiced sauce with chickpeas it was a real delight. Filling yet not heavy and exceptionally tasty.

We had a fantastic meal at the Dovecote Inn. We'd certainly go back with family at some point as we feel the varied menu and hearty food will satisfy plenty of grumbling stomachs or fussy eaters.

Saturday Night at Banyan Tree in Arnold

We love a good curry and after a hard day working up an appetite sorting out the garden it made sense that we'd earnt a nice reward on Saturday. After working up such an appetite a curry was really the only option. One of our favourite local curry houses is the Banyan Tree on Redhill Island on the A60 driving out of Arnold.It used to be a Little Chef a long time ago.

With a Bangladeshi influence and a range of curries that we either rarely seen elsewhere or have never ever seen on a menu we're always confident we'll be able to have something different.

Poppadoms and Pickle Tray at Banyan Tree

For our main meals we opted for the Special Mixed Grill which is a fantastic array of various different meats served sizzling over a bed of onions and the Malabari Prawn curry featuring four huge freshwater prawns the size of my clenched fist.

The Malabari Prawn curry at Bantan Tree was a delight. With mustard and curry leaves in a thick sauce the delicacy of the sauce worked well with the beautiful prawns.

We had our meals with Pilau Rice and a Peshwari Naan

The Banyan Tree is on the more refined end of Indian dining experiences. We love the food and it's local on the outskirts of Arnold too. Well worth a visit if you get chance

Malabari Prawn Curry and a Special Mixed Grill from Banyan Tree

An evening at the Harvester, Castle Marina

It's been a whirlwind last couple of months for us and we've been darting all over the country recently on holidays and to various sporting events so it's nice to spend some time relaxing at home in Nottingham after our travels.

Jemma has always raved about Harvester's unlimited salad bar (Which I think she would rather have at times than a main meal) so when the opportunity arose to visit the Harvester at Castle Marina for a review came about we were happy to head there on a glorious summers evening. It's years since I visited a Harvester so have to admit I was visiting with an open mind.

The Harvester at Castle Marina Nottingham,

What's it Like Inside?

Clean, bright and airy interior

I'm a stickler for clean, crisp interiors without fuss and the Castle Marina Harvester definitely ticks those boxes for me. It's light and airy, spacious, whilst having a simple yet modern decor. It's definitely somewhere I'd happy sit down with family or friends.

Modern, simple styling works well

The Most Important Thing- The Food

Starters

We love a good starter and decided to go for a meat and a fish option. The fish basket (£5.29) featured tender, succulent Crackerjack prawns, scampi and fish goujons together with a nice tartar sauce. Served in a large basket with the obligatory bit of green (Large lettuce leaf) we had a total of 12 pieces to the starter which represents excellent value from our experiences at other restaurants.

The Fish Basket - £5.29

For our meat option we opted for the Sticky Duck Wings (£5.49) which were served in a Crabbies ginger beer and orange blossom sauce. Very nice, beautifully cooked with the meat almost falling away from the bone.

Harvester Sticky Duck Wings

Our Main Meals

We always love to be a little adventurous when it comes to our food. If there's a great selection we'll often pick something on the adventurous side but with so much meaty choice on the menu we opted to share an I Want it All Platter (£12.99) and the fantastic sounding Jamaican Style Boneless Beef Rib (£10.29)

The  I Want it All Platter (£12.99)

The I Want it All Platter features some of the best bits on the menu with some chicken from the rotisserie, char grilled chicken thighs, a health sized gammon steak chorizo that's more like pieces of hearty sausage and half a rack of baby ribs. As with any Harvester meal you get a choice of sides and sauces. I opted for sweet potato fries (49p extra) and some of Farmer Rikki's Chili Sauce.

The meat came out beautifully cooked. The chicken succulent whilst easily pulling away from the bone with limited effort. The gammon was of a great size and there was plenty of meat between the ribs to keep us going. The chips looked and tasted fantastic with a crunchy outer and soft inner. They were so good I could easily have eaten twice as many!

The Farmer Rikki's Chili sauce was interesting. On initial taste it seemed a little like a hot curry sauce although it's heat built very quickly so anyone who's averse to anything hot would be best to stick to many of the other options on the menu without so much kick. It was certainly great with chips and made a fantastic accompaniment for chicken.

The  Jamaican Style Boneless Beef Rib (£10.29)

Our second choice was the Jamaican Style Boneless Beef Rib with a side of baby new potatoes and Jack Daniels Tennessee Whisky sauce. As shown above the rib came out looking beautiful with a rum and cola glaze. It almost fell apart as it was cut thanks to being slow cooked to perfection. The boneless beef rib was a real highlight that we'd certainly recommend.

The Salad Bar

One of the great pluses for going to a Harvester has to be the unlimited salad bar when you have a grill. In some ways it actually negates the need for a starter and there's such a selection that it pretty much will have something for everyone. Best of all it's fresh and with lots of choices. 

Take your pick from the salad bar

The salad bar is not all about greenery and vegetables. There's a good selection for all with different pastas, sauces and a nice selection of bread and croutons to satisfy the salad-dodgers among us.

Croutons and crispy bits will even appeal to those of us that don't like greenery on plates

Our Drinks

For drinks we opted for the all you could drink Pepsi or Lemonade option. We'd have liked to have seen that extended to other drinks like Fanta or Sprint which worked out just as expensive for one glass compared to the all you wanted to drink option.

Our Experience at Castle Marina Harvester

Having not been to a Harvester for a good number of years the Castle Marina restaurant was really a nice dining experience. Fantastically cooked meats, easily falling away from the bone and a good selection meant we were well catered for.

The restaurant is clean, light and airy, making for somewhere you could easily sit down and chat over a drink and a meal. The staff were attentive without being to the extreme and seemed to have a good knowledge of the menu to help with choices if required.

We'd happily go back.

More from the salad bar selection at Harvester Castle Marina, Nottingham

Disclaimer
Every so often we're offered a meal or experience in exchange for a review and whilst this was one of those occasions we adhere to be honest with people. If our experience was poor we'll tell people as so and if there are things we'd change we'll always mention them. We value our integrity.