Malt can be found inside the charming Cowley Manor, a modernised country house located in the beautiful Cotswolds, not far from Cheltenham. Malt offers a sumptuous dining experience in beautiful surroundings. The grounds of Cowley Manor are idyllic, and it boasts exquisite interiors to match.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted warmly and shown to our table. We decided to indulge in some pre-dinner drinks to begin our evening, and so I chose a Negroni, which was mixed with King of Soho gin, Antica Formula red vermouth and Campari. It was utterly delicious and perfectly aromatic. My partner went for a simple yet highly delightful glass of the Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé.
To begin our meal, I chose the salad of beetroot, goats’ cheese, pickled pear and salsa verde for my starter. The flavours were so very fresh, and the presentation was simply stunning. My partner chose the poached fillet of salmon which came served with capers, shallot salad, parsley dressing and a crisp rye bread. The salmon was perfectly light and delicate.
“The service was attentive and came with a smile, and the menu was interesting and very well-executed.”
For our main courses, I opted for the 6oz fillet steak served with kale, potato rosti, wild mushrooms and parsnip purée. My partner chose the slow roasted shoulder of lamb served with young carrots, red cabbage, lentils and chive potato purée. We also added sides of potato purée and sugar snap peas with mange tout, honey soy and pine nuts. Our main courses were simply outstanding. The flavour combinations failed to disappoint.
For our dessert, I chose the passion fruit and pineapple Eton mess, which was a wonderfully exotic take on this classic dish; and my partner opted for the perfectly indulgent chocolate fondant served with marmalade ice cream. To accompany our meal, we chose a delicious bottle of the 2013, Pulenta Estate Gran Corte VII, Mendoza, Argentina. This wine was exceptionally well balanced, with tastes of dark cherries and a welcomed acidity.
Our entire evening at Malt was faultless. The service was attentive and came with a smile, and the menu was interesting and very well-executed. We would certainly return to this restaurant, and look forward to doing so. It comes highly recommended by us as a great choice in the area.
The Bill: £53 per head
