The Manor Restaurant can be found located inside Eastwell Manor, a Champney’s Hotel & Spa, near to Ashford in Kent. Eastwell Manor is a stunning property with well maintained, idyllic grounds; and Manor Restaurant itself is no exception.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by a member of the team and shown to our table. We knew from the moment we were seated that we were going to be well looked after here. We browsed the menu as we enjoyed an aperitif. I chose the classic Negroni - having just returned from Italy I thought this was quite appropriate - this saw one part Sipsmith gin mixed with one part vermouth rosso and one part Campari, garnished with fresh orange peel. My partner went for an Espresso Martini, which saw a mix of espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur. These cocktails were well-made and a real treat to begin our evening.
The menu is a great read, filled with classic English dishes with a modern European twist. For my starter, I decided on the very tempting pea and watercress velouté, which came served with quail egg, savoury granola and a minted cream. The colours of this dish were just stunning with the vibrant green of the soup against the deep yellow of the perfectly cooked egg yolk - tasting just as good as it looked. My partner went for the seared scallops and roasted pork belly served with butternut squash puree, pickled seaweed, crackling and split red wine jus. This was a truly standout dish with the sweet freshness of the perfectly prepared scallops cutting through the richness of the pork belly and jus.
“Not only have they mastered the art of great service, but the food also delivered in taste, texture and presentation in abundance.”
For our main course, we both decided to share the 625g cote de boeuf for two, which was served with hand cut chips, seasonal vegetables, hollandaise sauce and a red wine sauce. We also added a side of silky mashed potato. I have to say, the meat was exceptional; full of flavour and perfectly cooked to our preference. The sides were also heavenly, and we thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful.
After much debate, for dessert I decided on the jasmine panna cotta, which was served with compressed strawberries and Thai basil. This was a fragrant and light dessert that really hit the spot for me. My partner opted for the white chocolate and passionfruit, served with mango gel and coconut and lime marshmallow. It was also as expected, delicious.
To accompany our meal, we sipped on a bottle of the 2016 Domaine Condorcet, Cru de Rhone, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France. This was a great addition to our meal, being a rich and intense, full bodied red wine, that complimented our main course exceptionally well in particular.
All in all we had a great evening at the Manor Restaurant at Eastwell Manor. Not only have they mastered the art of great service, but the food also delivered in taste, texture and presentation in abundance. We would certainly return and definitely recommend that you add it to your list if you happen to be in the area.
The Bill: £65 per head
