The Pass Restaurant sits inside the five-star South Lodge Hotel in Horsham. It has recently been awarded its first Michelin Star.
We had heard about The Pass and were intrigued to see for ourselves. Not ones for taking another’s word for something, we wanted to get a real feel for what this restaurant is all about. We are pleased to say it delivered on every count.
The dining room has an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs at work. It’s an interesting setup that will appeal to some more than others. The décor is modern and light, with bright colours and simple furnishings. It provokes a calm, mildly excited atmosphere that prepares you for what is to come.
We began with canapés, a delightful starter of white wine velote, roasted pine nuts and black mustard seeds, together with a delightful bread roll and a selection of 3 rock salts.
“The Pass at the South Lodge Hotel delivered on every count.”
As with most tasting menus, a different glass of wine is recommended with each course. Instead, we opted for a bottle of Argentinean Pinot Gris with our meal, an excellent choice.
Our waiters went to great lengths to explain the ingredients of all the dishes and between us, we chose all the options from the five course tasting menu.
It consisted of:
• Asparagus, cheese on toast, poached egg yolk
• Potato salad. Beetroot tartare, orange, watercress, horseradish ice cream
• Vegetable wellington, lemon curd, gnocchi, mushroom. Roasted cauliflower, Thai shallots, sunflower seed
• Gingerbread crème brûlée, salted peanut, chicory
• Honey financier, poached pear, almond ganache, pear sorbet. Apple parfait, caramel, apple sorbet, crumble
Each forkful was a different delicious fusion of tastes.
The menu is changed regularly, and the chefs are always eager to try out new dishes. The Pass Restaurant has a very tight team, and the whole process runs incredibly smoothly.
The couple sitting at the next table told us that they regularly dine in The Camellia Restaurant, as it was their favourite in the area. This was their first time in The Pass Restaurant and they loved it. We had to agree. We would definitely choose to dine at The Pass again.
The Bill: £35 per person
