The Avenue Restaurant can be found inside Lainston House, the restaurant provides an intimate dining experience, the staff are welcoming and friendly, and the decor and furnishings in the dining area oozes elegance.
Our first dish was Roasted Cauliflower, with risotto, pickled walnut, and parmesan crisp. A delightful first course, with excellent presentation and wonderful marriage of flavours. The dish was paired with a glass of 2014, Crozes Hermitage, Marsanne, Roussanne, Dom, Mule Blanche, Paul Jaboulet Aine, France. A pale yellow wine with a nose of white flowers and a woody tone.
Our next dish was Soused Mackerel, with apple, horseradish, rye croutons, and rhubarb ponzu. The mackerel was wonderfully seasoned and tenderly prepared. This dish was paired with a glass of 2014, Pouilly-fume, Villa Paulus, Masson-blondelet, France, to complete the dish.
We then moved on to the Chicken Wings, with grelot onion, bacon, white balsamic, and chestnut mushrooms. Again, the presentation and taste cannot be faulted, the chicken was tender and flavoursome. This dish was accompanied with a glass of 2013, Riesling Grand Cru, Sommerberg, Alsace. A splendid white with delicate flavours along with an elegant bunch of flowers and citrus fruit.
Next, we were served Goat’s Curd and Beetroot, with apple, and red vein sorrel. The goat’s curd had a lovely texture and taste, and the sorrel and apple complimented the curd perfectly. This dish was paired with a glass of 2013, Chapel Down, Bacchus, Kent, England. An interesting wine with flavours of nettles, green apple, and gooseberries, and indeed very satisfying.
“The staff really understand the art of hospitality and fine dining.”
For our next dish, we were served Sea Bass, with red pepper, tomato, and black olive. The sea bass was superb with its wonderfully crisp texture, the pepper and tomato brought a lot to the dish and we enjoyed every mouthful. We enjoyed a glass of 2014, Chablis Ler Cru, Vignaud, France. A very enjoyable pale wine, with lime and citrus notes.
Moving on, we enjoyed an intriguing dish of Presa Iberica, with thyme potato puree, broccoli, and pickled apple. This dish was paired with a glass of 2008, Rioja, Gran Reserva, Ramon Bilbao, Spain. This was a wine with spicy notes and a strong, full bodied flavour, this worked wonderfully with the Presa Iberica.
Next, we sampled the Passion Fruit Sphere, with coconut tapioca and mango. A delicious dish with strong fruits and a smooth tapioca.
Finally, we were served Griotte Cherry, with salted caramel, cardamom, and chocolate. A delicious dessert, the collection of flavours in this worked perfectly together. Coupled with a glass of 2014, Elysium, Black Muscat, California, a dark dessert wine with a sweet rose aroma, and full of super rich velvety fruit, this course was simply divine.
After being taken through a faultless journey of flavoursome dishes we left more than impressed. The staff really understand the art of hospitality and fine dining at The Avenue Restaurant, a must visit if you appreciate fine food.
The Bill: £138 per head
