Friday 2 September 2011

The Galleria Restaurant Cambridge

The Galleria Restaurant, Cambridge

Gorgeous views overlooking the canal, with two levels of balconies
Male waitor was very friendly and provided a casual, relaxed service
I was torn between the Roasted field mushrooms-grilled goat’s cheese-quinoa-tomato ragu [V] £10.95
and the Tagliatelle-fennel-shallots-black olives-grilled goat’s cheese-tomato & basil ragu [V] £8.95. I asked the waiters opinion and he kindly pointed out that this was not an Italian restaurant and so the pasta is "naff".  I took his advice.
Whilst my husband chose the Roast leg of lamb steak-rosemary crushed new potatoes-braised spinach-mint, garlic & Greek yoghurt jus £14.95 and found that the potatoes were delectable.
All food arrived steaming hot.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant (though the toilets were not spotless)
All in all, this restaurant was excellent, location, views, value for money and a high standard of food.






The Last Wine Bar, Norwich

The Last Wine Bar, Norwich

I should explain that this restaurant is split between two sites next door to each other - the restaurant on the left and the restaurant/bar on the right
This immediately caused confusion as many people were entering the bar, ordering drinks and then moving over to the restaurant side.
As we entered, it appeared that all staff were busy writing out lists of the specials for the day and organising themselves despite having been open for an hour already. We explained that we didnt have a booking but was there a table available, the lady behind the bar pointed to a table and said we could sit there but only until 8.45 and then we would have to leave. (Not what you expect for £22 per head for a 3 course meal)
We sat at our table and ordered two glasses of Shiraz - very nice but not cheap.
There was a long wait before we were offered menus and an even longer wait before our orders were taken where we were told we would have to wait up to 25minutes for a chicken breast!!! I chose the Pan-fried chicken breast with chestnut mushroom velouté and frites whilst my husband chose the Pie of the day, which, after the waitress had consulted her list turned out to be pork.
We skipped a starter but were supplied with some delicious warm chiabbatta with oil and balasamic vinegar - pleasant.
My main arrived which was basically chicken and chips, and not the delicious home-made kind but McDonald's-like chips. The mushrooms had gone walkies - gutted. The pie was seriously lacking in pork but what it lacked in pork it gained in human hair and neither were supplied with vegetables.
For desert, The List was referred to and I was very excited about the white chocolate brownie, when we came to order (5 minutes later) I asked whether there were nuts in the brownie and was told that it was no longer a brownie but a chocolate cake - magic! So I ordered the scone with vanilla butter, damson and apple jam and cream - lovely. My husband ordered Dark chocolate and walnut fondant, rum Anglaise, chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. The fondant erupted nicely, the walnut taste was strong but the rum was not, the ice cream complimented the dish well.
I wouldn't rate this restaurant particularly highly, especially not for value for money. However, I wouldn't mind popping in for a glass of wine...