11 favourite dinners out

We eat out when we can – at weekends, on holiday, with work – and have enjoyed some splendid meals, whether they be gourmet, gastro or just good quality fast food.  So rather than give you a summary of my favourite place for a burger (Chalk Valley or Brewhouse & Kitchen in Southampton) or the easiest place for after work drinks and supper (Ping Pong South Bank) I want to tell you about the very special and memorable places that we’ve had the pleasure of dining at.  These are the places that even if it was ten years ago we still remember vividly – they were that good! They are the places that if a friend or colleague says they are passing within 100 miles of I will heartily recommend they visit! Enjoy, and I hope that nobody is reading on an empty stomach!

Tokara

A friend recommended we visit here, he used to work there when he was at university in Stellenbosch. In 2010 it wasn’t one of the famous vineyards of the region but I prefer local knowledge every time.  I’m glad I booked.  The vineyard and bar are modern and functional and a pre-dining tasting is recommended – you’ll know you are in the right place.  The dining room has a large outdoor balcony and as you can see it is above the vines and looks out across the estate – a stunning backdrop to an incredible meal.  The meal was immaculately prepared and delicious in every way.  This is upscale and contemporary dining done perfectly.  And then there’s the estates wine alongside, I’d recommend staying near by and walking home (we did)!

Helshoogte Rd, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa

Shanahans on the Green

The bread to end all breads – and that is before you get to the steak!  The soda bread they serve you on arrival is something else – be warned, you don’t want to eat too much, but you will want to – the best bread I have ever (ever) had.  Aside from the bread this is an American steakhouse in a very lovely and quaint corner of the bustling city.  It is a restaurant yes, but the service is classic Irish charm and makes anyone comfortable despite the ostentatious surroundings.  We stumbled in wearing walking boots having been out to Howth for the day and no one batted an eye.  The broiled steak was something else – succulent, sumptuous and (dare I say it) better than the bread!

119 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, Ireland

Chateau Eza

One can remortgage to stay at the hotel, or spend an evening here.  We chose just to dine at Chateau Eza.  Mr P almost ordered a £10k bottle of wine by being inaccurate with his pointing, so we almost needed the remortgage!  The Menu Degustation is a full evenings entertainment and I can’t recommend it highly enough – it was worth every penny.  The view from the roof bar where champagne and canapés are taken is stunning and then in the dining room booking in advance is essential to get a window or balcony table – well worth it. Incredible food, efficient and friendly enough service – a gastronomic marvel! Top tip – wear pumps, the climb up through the village on a hotel evening is tiring and also on cobbles – ballet flats are de rigeur!

Rue de la Pise, 06360 Eze Village, France

Equinox

Rarely would I choose to dine in a hotel, and Equinox is located in the Swissotel.  However there was only one recommendation that friends gave when we were in Singapore for Mr P’s birthday and this was it.  I do think that the restaurant view has the edge over the food, but with the best view of the city and the hourly light shows to enjoy the accompanying food was very enjoyable.  It was a very European menu with old favourites done well.  We had the chateaubriand which was divine I must say.  Mr P was particularly taken with the wine-list and I seem to remember that the pricing of a bottle of Taittinger was so much cheaper than a 2 glasses that it was rude not to indulge.  Book early and expect to pay a surcharge for a window seat.

2 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178882

Andre Garrett at Cliveden House

Oftentimes a luxury hotel doesn’t have the restaurant to match its standard.  Not so at Cliveden, even just the breakfast (although I expect Monsieur Garrett isn’t involved in poaching the eggs?) is outstanding.  Dinner at Cliveden is a full evening’s experience.  Coming down from your suite one takes drinks in the great hall as well as canapés while you peruse the menu.  The stately home was once full of scandal – sitting by the fire it’s fantastic to drink in the atmosphere and intrigue even today.  Some of the best allergy catering going – my canapés were pre-made and delivered without question and were as good as the standard ones.  The dining room is dripping with class and elegance, yet isn’t stuffy whatsoever.  The menu was then of course delicious with excellent wine pairing.

Clivedon Road, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF

Kota

As the restaurant says – local produce with an asian twist.  This is really modern yet enjoyable dining.  Porthleven is a sweet little seaside town and having this restaurant in a pretty old waterfront building.  We were there just after season opening and in the first sitting and the place was full to the rafters, it’s doing well – service and food quality was also exceptional, London quality but without the London price-tag.  Proudly Cornish I am always happy to see small businesses do well in Cornwall – there is a vast array of big-restauranter dining options but nothing can ever live up to the relaxed atmosphere and excellence of eating somewhere like Kota.

Harbour Head, Porthleven, Cornwall, TR13 9JA

Gau Menspiel

This is one of those restaurants where a) you need a local to know it is there (we wandered a way away from the main centre to find it) and b) you want to go with a local to really make the most of the menu, wine menu and kind service.  If you have those covered then you are going to have a fine night!  The menu was luscious – a mix of Viennese delicacies and fine dining, alongside some fantastic Viennese wine options (try the Brundlymeyer fizz, I can’t recommend it highly enough).  This is one of those places where tables are close together and the waiters bustle around at pace – it really is fantastic for people watching, and with wooden floors and thick black-out curtains it has the best atmosphere too.  Then the food arrives and all you can focus on is the food (and the wine).

Zieglergasse 54, 1070 Vienna

Earth at Hidden Pond

I toyed with us staying here when we visited Maine, but I wanted to be nearer the sea (same old), so instead we visited for supper. It’s quite a drive up from Kennebunk (Mr P will attest as he ran back to get the car the next day) but is worth the adventure.  The inside of the restaurant is basically a tree, or many trees – really rustic and warming. The menu is similar – this isn’t fancy dining, but it is gourmet and you can have anything, from tapas style mini-dishes, to pizza to finer dining. It is clearly one of the places to be seen but also knows it is a hotel restaurant and needs to appeal to families – it works.  Enjoy a drink in the garden by the pond too – you’ll be surrounded by the sound of frogs, disconcerting at first and then rather relaxing to be in amongst nature!

354 Goose Rocks Rd, Kennebunkport, Maine 04046

Kinsterna

The hotel makes its own olive oil and wine – and having brought a fair amount home it is ‘as’ good at home as away!  A good place to start!  The bread thankfully is just as divine, so with the olive oil and the bread, and the wine, you may not need anything more.  Thankfully they have an incredible chef and team who will look after you equally well on the terrace at lunch time (gorgeous view) or in the restaurant come nightime.  One evening chef decided he wanted to cook his favourite dish and we were only too happy to oblige him – true Greek cuisine doesn’t get any better.  Also an incredibly attentive restaurant for allergies.  And all this in the middle of nowhere – a 3 hour drive from Athens to a little rustic paradise.

Monemvasia, Laconia, Peloponnese 230 70, Greece

Houseboat Grill

This is one of those places that you read about in the guide book and think might be a bit crass, but then you ask the concierge (Kingsley at Round Hill, basically in the know about Jamaica) and he says be prepared to be wowed, and he books the best table too.  One takes a little jetty out from the mainland to the houseboat and then if you are lucky you will dine on the outside deck looking across the water, and watching the fish-life below and seeing the many fireflies too.  It isn’t fancy, its relaxed and has a true caribbean vibe with spicy fish, spicy meats and just generally good hearty food!

Alice Eldemire Dr, Montego Bay, Jamaica

The Black Rat

This was going to be a list of 10, then I remembered my local favourite – and where Mr P insists we go each year for his birthday!  Quirky setting and quirky menu but ever popular and varied and if I was to choose where I would want to be treated to fine dining I would always suggest here for a special occasion.  Its chef has a well-deserved Michelin star and the food is never boring but always cleverly put together and matched with accompaniments to the dish.  The ambience is unbeatable – set across a few cosy dining rooms in the downstairs of a house, each room is different, has a fireplace and a mixture of antique tables and chairs.  We have tried amazing wines here too – the owner was there once trialling new options for his wine list (we now have 12 bottles of one in storage)!

88 Chesil St, Winchester SO23 0HX

You’ll notice no photos of food… I just can’t bring myself to do it, we like warm food and when I have tried with my iPhone (not wanting to take the heavy camera to supper, it doesn’t fit in my little bag) the results haven’t been worth the embarrassment or Mr P’s reaction.  You’ll thank me though – if I had taken photos then you would be drooling now!