Byford's

4th March 2011 - Byford’s, Shirehall Plain, Holt.

Set in the centre of the town in a grade 2 listed building sensitively restored from its history as the local ironmongers, Byford’s sees itself as something special.   Despite its self-congratulatory marketing there is no doubt that, as somewhere to eat, it has style and quality of fare which perhaps allows it to be fulsome in its own praises.

Its lunchtime menu has a wide choice and one can enjoy a range of dishes from simple pizzas to somewhat expensive mains.   The main dining area, which has been relatively recently refurbished, has a pleasing atmosphere of semi-old beams and an interesting view of the kitchen.  The scrubbed pine table tops gave the area an added olde-worlde theme.

On what appeared to be a quiet day we found the service very quick and professional.   Gill ordered a Chardonnay and I a Rioja and water.   The wine was served quickly but the order for the water had to be made again after the meals had been served.   For lunchtime we thought the main courses were too expensive, so Gill ordered a Pizza Margerita, which she enjoyed very much, and I had the Charcuterie Board of two sorts of salami, chorizo,
with a sun-dried tomato based mixed pickle, gherkins and focaccia bread, which was delicious.

We were among the earlier clientele and as it filled up the atmosphere improved.

The meal, including drinks, was fair value at £25

Rating 16/20

The Owl Restaurant

17th March 2011 - The Owl Restaurant, White Lion Street, Holt.

We were going elsewhere but passing the Owl during the morning I noticed on their outside menu board that they had rabbit hotpot for lunch which I could not resist. We were a bit late arriving at 12.45 and to our surprise there were no spare tables. However, the waitresses were very helpful, said that one table was nearly available, so we waited in the adjacent shop.

Very soon, within about five minutes, a table for two became vacant. The restaurant is small and can cater for about two dozen people but has a very traditional style with plastic table covers and a shelf decorated with pots and pans. The whole scene was overlooked by a caged and stuffed barn owl. The local tale of an owl being detained in the Holt pound was also displayed.

The menu had half-a-dozen main meals and a range of lighter lunches with some salivating sounding desserts. The restaurant is also licensed.

Our order was taken and the service proved to be very quick and efficient. I ordered the rabbit hotpot and Gill had a vegetable pie, both were served with mash potato, carrots and calabrese. Gill quite enjoyed hers but I was very disappointed especially in the rabbit hotpot. It had been cooked in a pint-sized pot and was quite dry, lacking the natural juices and sauces of the normal rabbit hotpot cooked in a larger pot. We had glasses of the unremarkable house white and red wines and, as usual, needed to ask for glasses of water.

Somehow the meal was a bit of a let down and yet one had the feeling that the Owl can do better. We will have to return in due course to see if that is true. At least there was no musak.


Rating 13/20