Portsmouth restaurant
Discussion
I'm hoping some of you can give me some pointers.
I need to book a restaurant for a small family gathering (12) in a few weeks time. It's a very informal gathering & not really a foodie fest.
My Dad's cousin is over from Seattle & staying in an apartment in Gunwharf Quays, long story, don't ask!
They are in their 80s but very active, "switched on" people. We will be driving & they're happy to travel a little distance but not more than half an hour or so.
Every decade age group will be present from 20s through to 80s No fussy eaters, no veggies. Everyone has experience of restaurants from Joe's Snack Bar to Le Gavroche. Although I suspect only me & my nephew would feel equally at home in either!
The only issue I can think of is noise.
I will rule out chains like Cafe Rouge, Nando, pizza, Brasserie Blanc (would go if pushed) etc.
I have looked at Tripadvisor & come up with 5/8 of f
k all. I don't want to be thinking "feck me that's a lot for what it was" when the bill arrives.
So I'll also rule out Restaurant 27, Montparnasse, 36 on the Quay (shame) & their ilk.
Am I banging my head against a wall, should I make a list & stick a pin in it?
Can anyone help, please
Thanks
I need to book a restaurant for a small family gathering (12) in a few weeks time. It's a very informal gathering & not really a foodie fest.
My Dad's cousin is over from Seattle & staying in an apartment in Gunwharf Quays, long story, don't ask!
They are in their 80s but very active, "switched on" people. We will be driving & they're happy to travel a little distance but not more than half an hour or so.
Every decade age group will be present from 20s through to 80s No fussy eaters, no veggies. Everyone has experience of restaurants from Joe's Snack Bar to Le Gavroche. Although I suspect only me & my nephew would feel equally at home in either!
The only issue I can think of is noise.
I will rule out chains like Cafe Rouge, Nando, pizza, Brasserie Blanc (would go if pushed) etc.
I have looked at Tripadvisor & come up with 5/8 of f
k all. I don't want to be thinking "feck me that's a lot for what it was" when the bill arrives.So I'll also rule out Restaurant 27, Montparnasse, 36 on the Quay (shame) & their ilk.
Am I banging my head against a wall, should I make a list & stick a pin in it?
Can anyone help, please
Thanks
I can highly recommend Nicholsons of Portsmouth, not only do I rate it, but the restaurant is highly commended on Trip Advisor. It is a Spanish style Tapas restaurant and the food is absolutely superb, it is owned by an English guy, and the staff are excellent, its in Albert Road Southsea, you will not be disappointed, but book early.
I'm a bit perplexed, you dismiss Blancs which is a fair restaurant at reasonable prices located in Gunwhaf where they are staying? And in the next breath dismiss Restuarant 27 as pricey, but it is the top rated gaff in Portsmouth. Both of which I would recommend btw.
Anyway, for a middle ground and something slightly different look into Rosie's Vineyard on Elm Grove, SouthSea as it has live Jazz bands some nights.
Just check Rosie's, Jazz is Friday evenings or Sunday lunch times, it has a great wine list at reasonable prices too.
Anyway, for a middle ground and something slightly different look into Rosie's Vineyard on Elm Grove, SouthSea as it has live Jazz bands some nights.
Just check Rosie's, Jazz is Friday evenings or Sunday lunch times, it has a great wine list at reasonable prices too.
Edited by HarryW on Thursday 17th September 22:32
Tbh, any meal out is going to cost you £30 a head for 3 courses without wine where ever you go.
Restaurant 27 do a 7 course tasting menu for £42 a head and wine starts at around £20 a bottle. You will not get a better meal for the money, including a lot of 'starred' restaurants Imhe. I've not done it but for a group of 12 they would probably do you a fixed meal to your tastes if you asked.
Restaurant 27 do a 7 course tasting menu for £42 a head and wine starts at around £20 a bottle. You will not get a better meal for the money, including a lot of 'starred' restaurants Imhe. I've not done it but for a group of 12 they would probably do you a fixed meal to your tastes if you asked.
Thanks for the suggestions.
They want to go to Weald & Downland Museum so maybe Amelie is a good shout on that day, not the same day as family 'do'
Nicolino's is in the right price range, and independent, it's on the list.
Not sure about Tapas though, for a younger group it would be a good evening, just not sure about the oldies! It's still there though.
Now to the "perplexing " issue of Blanc, ('would go if pushed')
I'll remind you of my original brief;
'It's a very informal gathering & not really a foodie fest. I will rule out chains, caveat, (would go if pushed) I don't want to be thinking "feck me that's a lot for what it was" when the bill arrives.'...and to be fair, it saves someone from hosting, (read cooking,) for another 10+ family gathering, we seem to have a few!
Brasserie Blanc is a chain. We have been a few times in Winchester, Farnham, and The South Bank. the last time was two weeks ago for a different family get together, and whilst it does fit into the price bracket, I'm just a bit fed up with it, I found the last menu rather dull. I was probably in a bad mood!
I'll stick to Le Manoir in future.
Restaurant 27 may be the "top rated gaff in Portsmouth" but, as I said, its outside the price range, by a considerable margin.
As a comparison, the last Blanc evening came in at just under £200 for 7, no puds but 2 bottles of wine. As you say, that's in the region of £30 a head.
Restaurant 27 equivalent is going to be about £50 a head, with pud, granted & I have allowed 3 bottles of wine @ £20, even so, that's an extra £240
It does look interesting though & I will add it to my list for future reference, thanks.
Rosie's, again, in with a shout but heading up price wise.
I knew you chaps would be able to come up with something, cheers
They want to go to Weald & Downland Museum so maybe Amelie is a good shout on that day, not the same day as family 'do'
Nicolino's is in the right price range, and independent, it's on the list.
Not sure about Tapas though, for a younger group it would be a good evening, just not sure about the oldies! It's still there though.
Now to the "perplexing " issue of Blanc, ('would go if pushed')
I'll remind you of my original brief;
'It's a very informal gathering & not really a foodie fest. I will rule out chains, caveat, (would go if pushed) I don't want to be thinking "feck me that's a lot for what it was" when the bill arrives.'...and to be fair, it saves someone from hosting, (read cooking,) for another 10+ family gathering, we seem to have a few!
Brasserie Blanc is a chain. We have been a few times in Winchester, Farnham, and The South Bank. the last time was two weeks ago for a different family get together, and whilst it does fit into the price bracket, I'm just a bit fed up with it, I found the last menu rather dull. I was probably in a bad mood!
I'll stick to Le Manoir in future.
Restaurant 27 may be the "top rated gaff in Portsmouth" but, as I said, its outside the price range, by a considerable margin.
As a comparison, the last Blanc evening came in at just under £200 for 7, no puds but 2 bottles of wine. As you say, that's in the region of £30 a head.
Restaurant 27 equivalent is going to be about £50 a head, with pud, granted & I have allowed 3 bottles of wine @ £20, even so, that's an extra £240
It does look interesting though & I will add it to my list for future reference, thanks.
Rosie's, again, in with a shout but heading up price wise.
I knew you chaps would be able to come up with something, cheers
Here is another suggestion, as the crow flies from Gunwharf Quays only 2 miles ish, but you will have a cracking meal at The Inn on the Beach at Hayling Island. It will be a small divert on your way back from Weald & Downland. Privately owned again, as it says, on the beach, excellent food service and draught beer, and a great view of Spinniker Tower to boot ha ha
In Portsmouth all the suggestions so far are appropriate for what you want, but if you are heading out to the Wealden down museum you could try Marwicks Restaurant in a little village called Bosham on your way back - not only is it a lovely quaint "British village" for some Americans to see a patch of old Britain it also has always served lovely food, in a lovely quiet and pleasant setting and at a very reasonable price
This place is worth a look for a different experience: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g50...
1940's style tea room, a different way to spend part of an afternoon.
1940's style tea room, a different way to spend part of an afternoon.
Just as an update.
We went to Amelie and Friends one evening. We won't be going back.
I found it seriously underwhelming, every dish we had was lacking and just not worth the money. My main course was replaced in its entirety and wasn't charged for, it was that bad!
Ideas above its station I would say.
It's a shame because the site is ideal.
Possibly because the owners aren't chefs, or have any background in the food industry, they aren't able to instigate any quality control.
I guess they're in it to make money.
The next evening was a larger gathering & we went to Nicolino's.
I'm not sure what to say, the food was very good value for money, the portions are, and this is well documented on Tripadvisor, large!
It was informal, very relaxed. The service was slightly chaotic with none of the courses being delivered without incident, but of no consequence. We were attended to very well. We were upstairs & by 10.30 had the floor to ourselves which was nice.
The tables upstairs were very sticky. There were place mats which you could peel off the top with the noise of velcro!
I think it fitted my brief very well, although it would benefit from a critical review from a fresh set of eyes and a clip board!
Overall a good recommendation, thanks.
Thanks for your input
We went to Amelie and Friends one evening. We won't be going back.
I found it seriously underwhelming, every dish we had was lacking and just not worth the money. My main course was replaced in its entirety and wasn't charged for, it was that bad!
Ideas above its station I would say.
It's a shame because the site is ideal.
Possibly because the owners aren't chefs, or have any background in the food industry, they aren't able to instigate any quality control.
I guess they're in it to make money.
The next evening was a larger gathering & we went to Nicolino's.
I'm not sure what to say, the food was very good value for money, the portions are, and this is well documented on Tripadvisor, large!
It was informal, very relaxed. The service was slightly chaotic with none of the courses being delivered without incident, but of no consequence. We were attended to very well. We were upstairs & by 10.30 had the floor to ourselves which was nice.
The tables upstairs were very sticky. There were place mats which you could peel off the top with the noise of velcro!
I think it fitted my brief very well, although it would benefit from a critical review from a fresh set of eyes and a clip board!
Overall a good recommendation, thanks.
Thanks for your input
Good to get the feedback from someone who has made an enquiry, so often people don't bother. Thanks for your comments on Amelle & friends, will knock that one off my list then. Nicolino's has been a favourite of mine in the past, but, I did not include it, as I consider it not to be as good as it once was.
Always difficult to recommend somewhere, as consistency is sadly lacking in a lot of restaurant"s, however, the 2 I put forward have never let me down in the past.
Always difficult to recommend somewhere, as consistency is sadly lacking in a lot of restaurant"s, however, the 2 I put forward have never let me down in the past.
ChrisnChris said:
We went to Amelie and Friends one evening. We won't be going back.
I found it seriously underwhelming, every dish we had was lacking and just not worth the money. My main course was replaced in its entirety and wasn't charged for, it was that bad!
Ideas above its station I would say.
It's a shame because the site is ideal.
Possibly because the owners aren't chefs, or have any background in the food industry, they aren't able to instigate any quality control.
I guess they're in it to make money.
...
Sorry to hear that after I suggested it, I guess I won't be going for a while either!I found it seriously underwhelming, every dish we had was lacking and just not worth the money. My main course was replaced in its entirety and wasn't charged for, it was that bad!
Ideas above its station I would say.
It's a shame because the site is ideal.
Possibly because the owners aren't chefs, or have any background in the food industry, they aren't able to instigate any quality control.
I guess they're in it to make money.
...
No apology necessary, it's always going to be an accepted risk going anywhere on a recommendation. You wouldn't have recommended it if you hadn't enjoyed your experience there, and that's absolutely fair enough.
It may well be the case that the other 40 or so covers had perfect meals.
I did email my detailed thoughts to the owners but haven't as yet had a response.
I deliberately didn't go into any detail on here in order to give them a chance to reply to my mail.
If they choose to ignore me, I think I'll have my answer though!
It may well be the case that the other 40 or so covers had perfect meals.
I did email my detailed thoughts to the owners but haven't as yet had a response.
I deliberately didn't go into any detail on here in order to give them a chance to reply to my mail.
If they choose to ignore me, I think I'll have my answer though!
Sorry to hear you had an underwhelming experience. I would agree with your sentiment regards quality control, I returned myself recently and was not as impressed with the food this time. However, for some balance, I still found the overall experience very pleasant and felt the customer service was excellent.
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