Before I’d ever been to World Service I had the preconceived idea that it was only for the rich folk.
Now this was a few years ago. The restaurant actually opened in 2000 to national acclaim, gaining recognition from the Michelin guide, the A.A Good Food guide and the Nottingham Restaurant Awards. A relative of mine had been taken there to celebrate 30 years working for the same company, so you I’d got the impression that it was a venue for occasions.
That’s partly true, a night out is a full night out. It’s very relaxed and you’re not rushed at all. Is it pricey? It can be compared to some lower end restaurants but then as the saying goes – you get what you pay for. The food is cooked to a high standard, a lot of time and effort has gone into it and so it deserves to be appreciated rather than rushed. The venue itself is housed in the elegant surroundings of 17th Century Newdigate House and the whole experience honours the customs and traditions of the buildings heritage.
I have been several times to the restaurant now and it remains one of my firm favourites, whether enjoying the sunshine on the terrace, or having a drink in front of the cosy open fire in the eclectic lounge bar on a winter night. The restaurant offers lunch and a’la carte menus which blend modern British cuisine along with influences from around the world and change daily, based around fresh, seasonal produce. The good news is they also offer a fixed price menu Monday to Friday, 3 courses for £24.95, which we decided to try on our last visit.
There are three options to choose from for each course, offering a vegetarian, meat or fish dish for the starter and the main course. You can peruse the menu whilst enjoying a drink in the lounge bar, which offers an extensive collection of bespoke and classic cocktails along with international spirits, as well as over 200 wines from around the globe. We settled for a bottle of wine which we received after a slightly lengthy wait. We are also treated to an aperitif to tantalise our taste buds in readiness of the meal ahead.
Cheesemaker Salad
Crispy Asian Beef, Hot and Sour Soup
Both the restaurant and bar area are decorated with rich fabrics and individually made pieces of art work. The tables are set far enough apart to afford the diner privacy and we are seated at a table to the corner of the stylish restaurant for our meal. For our starters we try the vegetarian Cheesemaker Salad, Hens Egg, Dolcelatte Cheese and the Crispy Asian Beef, Hot and Sour Soup, Pak Choi. The salad comprises of a beautiful deep fried breadcrumb coated egg with fresh salad leaves, flavoursome cheese and a tasty dressing. Simple yet lovely and just the right amount of food so as not to spoil your appetite. The soup is packed full of flavour though a little on the cool side.
Fillet of Sea Bream
Slow Roast Pork Belly
From the Mains selection we chose the Fillet of Sea Bream, Mushroom Fricassee, Peas & Mussels, Aioli and the Slow Roast Pork Belly, Butterbeans, Spring Onion & Chorizo Ragout. The Sea Bream is beautifully cooked with well-flavoured fricassee whilst the Pork is soft succulent and delicious with a crisp salty skin. The Ragout has a good flavour but again was a little cool.
Chilled Chocolate Fondant
Dessert just had to be the chilled chocolate fondant, Pistachio, Black Cherries. Probably due to the fact that I haven’t registered it says chilled or the fact I am the best part through a bottle of wine, I am expecting an ‘oozing chocolatey goodness in the middle’ type dessert, this one, as obviously stated on the menu is chilled and in fact like a set mouse. I’m pleased to report however that this chocoholic still got their fix, as this rich, melt in the mouth pudding doesn’t disappoint. The Pistachio coating is a salty nutty contrast to the lush fondant with the black cherries a sharp on the palate contrast.
The excellent fixed price menu is proof that you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy fabulous food in a stylish setting, so you really can make any meal a special occasion.
World Service were not aware we were reviewing them. We paid for our meal in full and all opinions are our own.
Words and food photography by Tanya Raybould
Food Editor
@FoodNottingham
@tanyalouiseray
