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The Montagu Arms, The Terrace 23/25 |
| The Montagu Arms The Terrace 23/25 | 
| Palace Lane
Beaulieu
Hampshire
SO42 7ZLTel: 01590 612324 | Vegetarian: YesParking: Own car parkWheelchairs: Use front doorLoos: Excellent |  LWL Gold Award - Awarded November 2010 - Cost ££££££££
| | This restaurant features in our Discount Directory, where you can also find many other exclusive cardholder offers. If you don't have a LWL Discount Card, click here to find out more - and start saving!We thought it was about time we renewed our acquaintance with the famous Montagu Arms and in particular with The Terrace Restaurant presided over by Michelin starred chef Matthew Tomkinson. It was a gorgeous sunny but very cold day for our drive to Beaulieu. Set in the heart of the New Forest this is a hotel of character; as the car park is tucked away behind it one can wonder through their beautiful gardens to appreciate the overall ambiance before entering. There are several steps and uneven paths so wheelchair access would be difficult, best to use the front entrance. The exterior is as tasteful as the interior. The roaring fire in the gracious and comfy lounge area was welcoming. Cedric the restaurant manager (ex Limewood & Chewton Glen) greeted us and excitedly presented us with the most unusual G & T’s; he was delighted that we had never tasted nor even heard of Bloom gin before. It is very fragrant and looked stunning in its signature long stem glasses… very sex in the city! (The glasses that is, sadly not the drinkers!) There is a set lunch menu, 2 courses for £17 and 3 for £22.50. The menu was devised by Chef to “take full advantage of the abundance of quality local produce found within and around the New Forest. Ingredients include vegetables and herbs from the hotel’s own kitchen garden” All the items looked tempting but we did feel that there should preferably be 4 choices of starter and definitely 4 choices of main course to include a meat dish. On our visit there was salmon for both a starter and a main; I think a fish lover would have liked an alternative. The other main course choices, chicken or pasta. The Terrace Restaurant is a beautiful oak panelled dining room; we sat at a table with a wonderful view of the garden. The service from Cedric, Christopher and the sommelier Adrien was impeccable. | 
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|  |  | | The enjoyment started with the arrival of the home made butter, such a simple pleasure, we all ate far too much bread just to savour its saltiness. Our starters Pondhead Farm Pork Rillette, Roasted Squash Soup and Home Smoked Organic Salmon. We had a treat from Chef, an in between course of Diver Caught Scallop with Pigs Trotter Terrine & Poached pear. Our mains, Honey Roast Breast of Free Range Chicken, Grilled Escalope of Scottish Salmon and Fresh Homemade Saffron Pasta. They were all delicious and the flavours enhanced by Adrien’s choices of wine to accompany the different dishes. For example a Yering Station Late Harvest Riesling with the pork was a choice we would never have thought of but was a wonderful combination! We shared two puddings, Apple Tart Tatin, Dark Chocolate Tart and a selection of cheeses… Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert & Cote Hill from Lincolnshire. The food really lives up to expectation, the portions are generous and the presentation refreshingly simple. We finished with coffees and a stunning dish of Petit Fours, oh for a taste of them now! Cost for G&T’s, 3 courses, 2 glasses of wine each, coffees & petit fours ££££££££. The Montagu Arms would be a wonderful venue for a weekend break; picturesque surroundings and very friendly staff, we highly recommend. They are offering a 3 course lunch on Mondays – Saturdays to LWL Card Holders for only £19.95, excellent value! | Ladies Who Lunch Scoring:Quality of food 5/5
Variety of menu 3/5
Staff and service 5/5
Ambience, setting & decor 5/5
Value for Money 5/5
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| | Total Yummy Factor | 23/25 | | | Report: CJ | 5/5 = Cannot be improved upon, 4/5 = Very good, 3/5 = Good,
2/5 = Satisfactory, 1/5 = Poor, 0/5 = TerribleThe higher the "Yummy" factor, the better the food & service. The higher the number of £ signs the more expensive. (Roughly one £ sign = £5 per head) |
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