Okay I confess I've been to this place before. But it's in my nature to share and having had a top Sunday lunch before at The Salthouse Kitchen in Seaburn, I was keen to add it to impart the highlights of its menu to Chroniclelive's readers.
Squeezed in among a terrace of eateries along the seafront at Seaburn, the glass frontage of the Salthouse Kitchen looks out over the sands and frames an ever changing seascape that shifts with the seasons.
Inside, the restaurant boasts contemporary dark blue walls adorned with silver and gold lights and accessories, low hanging chandeliers and furnished with dark wood tables and velvet chairs in a variety of hues. This dining room is sumptuous and is a step up from my basic expectations of anywhere that puts 'kitchen' in its title.
We arrived early for lunch because of later commitments. Our reserved table was ready for us and our order was taken quickly. If we had a more leisurely visit planned we might feel a bit rushed but today it suited us.
The Sunday menu offered traditional roasts but included a rich offering of popular dishes alongside, such as fish and chips, steak and ale pie and mash.
As there were three of us eating, we purposely opted for three different starters; creamy garlic mushrooms; black pudding, bacon, poached egg with pepper sauce; and my own choice - halloumi and roasted tomatoes on bruschetta.
The dishes arrived quickly and as reviewer I deliberated, cogitated and digested the delights on every plate. Some crosses I'm happy to bear.
The mushrooms were infused (in perfect measure) with garlic and set in a creamy sauce with crisp and chewy ciabatta. Delicious and moreish. Starter number two was the black pudding: The main component was soft, strongly flavoured and perfectly paired with salty bacon. To the side was a hot pepper sauce and the whole dish was crowned by a plump poached egg that spilled out a deep golden yoke. It's certainly enough to get you checking your diary and rebooking for another day. Dish number three was the bruschetta: Understated, with subtle Mediterranean flavours coming from salty halloumi that complemented the warm sharp burst of juicy roasted cherry tomatoes. A fresh and delicious choice and one I'd go for again. Prices were £6.25, £6.95 and £6.25 respectively.
We didn't have to wait long for our mains. Having enjoyed a beef dinner here before, two of us opted to try a sharing platter while my son opted for steak and ale pie which arrived with a disconnected puff pastry top with thick tender steak pieces and and rich gravy. A few tastes of that and I was satisfied it's a dish I'd go back for.
Our sharing platter arrived piled high with three meats: stuffed bacon-wrapped chicken breast, pork and beef, joined by roast and mashed potatoes, a separate bowl of seasonal veg, two Yorkshire puddings and two jugs of red wine gravy. It looked impressive and certainly made sense for two people who simply couldn't make up their minds what meats to go for.
Now my first Salthouse Kitchen roast a few months back was worthy of praise but on this occasion, I was disappointed by a slice of dry beef and a hard roast potato. The chicken was dry but its well balanced sage flavour is really worth mentioning and worked well with a drenching of red wine gravy. The pork for me was the winner - succulent and tasty. But on the flipside my partner really enjoyed his pickings and pretty much cleared his plate while I chomped my way through a mountain of delicious creamed swede, deep green cabbage, parsnip and honey roasted carrot with satisfaction. My disappointment over the meat wasn't lasting. The gravy was tasty and plentiful an the mash was dense and creamy.
When reviewing one must opt for a sweet, and despite our full bellies we decided to share a sticky toffee pudding while my son had a calypso coffee - not on the menu but the friendly staff whipped one up no problem. It was warm, sweet, generously doused with Tia Maria and gave him the energy boost he needed after a hearty meal. Our pudding was thick and moist with lashings of custard.
Despite my disappointment over the meat and roast potato, I'd still recommend this place but my considered advice would be to swerve the sharing platter and go for a plated roast. I've enjoyed one before, can certainly recommend it and think readers would too.
