Latest Restaurant Review (The White Hart – Ironbridge)
Set in the heart of Ironbridge on the banks of the River Severn the White Hart has constantly strived to deliver consistently good food. Along with the regular lunchtime menu the renowned gastro pub now has the addition of ‘Number Ten’, the White Hart’s fine dining experience. Already awarded an AA rosette the team are working hard to claim their second – with Alex Nicoll at the helm and head chef Kate Bradley creating culinary masterpieces, they are well on their way to deliver.
Number Ten is set on a split level with two thirds of the restaurant located on the first-floor gallery with views overlooking the River Severn and a smaller seating area situated on the ground floor which works well as a semi-private dining space for private parties (up to fourteen people).
We attended on a very warm evening and took advantage of the White Hart’s courtyard to enjoy a cold beverage and views of the famous bridge spanning the river before heading inside to enjoy some great food. Our table was by a large window which allowed us to continue enjoying the sun and great views.
For starters Nik chose the White Asparagus, Truffle Brioche, Morels and Hollandaise (£7). I chose the Crispy Pig Cheek Terrine, Sweet and Sour Pineapple Kimchi (£7).
Nik said the white asparagus was lovely and sweet and retained a pleasant bite, served on a buttery toasted slice of a fluffy brioche loaf along with a silky hollandaise sauce, topped off with nutty sautéed Morel mushrooms and spinach. The light and creamy asparagus and hollandaise balanced perfectly with the meatiness of the Morels and sweetness of the brioche.
My terrine fell apart as I pushed my fork into it, the pork was soft and tender and melted in your mouth, the sweet and sour pineapple kimchi added a lovely sweet sharp kick to the dish along with the sweet sauce, I really enjoyed this dish and would definitely order it again.
There were lots of tempting dishes on the list of mains, but I finally chose the Chermoula Spiced Lamb, Cauliflower, Lamb & Feta Samosa, Tomato and Aubergine (£18). Nik decided on the Fillet and Belly of Pork, Bubble and Squeak Fritter, Cabbage and Hazelnuts (£18).
Nik’s dish had two of the best cuts of pork combined in one dish, the pork fillet was of a good size and was amazingly tender while the cut of belly pork in contrast was rich, sticky and had just the right amount of fat to balance it out, being slow cooked the belly pork melted in the mouth and had a delicious crackling top. This was served with a delicious golden fritter of buttery bubble and squeak and braised cabbage sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts.
My lamb was cooked to perfection, moist and tender with a lovely spiced crust, the samosa had a slightly crispy case packed with a delicious soft filling of lamb and feta. The roasted cauliflower, spiced aubergine and rich tomato sauce added lots of extra flavour and textures to this dish which I really enjoyed.
Desserts were quickly chosen and I opted for the Treacle Tart with Banana Ice Cream (£7) and Nik was tempted by the Chocolate Fondant, Cocoa Nib Tuile & Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream (£7).
The chocolate fondant was amazingly light and when the soft case was pulled open the warm rich dark chocolate sauce oozed out. The mint choc chip ice cream was topped with a chocolate tuile wafer. A must for any chocolate lover.
My warm treacle tart had a thin crunchy base and was topped with a soft dark and sticky moist treacle filling, the banana ice cream and butterscotch sauce worked perfectly with this dish.
The three course menu changes weekly and although items are individually priced there is a fixed three course cap price available (at £30 per person) which makes this great value too (some supplements may apply).
Number Ten has regular Taster Menu events which are usually on the last Friday of each month, their next one will be Friday 29th June. The taster nights consist of a seven course menu at £38pp with an option of 6 specially selected wines to accompany each course at £30pp (this varies depending on the wines selected).
Number Ten is perfect for special occasions so if you are planning something special or simply want to treat yourself then do book in advance to avoid disappointment. Great location, relaxed atmosphere and fabulous food!!
Reviewed by Fleur & Nik Abel
