Restaurant Review (The White House Hotel)
The White House Hotel is a popular restaurant, bar and hotel situated in the heart of the village of Muxton. The eye catching white building is set back from the road amidst large gardens, with ample car parking at the front.
The restaurant and bar have both recently been fully refurbished so I was curious to check out the new décor. I was certainly not disappointed by the makeover, the refreshed interior has been tastefully done and my Mom and I both loved the new tartan carpet. The overall ambience is friendly and relaxed; a very pleasant place to eat out or have a few drinks with friends or family.
The restaurant is open for food from 12 noon – 9.30pm, 7 days a week, children are welcome and a separate children’s menu and smaller portions are available to suit. There are often special offers available and events such as quiz night are popular, so its well worth visiting the website or facebook page for all the latest news and offers.
To coincide with the refurbishment a brand new menu has also been launched. The new menu is extensive with dishes to tempt every pallet and wallet, from a tempting selection of nibbles to enjoy with a drink in the bar, right through to a full three-course meal, grills, burgers and more, there really is something for everyone!
You can chose whether you would like to eat a more relaxed meal in the bar area or dine more formally in Oscars Restaurant, as the new menu is available to order from in both areas.
We were seated at a cosy table by the window in the dining room, the restaurant is spacious and airy with a fully stocked bar area near the door and a further seating area to the side, which is the perfect place for enjoying a pre-dinner drink while looking at the menu or a post dinner coffee or liqueur.
After serving our drinks the friendly waiter took our order; to start Mom ordered the Homemade Chicken Liver Pate (£4.95) and I went for the Garlic Mushrooms (£4.95). The food was served promptly and was thoughtfully presented. Mom commented that the pate had a smooth texture and had a lovely mild flavour, not too overpowering like some pates can be; it was served with several chunky slices of warm crisp toast and tangy chutney.
My dish consisted of a delicious smoked cheese smothered toasted crouton, topped with sliced button mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce, it was served with a vibrant side salad drizzled with a rich balsamic dressing; it was a very satisfying and moreish starter which I would not hesitate to order again next time.
After a short wait our main courses were served, I couldn’t resist the Traditional Fish and Chips (£10.95) and Mom chose the Grilled Barnsley Chop (£14.95), which consisted of two huge juicy lamb chops on a bed of creamy mashed potato, a side of fresh green vegetables and a tasty redcurrant and garlic sauce. The portion was very generous and she said that the lamb was juicy, perfectly cooked and full of flavour, there certainly wasn’t much left at the end so it must have been very good!
My fish fillet was hot and flaky, it was coated with a crispy ‘Speckled Hen Ale’ batter, with a serving of fluffy chips, a pot of tartare sauce and a side of crushed peas. I really enjoyed the fish and chips, the portion size was just right and the fish was very tasty indeed.
We both decided to take a look at the dessert menu, again there was plenty of choice to suit all tastes, including a cheese board option for the savoury fans. In the end I couldn’t resist the apple and rhubarb crumble (£4.95) and Mom went for the selection of luxury ice-cream (£4.95), although after managing the enormous Barnsley Chop I’m surprised she had room for anything more!
My crumble was wonderful, it had the perfect crumble to fruit ratio, the apple was lovely and sweet with the slight tartness of the rhubarb coming through. It was smothered with lashings of hot custard, the perfect way to finish off a lovely meal.
The ice-cream came served in a sundae glass and was served with two crisp chocolate tuile, she opted for chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, though you could chose any combination, she said it was lovely rich ice cream and the tuille added a lovely crisp treat to the dish.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our meal at The White House; the food was well cooked and tasty and the new décor has brought the whole place bang up to date. The new menu offers plenty of choice so I’m sure even the fussiest eater will find something to tempt their taste buds. All in all it’s a great option for a relaxed meal with friends or family, and well worth putting at the top of your list of places to try the next time you eat out.
Reviewed by: Charlie Scott & Lynn Roulston
