the curlew

looking like something from a picture postcard, the curlew at bodiam is a charming restaurant both inside and out. we visited at lunchtime. my wife and stepdaughter selected from the excellent value set lunch (3 courses for £25) whilst i went a la carte, choosing scallop, lamb and carrot cake.

close to our b&b and having one michelin star, i hoped it would be the culinary highlight of our weekend away.

the food, in my humble opinion, was worthy of it's michelin star. the presentation was great throughout and the food was varyingly bold (like my starter made from just a single ingredient, jersey royals), delicate (like the tomato essence poured over the heritage tomatoes becks had for her starter) and new (i'd never tasted sea blight, until i tried it with my main course of sea bass). the highlights were probably the desserts.

pure class in the country side. this review is a overall review as i've been here four times, the curlew is just pure brilliance, every single visit just blows me away and i find something else i love about this place, weather it's the beautifully cooked food, super friendly staff or the wonderful array of drinks on the menu, i just love every aspect of the curlew and have no doubts that i will be back in the near future.

and the spirit of christmas is definitely in the air at the curlew - helped by a "mince pie bellini", an inspired aperitif which successfully paired prosecco with candied fruit and spices. bread was lovely, served with thyme butter. the less adventurous diners in our party were very happy with their langoustine prawn cocktails which came with a little tempura'd nugget of seafood. i enjoyed my soft, squidgy veal tongue which was served with pickled beetroot. the don had the cute

nonexistent service. we will never go back to the restaurant. table next to us were drunk and f….ing. soup starter was cold and has to be sent back! service was nonexistent; waited 10 minutes before anyone greeted us on arrival at reception and after 2 ½ hours we still had not been offered the sweet menu so left very unhappy. owner/manager not interested in our complaint and made no attempt to rectify the situation.

amazing!. whisperers suggest that the english and appreciation of food mix about as well as manchester united supporters and humility. that's not the case in our house. i, my wife alison, daughter blythe (six) and son elias (three) each have very definite ideas about food. every day kicks off with an arm wrestle for honey - for toast, cereal and coffee.

with that in mind, i am pleased, nay smug, to report that i discovered my own private window of taste-bud-based merriment at the curlew late last summer. a window in which my family have yet to peer.

i visited the curlew at bodiam with the designer, john macaulay, a close personal friend. the final touches were being put to the place before soft launch. while john was at work i was twiddling my thumbs so much i must have looked like i was trying to solve an invisible rubik's cube.

the wait was six sides of worth it. the food at the curlew? the starter consisted of pickled vegetables, tarragon and smoked marrowbone broth; the main course, the curlew's jacob's ladder; the dessert of lavender junket.

the meal made me giggle childish glee. the childish glee of discovering something new: the food and the place. the wine list was equally wonderfulsome.

i could go on and on.. i'll just say go, go on.