Eating Out, In and Around the New Forest in the South of England - The Elm Tree, Near Ringwood
It is more than ten years since I last visited this establishment just along the road from the Reptile and Raptor Centre, and I had forgotten how pretty it is.
The building is of the archetypal English thatched cottage style.
The entrance is approached through tables and chairs featuring the rather forlorn looking smokers sitting outside who are now banned from all of Britain's pubs and restaurants.
Inside there is a pleasant bar staffed by equally pleasant people.
The building is clearly of significant age and features many exposed oak beams, many of which are very low, and quite willing and able to wallop any dozy patrons who don't pay sufficient attention.
We found a table easily enough, though it was early in the evening, and ordered our dinners.
I opted for the smothered barbecue chicken with chips (French fries) and fresh vegetables, while my partner Anne went for the sirloin steak as she is wont to do, with salad, and we sat back and waited for our dinner, not too long, but long enough for a decent meal to be prepared.
In the meantime we watched the busy staff coming and going, predominately young ladies in short skirts who all seemed most cheerful.
I read somewhere that this was a new menu, though it featured all the traditional favourites, so it was a little hard to see what was so new about it.
Our visit did coincide with the special Curry Night, where diners could order a curry, hot, medium or mild, with a choice of meats, or not as the case may be, for vegetarians, plus a drink, ale, wine, or soft, for an all inclusive price of just £6.
95 and that has to be a good deal in anyone's language.
It was clear from our neighbours that the curries were in great demand.
My chicken was well cooked and of a decent size while Annie's steak was tasty, plump and juicy, I can testify to this having begged a decent slice.
Thinking of the waist lines we passed on the wide variety of puddings, this time, though next time things will be different.
I also took a glass (or two) of the house red wine and that was of a surprisingly good quality for a house red and good value too.
All in all we greatly enjoyed our visit to the Elm Tree, on the outskirts of Ringwood in Hampshire, and made up our minds not leave it for another ten years before we return again.
Recommended.
Ambience: 8 Value: 8 Food: 8 Service: 8 Total: 32/40
The building is of the archetypal English thatched cottage style.
The entrance is approached through tables and chairs featuring the rather forlorn looking smokers sitting outside who are now banned from all of Britain's pubs and restaurants.
Inside there is a pleasant bar staffed by equally pleasant people.
The building is clearly of significant age and features many exposed oak beams, many of which are very low, and quite willing and able to wallop any dozy patrons who don't pay sufficient attention.
We found a table easily enough, though it was early in the evening, and ordered our dinners.
I opted for the smothered barbecue chicken with chips (French fries) and fresh vegetables, while my partner Anne went for the sirloin steak as she is wont to do, with salad, and we sat back and waited for our dinner, not too long, but long enough for a decent meal to be prepared.
In the meantime we watched the busy staff coming and going, predominately young ladies in short skirts who all seemed most cheerful.
I read somewhere that this was a new menu, though it featured all the traditional favourites, so it was a little hard to see what was so new about it.
Our visit did coincide with the special Curry Night, where diners could order a curry, hot, medium or mild, with a choice of meats, or not as the case may be, for vegetarians, plus a drink, ale, wine, or soft, for an all inclusive price of just £6.
95 and that has to be a good deal in anyone's language.
It was clear from our neighbours that the curries were in great demand.
My chicken was well cooked and of a decent size while Annie's steak was tasty, plump and juicy, I can testify to this having begged a decent slice.
Thinking of the waist lines we passed on the wide variety of puddings, this time, though next time things will be different.
I also took a glass (or two) of the house red wine and that was of a surprisingly good quality for a house red and good value too.
All in all we greatly enjoyed our visit to the Elm Tree, on the outskirts of Ringwood in Hampshire, and made up our minds not leave it for another ten years before we return again.
Recommended.
Ambience: 8 Value: 8 Food: 8 Service: 8 Total: 32/40
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