Lunch At Mad Hatter Tea Room In Matlock
Published On Wednesday 1 Feb 2023 by Sticky Beak
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You’d think that after the obscene amount of food and drink that the Flock had chucked down their necks that His Nibs and I would be sworn off all things edible for the foreseeable, right? C’mon, this is us you’re on about! After a busy, music-fuelled, putting-away-the-Christmas-decs sesh, The Man and I were in need of some nourishment so, seeing as he’d got a cheeky day’s annual leave from work, we tossed a coin and headed over to Matlock.
As usual the traffic was a proper whatsit going in to the town, but we eventually grabbed a parking spot and walked back in to the main drag where the shops and eateries are.
The Mad Hatter is somewhere we’ve been meaning to visit for ages and it was already busy when we rocked up; in keeping with the festive theme, there was no room at the inn! Luckily there is a wooden extension out back (which has been there since Easter) and to be honest, this riverside space has more character than the bricks-and-mortar front area in my opinion; win-win for us.
Even better was the mosty-toasty heat coming out from the roaring log burner; it’s true though, you can have too much of a good thing – I had to scoot over to a seat further away from it as my cheeks were turning rosier than usual (and that’s going some, trust me!).
Anyhow, with my cheeks cooling nicely, it was time to bring balance back to the situation; one of Mad Hatter’s speciality Hot Chocs should do the trick, so I opted for the Crunchie version, complete with Mad Hatter wafer, cream and crumbled Crunchie on top (£4.25). His Nibs fancied a pint of draught Madhri (£4.80) to quench his thirst and, judging by the way it was slipping down, it was hitting the spot sweetly.
Still keeping the Christmas spirit up, The Man Bird went for the Festive Beef Burger (£13.95): a 6oz Beef patty and Chicken breast fillet, Cranberry sauce, Brie, Smoky Bacon and a Pig-in-Blanket. The lure of a Fish Finger Sarnie (with Mushy Peas and Fries, £9.95) was strong, but then I spied the Homemade Hungarian Beef Goulash (£9.95) and my tummy rumbled in appreciation so that settled the matter.
All food is cooked fresh to order at Mad Hatter in Matlock so there was a bit of a wait for our meals but, in all honesty, we were too busy taking in the bonkers décor to care! Those of you who are old enough to remember ‘Refreshers’ sweets will get what I mean when I say that the boards of the wooden floor were painted in those fantastically bright colours to create an eye-winding effect. The back wall is festooned with Astroturf/faux grass, a mixture of ornate mirrors and over-sized playing cards, with a massive neon Cheshire Cat Grin taking pride of place in the middle of it all! At the end was a booth type area that would seat four folks, but was temporarily unused and being occupied by a couple of children, complete with neon artwork of the Mad Hatter’s hat. Told you this was a brilliantly eccentric place, but the best bit is that the food is just as scrumptious.
My Goulash was served in a large Sourdough loaf/bun with a flourish of Soured Cream decorating it and a plentiful garnish of fresh, crunchy Pea Shoots on top that contrasted well with the rich red tone of the stew. There were loads of big chunks of Beef in the Goulash, partnered with thickly sliced Red and Green Peppers and Onions; this was an appetite slayer for sure! Paprika added a layer of sweetness and a touch of spice to the flavour profile of the rich Tomato based sauce and then the clear sharpness of soured cream lifted it all on the palate beautifully. The sourdough also had a great flavour of its own and came in jolly handy to soak up every last scrap of the Goulash. Personally, the best bit for me was the bottom of the bread because the sauce had really soaked in here and gone slightly soft; this was comfort food in its prime, make no mistake. Mad Hatter’s homemade Goulash is a superb ‘winter warmer’ of a dish, and one I’d happily have time and again.
Across the table, His Nibs had grappled with, and admitted defeat by, eating the burger in its entirety; it was simply too tall! By picking off the Pig-in-Blanket, thick slice of Smoky Bacon, and the sizeable (Brie topped) Chicken breast Fillet, The Man Bird had managed to get the burger’s proportions to a hand-friendly size and began to tuck in in earnest. The beef patty was pleasingly dense (not too dense as to break your teeth as you bit into it, but not falling apart either), with a juiciness and depth of flavour that had the taste buds swooning in delight. Another slice of silky Brie had melted in the burgers’ warmth and was oozing seductively over it, with the chunky Cranberry sauce providing a hit of colour and a pinch of sweet-but-sharp taste in the mouth. Combined with the bacon, sausage and moist Chicken, there was certainly a symphony of taste and texture to occupy anybody’s palate and senses.
A portion of fries sat at the side of the burger stack, patiently waiting to be appreciated; they didn’t have to wait long before His Nibs’ greedy mush was chomping down on them! Gorgeously golden, crisp outers revealed soft, flavoursome inners and I know I’ve said it before, but humble fries can seriously make or break a burger meal. Thankfully, the kitchen team at Mad Hatter in Matlock appreciate this fact and their spud morsels more than hit the mark.
Those of you that have fur-kids will be happy to hear that they are welcome at the Mad Hatter; there’s even a Puppacino on the menu for them: whipped cream, dog friendly chocolate and biscuit (£2.85). Non furry kids are also welcome and teeny-tinies can sit up at the table thanks to high chairs being available. When we visited there were plenty of families in enjoying a post-Christmas treat together, which is always lovely to see.
Hot Wings happily given to this brilliantly quirky Matlock venue! We have already said that we’ll be back soon to sample an Afternoon Tea and I definitely want to relax in the wood cabin again in summer when I can enjoy a cold drink from the integral bar whilst looking out over the river and beyond.
For more information visit their Facebook page Mad Hatter, Matlock or give them a buzz on 07843 904007.
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