Having checked in at The Lindisfarne Inn, got settled in our lovely room and freshened up, it was soon time to head over to the restaurant for some dinner. We’d had, unsurprisingly, a full throttle day of activity and our tummies were rumbling away saying that they needed re-filling!
One of the lovely team got us seated in a booth and explained the ordering system: you decide what you want to eat and drink, make a note of your table number, and then head up to the bar to order. Easy peasy. I fancied a glass of Malbec, His Nibs wanted a pint of Alpacalypse; armed with our food order too, The Man waltzed up and put our request in. To start, we opted for Sticky Korean Chicken and Crispy Pork Belly Bites (both £7.95), followed by Classic Lasagne for me (£15.95) and The Reuben Burger for His Nibs (£17.95). I should just mention that The Lindisfarne Inn do a cracking offer on their small plates, if you fancy a picky tea or Tapas-style dinner: buy three, get one free.
It wasn’t long before two large platters were being placed before us containing a pair of not dissimilar dishes. Looks were where the similarity ended though. Both meats were deliciously moist and tender - we’d decided to play nicely and just share – and I loved the crisped skin on the top of the Pork Belly. The glazes/sauces on each dish were wildly different, though equally tasty; my Korean choice packed a real chilli wallop, so not one for the faint-hearted!
His Nibs’ Pork Belly Bites had the distinct taste of Hoisin in their glaze; umami savouriness, Chinese 5-spice warmth, and a smidge of sharpness from Vinegar and Garlic, all rolled together with some sticky, sweet Molasses. A crunchy, Asian ‘Slaw completed both starters, adding texture as well as colour. Not the fanciest dishes in the world, but they were absolutely delicious.
With our starter dishes, plates and cutlery cleared away, I decided to do my usual trick of being nosier and take more notice of the venue. The restaurant at The Lindisfarne Inn has the feel of a large-scale dining room at home, which isn’t a bad thing at all; you instantly feel at ease, and the serving team are so friendly and helpful that you feel as if you’ve popped round to your Auntie and Uncle’s gaff. One side of the wooden-floored space has booths with checked fabric-upholstered banquettes, the rest of the seating is comprised of sturdy wooden tables paired with spindle- and slat-backed chairs. Exposed red-brick walls are simply adorned with pictures of local views, and the large windows are draped with grey-patterned curtains. Younger members of your family can sit in one of the available high-chairs, and pooches are permitted in the restaurant. Actually, that reminds me: as well as packed lunches for humans, there is a range of ready-packed gourmet meals for dogs…because every good boy or girl deserves the best, right?
My Classic Lasagne was a combination of Venison and Pork in the Ragu, which was lusciously thick and meaty: the Real McCoy as my Daddy Bird used to say. When it was placed before me, the lady warned me not to touch the skillet as it was red-hot – she wasn’t kidding! Huge plumes of steam billowed out when I cut into the deep, multi-layered dish. Tasting the first mouthful, my palate was jigging with joy as the flavoursome meat-and-Tomato Ragu, white Béchamel and melted Cheese top swirled over it. The pasta sheets were cooked perfectly, and there was absolutely no fault to find here at all. I put the slices of Garlic Bread to use, mopping up all the scraps of sauce I could find. A side salad of Frisee Lettuce, Cherry Tomato and Red Onion was cool and crisp: a nice temperature contrast to the hot elements.
His Nibs’ meal choice, The Reuben Burger was a proper plateful; mind you, there were a pair of 4oz Aberdeen Angus Patties to it! Sauerkraut, Pickles, Swiss Cheese, Reuben Dressing, Shredded Lettuce and ‘Slaw were all vying for room within the toasted Bun- this was one of those ’squash it down with both hands before you even attempt to scoff it’ Burgers…and let’s not forget the Seasoned Fries it came with. Chef had charred the outsides of the patties for a blast of extra flavour, leaving the inners beautifully moist and tasty, and the Cheese was melting and oozy. Bringing some zap on the palate were the Pickles and Sauerkraut, with even more crisp crunchiness coming from the Lettuce. Crunchy-outered fries had been nicely seasoned and were plentiful in their separate metal container, so His Nibs was a very happy chap with his choice of dinner. If you’re staying at The Lindisfarne Inn over the weekend, it’s worth noting that Sunday Roast is served Noon-5pm – if we’d been there, The Man and I would no doubt have tried it - a good reason for a re-visit, eh?
The Lindisfarne Inn serves food daily Noon-9pm, with Sunday Roasts available Noon-5pm. To book a table, visit www.inncollectiongroup.com/lindisfarne-inn and follow the ‘Book a Table’ links.
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