Address: Pound Lane, Little Marlow, Bucks SL7 3SR. (A4155)

Telephone number: 01628 482927

Website: www.marlowslittlesecret.co.uk

Date of visit:8 November 2010

Approximate cost per head: About £20 for 2 courses at lunch time. £20 plus in the evening

Comments on wine list/beer: London Pride, Brakspear, Guest (Mr Todd) -£3.20 for a pint. Wine available by the glass – 3 sizes. Glass of wine (large) from £5.15. Top red 2003 Cissac @ £44.95. Reasonable mark up on wines.

Summary:

I am back for another bit of “objective research” as a result of Daniel O’Sullivan’s comments last week. I have since discovered that Daniel is the chef proprietor of the place. Well that’s good as I am beginning to get feedbacks from several chefs or the management of the establishment.

The Pub is listed in the 2010 Michelin Pub Guide, 2011Good Food Guide and 2011 Good Pub Guide.

This time I picked up a business card as I walked in. On it was clearly stated 16th century Inn. And I noticed the “renovated “ floor boards.

The place offers several menus during lunch – a la carte, specials and a light lunch – sandwiches etc.

There are two bars and a dining room. On the day I went, the car park was pretty full – most of the diners were in the dining room.

I started off with a pint of London Pride which was fine. I then had a pint of Mr Todd – the guest beer – which was excellent. I didn’t go for the Brakspear, as having been brought up on it, I find the “new” version is not the same as when it was brewed in Henley.

This time, I decided to give the place my usual treatment – go for 2 starters from the today (specials) board.

On offer were Cornish scallops (£8.95), crispy curry pork (£6.95) , fish and chips with “mashed peas” and steak.

The scallops were nicely presented on an oblong plate with a balsamic vinegar smear. They (4) sat on a few rocket leaves which in turn sat on alternative batons of roasted carrots and parsnips. Sprinkled on top were deep fried shavings of root vegetable crisps. The scallops were cooked just right and from the texture, I can judge that they were quite fresh. The only downside of the dish – to my taste – was the use of the roasted parsnips which are quite dominant in taste to serve with a delicate scallop.

The next course was crispy curry pork salad. This was lardoons marinated with curry powder and then deep fried. The crispy pork sat on green lettuce leaves with wilted red onions underneath. The wilted onions acted like a sauce and gave the dish a bit of sweetness. Pretty nicely thoughtout. An improvement could be to serve this over a Caesar’s Salad using the crispy pork as the equivalent of croutons.

This is a Pub that likes to put a twist into its cooking. Judging by the clientele, it is pretty successful in its approach.

By the way, Daniel was not due to be on duty till later that day.

E

Address: Pound Lane, Little Marlow, Bucks SL7 3SR

Telephone number: 01628 482927

Website: www.marlowslittlesecret.co.uk

Date of visit: 19 October 2010

Approximate cost per head: £20

Comments on wine list/beer: Fullers London Pride and Brakspear on tap at £3.20 a pint. A simple wine list that has Pouilly Fuissee (£26.95), Cissac 2004 (£44.95) and Dom Perignon (£175) as its top wines.

Summary:
This a pub hidden away in a narrow lane as you enter Little Marlow (A4155). The A404 has Marlow on one side and Little Marlow on the other side. In 2010, this pub was listed in the Michelin Pub Guide and The Good Pub Guide.

The pub is around 200 years old. Although it has the obligatory exposed beams, the wooden floor boards rather than flagstone suggest that the building is not that old.

On the day I went, there were 3 menus. A quickie lunch menu with sandwiches around £5. Specials on a blackboard and the printed menu. The starters are priced around £5-£8 and mains £11.50-£16.35. Typical starters are, oxtail and barley broth with stilton dumplings (£4.95), pan fried scallops with bacon and pea puree. Examples of main courses are: ribeye steak with hand cut chips (£16.35), Pheasant with savoy parcel, potato fondant (£14.50), Grey mullet, onion and beetroot mash, braised leeks, etc. So the menu is modern British.

I had the specials of the day – fish and chips and a pint of London Pride. The total bill came to £13.15.

The beer was as I expected. The fish came as an elongated piece of Haddock sitting on a pile of hand cut fat chips with two small tubs – mashed peas and tarter sauce. The fish was crisp and moist and the sauce was home made. The chips came with the skin on and were ok but not fantastic. The outside could have been crisper and the inside “softer. The mash peas were exactly that with some of the peas still lumpy. I really don’t get it. What is the point in mashing fresh peas? To add sugar?

My conclusion was that the food here is fine but not some where that I would want to specially visit.

E