Food Review: Beefeater, The Brecks

I had been there with friends for a drink from time to time and remembered it as a pretty standard chain pub/restaurant.

That is part of the reason why, when I heard it had undergone a total makeover, I was so keen to pay another visit.

And I wasn’t disappointed.

The decor was out of this world, easily the best I can recall in the local area for a chain restaurant.

Modern, stylish and bang on trend, while still possessing an air of individuality with a few personal touches sprinkled around.

I thought to myself as I was shown to my seat that the younger generation should really appreciate the decoration, it was quirky, and that’s in fashion!

On to the food and after glancing at the menu for a moment or two it became apparent just how enticing the meat-fest looked.

From burgers to steaks, starters to mains, it all made the mouth water and tummy rumble.

Even for my accompanying friend, who is vegetarian, the options were of a high standard, offering something different from the ‘usual’ veggie dishes.

For starters, we decided to share a freshly grilled tear and share flatbread with a chimichurri topping, on recommendation from the waitress.

It was the first time either of us had tried this topping and its herby taste with a chilli undertone was a standout winner for us.

Another plus point was the fact that the new design incorporated an open kitchen. In my opinion, being able to watch the chefs at work really is a great spectacle, and provides a peace of mind about the quality of the food.

On to the mains and I decided to try one of the burgers on the menu, the cheese and mushroom steak burger, which came topped with Monterey Jack cheese, a chargrilled flat mushroom, fried onions, pickled cucumber and a creamy cheese sauce.

It was juicy, succulent and the topping added another layer of flavour to the burger. I would definitely recommend this burger to anyone out there who enjoys food from the grill.

My friend enjoyed the veg-out burger, which was a Quorn burger topped with red peppers, ranch dressing and a smoky tomato sauce.

It was a different option, something a lot of other restaurants don’t offer and my friend was grateful for the change, commenting how flavoursome her burger was.

With sides of beer battered onion rings, which complimented the mains superbly and chunky slaw, we were too full to even attempt a dessert!

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, the ambience of the restaurant and the welcoming, friendly service of the staff. It really does seem that Beefeater have grabbed the bull by the horns when it comes to their new designs and menus.

And the last word has to go to our waitress, Janet, who made us feel comfortable and relaxed. I felt as if we had been friends for years, which is a true skill to hold when you are in the waitressing business. Fingers crossed I’m in her seating area the next time I pay a visit...