LIFESTYLE
The Venue:
Dating back to the 1512, the grand building is set in along London Road, Brentwood. Known for its four star cuisine, Marygreen Manor Hotel is adorned with Tudor Tradition. As soon as we entered our coats were taken and we were escorted to the lounge. An impressive fireplace, which gave off a warm orange glow, welcomed us as we were seated on large velvet sofas. Our attentive waiter, Brian, handed us the menus, all full of tasty dishes. Once our orders had been taken, we were lead through to the dining room. We were impressed by the opulent furnishings, history and high beams that stretched across the ceilings. Background music set a calm and ambient atmosphere and we were all intrigued to find out what the restaurant had in store for us.
The Food:
The menu was impressive with its fine selection of fish and meats. From chicken and pheasant to venison and sole, we were spoilt for choice. Our waiter, Vic, offered us a selection of breads, whilst we were presented with an Amuse Bouche (or pre-starter). This consisted of a trio of appetizers; a miniature mug of Carrot and Coriander soup, ham hock pate smothered in chutney and Salam Gravadlax wrapped in spinach and topped with a celeriac cream. All individually showed the quality of food on offer.
Whilst we tucked into our main starters, we were amazed by the presentation of the food; we didn’t know whether to frame it or dig in! There were fantastic aromas coming from the succulent beef salad and king prawns, with the scallops and wild mushrooms sizzling away on its slate, and the creamy cauliflower soup went great with the soft white crusty bread. After all finishing the course, we were taken aback by the standard of food we had just eaten. We washed it all down with a glass of the house white wine, which blended well with the foods.
“The menu was impressive with its fine selection, we were spoilt for choice.” Our selection of mains depicted the variety we could choose from, with the meats being cooked to our perfection. From the A La Carte menu we chose the fillet of beef, the lamb cutlets and the saddle of venison, all were succulent and tender. From the Menu Du Jour we chose the corn fed chicken with tomato sauce smothered over the top. The food was simply exquisite! Along with our chosen mains, we were presented with a vast selection of potatoes: from mash potato, new potatoes to chips, all unique with their fantastic flavour. We also got our own side bowls of vegetables but with all this food we had to make sure we saved some room for dessert! The dessert selection process was tough, after seeing the high standard of food; we didn’t want to miss out on anything. From Lemon sorbets to selections of cheeses, or a crème brulee, the menu was brilliant. But even before we ordered dessert, our waiter Vic brought each of us a pre dessert of milk chocolate mousse drizzled in white chocolate sauce. If that wasn’t enough, we ordered a hot and cold chocolate fondant, mango and passion fruit mousse and a selection of sorbets for our final course. The presentation of all desserts was incredible and we were really in dessert heaven; no plate was left untouched! After coffee, our trousers were ready
to pop. The evening had been a superb one with fantastic service and sublime food. RM would definitely recommend Marygreen Manor to food lovers out there!
The X Factor
For those who want a sophisticated evening out, with mouth-watering food, this is the place for you. You will simply be stuck for choice when looking at the menu. The overall experience is worth every penny, setting you back a mere £42 for the three course A La Carte dinner, with cheaper dinner and daytime options available. The staff at Marygreen Manor are very welcoming and the food is so enticing, you will be left wanting more. The Hotel would also be a fantastic venue to hold your wedding, making it a remarkable day you’ll never forget. Marygreens Manor will exceed your expectations, so do not hesitate to go along and dine in a four star restaurant that you will then want to recommend!
Marygreen Manor Hotel, London Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4NR Telephone: 01277 225252 www.marygreenmanor.co.uk Follow them on twitter @ marygr33n
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