No need for me to prepare a family Sunday dinner today. Frances, Stew and the two little angels are away in Scarborough this weekend - partly to celebrate Stew's thirty sixth birthday.
Shirley wanted to go out somewhere for our Sunday meal so I booked a table at "The Lescar" on Sharrowvale Road. I had not been in there in years but when I first came to Sheffield in 1978 I knew it well as I lived just around the corner in a rental house with five women.
Anyway, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the Sunday dinner. We arrived quite early and the first signs were good. The waiting staff greeted us warmly and we were led to our table in the lounge.
I noticed several things. There was a posy of fresh flowers in a small glass vase and a carafe of water with a few lumps of ice floating within. They sparkled in a shaft of sunlight. The paper menus were fresh and clean and did not contain any spelling or grammatical errors - unlike some blogs I could mention!
Our drinks were brought to us by a Russian waitress called Olga. From the main menu, I picked the special lamb roast "recommended by Aaron, our chef" but Shirley chose the vegetarian nut roast option.
A five minute wait and our meals appeared - looking very inviting upon white plates. The vegetables were piled centrally - roasted carrots, parsnips and potatoes with cabbage leaves and we each had a homemade Yorkshire pudding. There was also "jus" in tiny saucepans though I call that culinary brown lubricant - gravy. It was all delightful.
Afterwards, I had room for a traditional apple and rhubarb crumble - again clearly homemade - with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
At the bar, as I was paying the bill, the young barman asked how our meals had been and I said, "Surprisingly very good!" which he laughed about. I explained that I had not been in "The Lescar" in years. However, as we drove away in The Clintmobile, Shirley and I agreed that we will be back before long.
It was so nice to have a faultless Sunday meal, prepared with "love" by a capable chef and to drive away feeling more than satisfied. Inside, "The Lescar" has hardly changed in the forty seven years since I first stepped over its threshold. It was named after a mill wheel that once turned very close-by on The River Porter which is really just a stream.
I like the way you described your lunch. You know what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I don't know what I am talking about Red.
DeleteYour culinary review sounds like it will make a return visit necessary. But I'm confused about you renting a house with five women. Does Shirley read your blog?????
ReplyDeleteI was dog tired every morning.
DeleteIt's always nice to have a really nice meal, from food to service and ambience, these days. It's always worth noting.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. It isn't always so perfect.
DeleteAnd it looks like it has a great outdoor patio too!
ReplyDeleteSharrowvale Road is a cool urban street. Great ambience.
DeleteLike you, I notice details such as fresh flowers (or not), clean and well written menues (or not), and I always find it matters how clean (or not) the restroom is.
ReplyDeleteThe 5 minute wait is the only thing that puzzles me. With such sumptuous dishes, I would have expected at least 15 minutes. But apparently their kitchen and service run together like a well-oiled machine - maybe like the original Lescar wheel.
We were the first diners in the pub and the roasted ingredients would have been ready in the kitchen. All the chef would have had to do was to "plate up". Later I expect the service would slow down with the arrival of more diners.
DeleteThe Leascar is a nice building to look at and I'm pleased the meal was excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks lassie.
DeleteIt does sound very good..but more than satisfying for this little tum.
ReplyDeleteYou could have had a child's portion or perhaps just a "Peppa Pig" yoghurt.
DeleteSound good - did Shirley enjoy her nut roast as much as you obviously enjoyed your traditional roast lamb?
ReplyDeleteYes she did. It was an excellent nut roast.
DeleteWhile I am pleased you enjoyed your lunch, there is no need to have a go at me about my spelling and grammar. It's my poor edjication, you know.
ReplyDeleteNobody expects accurate grammar and spelling from Australians who spend much of their time out in the bush, camping by billabongs or chasing jumbucks with the other swagmen.
DeleteA rental house with five women. Did they have a knitting season like our house does?
ReplyDeleteEvery evening they drew lots to see who'd be having me that night. It was exhausting.
DeleteA good Sunday lunch in an English Pub', is a delight. Your meal sounds very much like the one's we have down here. Is there a uniform culinary plot afoot?
ReplyDeleteI suspect that Sunday lunches in Yorkshire are far superior to those they cobble together in Harry and Meghan's county.
DeleteWell, it's great that your meal turned out well. Obviously it was all down to Olga!
ReplyDeleteHave you told us about this rental house with five women? That sounds like a story in itself.
What happened in that rental house stays there.
DeleteApart from my monthly Last of the Summer Wine Club lunch I cannot recall when I last had a meal out. One of the few things I miss about England was the 'country pub' and proper pub lunches. But that was over half a century ago and I expect things have changed - although your descriptions sound familiar to me.
ReplyDeleteThere's far more dining out in English pubs than there used to be. Why not sell up and come back to your homeland like a prodigal son?
DeleteOh, I do love a good dining out experience!
ReplyDeleteDining out can be stressful but sometimes it is perfect - like yesterday for us.
DeleteYou could edit all of our posts before they go up. Sounds like a nice meal local place.
ReplyDeleteFor twenty bucks per blogpost, I will be happy to be your proofreader David. In the last twelve months you have made 347 significant errors.
DeleteA nice review of that restaurant, Neil. Glad you and Shirley enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is a pub-restaurant Ellen but I have always thought of it as just a pub.
DeleteIt's always so nice when a place exceeds your expectations, better than the alternative.
ReplyDeleteYou are right there Pixie!
DeleteSounds like good old English food. Everywhere these days seems to drench food in chilli or equally offensive sauces which for those of us with sensitive stomachs is no good.
ReplyDeleteIf your passport is in order you will be able to visit "The Lescar" for lunch. Allow four hours travelling time up here and four hours back.
DeleteI’ve drunk many a pint there in my time
ReplyDeleteI saw you once - getting chucked out by the landlord.
DeleteI'd like to have a nice roast with gravy! I'm glad you enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteIf you cannot afford a roast Kylie, I will happily buy you one if you fly over here.
Deletethats a very nice offer!
DeleteI have always been known for my generosity.
Delete