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| The Lambert Arms |
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The Lambert Arms, conveniently situated just off the M40 twenty minutes from Oxford in the village of Aston Rowant, has recently undergone an imaginative refurbishment. It has been transformed from a tired, mock-tudor beamed village pub to a contemporary, fresh well designed venue with fine dining.
Immediately on entering the lounge bar one cannot fail to be impressed by the stylish spacious welcoming interior, with it’s natural muted tones, soft atmospheric lighting interspersed with red drum-style lampshades to give a vibrant warm feel. Strategically placed tub chairs and dark oak occasional tables give a comfortable relaxed ambience and contrast well with the ceramic floor. Fresh lilies denote a personal caring touch.
It is very apparent that careful consideration has been given to the project, to include some traditional features without losing sight of the building’s original character and origins. An interesting use of a vintage glass soda siphon cleverly converted to a trendy modern table lamp is one such example.
Oliver Preston prints add a touch of humour to the surroundings, but most important of all is the real log fire where guests can sit, relax and peruse the extensive menu. The same warm atmosphere continues through to the dining room which has an air of quality and attention to detail. Simply furnished with raffia chairs and dark wooden tables adorned with fresh flowers, an uncluttered feel allows the food to take centre stage.
My guests and I were given ample time to choose courses although with great difficulty as everything on the menu sounded delicious. While waiting for starters we were given a superb selection of home-made breads and flavoured oils. The vegetarian menu was very extensive; pan seared scallops with bok choi chorizo, oil risotto sweet corn, basil parmesan red pepper dressing for starters. The crispy pan seared sea bream with herb creamed potatoes and ratatouille was mouth watering. I could not resist the pan roasted steak with hand cut chunky chips, curly cale, wild mushrooms with a Madeira juice; the steak was cooked to perfection medium rare. I can’t help thinking however that the fashionable precision cut chips might soon give way to the more rugged variety.
The wine menu offered a wide selection including many fine wines from different regions to suit all pockets and tastes. Puddings were equally tempting, the vanilla panacotta and sweet pineapple sorbet was delicious and very well presented, and the horlicks ice cream was not to be missed.
Whether the occasion is casual or fine dining, a family gathering, business meetings, or simply dropping in with friends for drinks, you will be greeted with a warm relaxed friendly atmosphere where attention to detail is never overlooked.
Reviewed by Jenny Timbrell |
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