This week we ventured over the sea to a pub hither to unexplored. Hayling Island is a popular tourist destination, and like all seaside towns, it can suffer from tourist traps. Bad places to eat, serving quick food with little quality of service, safe in the knowledge that the customer probably won't be back anyway. Also the person carrying out said bad service will often have little affiliation with the pub/restaurant/cafe so won't really care too much.
It was therefore refreshing to find a pub on the seafront that did care. We entered a mostly empty pub, slightly worrying. But we were given a warm and friendly welcome. Amazingly enough the menu offered a wide range of fresh fish. For the second week in a row we have gone to a pub by the sea which specialises in fresh seafood, perhaps Rick Stein is finally getting through to people. Despite all the wonderful fish on offer, we both decided to go for fish and chips. The sun was shining, we were by the sea in a pub that does fresh fish, it felt like the right thing to do.
Before long, the food came out and it was good. Good fish, mushy peas, delicious tartar sauce and tasty chips, a rare treat indeed. Me and my Dad often say it's the little things that make the difference, things you remember for good or bad. A good example of a little thing which we thought was a brilliant idea, the fish and chips was served on greaseproof paper which had been printed to look like newspaper, nice touch.
As we ate, the pub began to fill a bit, improving the atmosphere and showing that The Olive Leaf has a loyal and happy patronage. The final cherry on the pub shaped cake was an endangered species, a fun and friendly landlord who genuinely seemed to love his job and his pub.
Atmosphere 7
Service 8
Food 8
Value 8
Verdict 3*
No comments:
Post a Comment
What's your opinion?