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Described as a ‘neighbourhood’ bistro the recently opened Grille restaurant attached to the Balmoral Hotel in Harrogate offers a dining experience to savour.
In classy, modern and luxuriously comfortable surroundings with smart minimal décor and furnishings of leather chairs, wooden floors and low-level lighting, this tasteful restaurant is surely one of Harrogate’s up-and coming gems.
Alternative service and a friendly atmosphere come with the food, which is freshly cooked using the best local ingredients, and diners can eat, and diners can eat anytime as The Grille is open daily form breakfast time until late evening for dinner and supper dishes.
Our evening menu offered an excellent choice, including several daily specials which change on a regular basis to reflect seasonal availability.
A shared starter of crisp Thai chicken parcels was delicately flavoured and served with a leafy salad and dressing before our three well presented dishes, including my teenage son’s meaty steak burger topped with Gruyere cheese and served with red onion and tomato relish accompaniments.
Our other main courses were specials of the day and my own whole sea bream ‘en papillote’, a meaty white fish with a fine white wine sauce served separately with mixed leaf salad, was filling and flavoursome.
The full chicken breast special, which came with tiny dumplings the size of hazelnuts, was both succulent and tender and just one of a range of other main courses, including t-bone steaks, salmon fishcakes, roast lamb rump or poached fillet of haddock. Side dishes of buttery creamed mashed potatoes, fresh spinach and green beans are among seasonal vegetables offered – other choices being dauphinoise potatoes, shallots or cauliflower cheese on this occasion.
Delicious desserts saw our evening rounded off perfectly. A vanilla ice cream sundae with strawberry topping and superb pecan pie with homemade Mali ice cream to accompany were our choices from a selection that also offered white chocolate and raspberry brûlée, rice pudding and caramel sauce or sticky toffee parfait.
An impressive and extensive wine list is available and the fruity Argentinean Astica white, as recommended by the restaurant manager, was well chosen and very palatable.
Prices for starters begin at £4 for soup of the day, or choose from a classic Caesar Salad, moules marinere or a glazed goat’s cheese salad, priced £5 to £10.50 depending on portion size; grills and mains from £9.95; vegetarian options include pastas and risottos from £4.50 to £10, again depending on portion size, and desserts start form £3.95.
Sunday lunches are proving hugely popular and, with Mother’s Day and Easter coming up, you may like to give The Grille a try. Two courses £12 or three courses and £14.50 offer good value for a family get-together and traditional Sunday roast. The Grille offers a More Membership discount package, a Grille ‘Lucky 7’ early bird menu of seven main courses for £7 before 7pm seven days a week and there is also a Wine Club and Pudding Club. For more information and bookings, call 01423 565800
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