We decided to visit the George in Market Square, Kirton Lindsey for an evening meal as it’s only a short drive up the road from us and it’s not been long since it was refurbished.
The first thing to bear in mind is that this pub has a plush website but doesn’t have an online table booking system. I left a phone message to book a table but this hadn’t translated into a booking when we arrived in the evening. However, it was a Tuesday and the pub had plenty of table space. Note to self: phone after opening at 4.30pm.
We had the choice of tables and decided to sit down the far end away from the bar. We quickly moved table though as it became apparent that there was a draft from the door to the beer garden.
Lighting in the George is quite low except around the bar area. If you like taxidermy then you might choose to sit opposite the bar under, by my reckoning, at least ten stuffed deer heads looking down on you. Not to my taste but then again we are in the country. There was a stuffed bird adorning the windowsill where we sat, and the tables, predominantly four-seaters where we were, are plain finished bleached pine. The chairs are very eclectic with no two being the same.
There is an online bar menu which we had previously perused and a selection of specials. Mrs Wanderer chose the Tandoori Halibut Kiev with Bombay saag aloo, spiced mango chutney, pickled carrots, edible flowers and herb oil off the specials menu and I opted for the Cider Braised Belly Pork from the bar menu. This came with creamed mashed potatoes, a sumptuous black pudding croquette, roasted baby apples the size of ten-pence pieces, burnt apple puree and tenderstem broccoli.
When the meals arrived presentation was exceptional but there were a few problems with the dishes, especially Mrs W’s.
If you like crackling on your pork belly you will be disappointed. However, I’m not a fan from a previously broken tooth point-of-view so was more then happy with the dish. The fat on the pork was rendered beautifully and the tenderstem broccoli was firm under the fork. As I say the black pudding croquette was sumptuous and the mashed potato supremely smooth.
Mrs Wanderer was not quite so pleased with her meal. She commented that a Kiev of any kind should have a garlic butter, or somesuch, filling but this seemed to have nothing inside. If it had then it had cooked out and was just a halibut fillet, albeit a very large and thick halibut fillet wrapped in batter/breadcrumbs. Top-notch battered fish you might think but the batter (or breadcrumbs, I’m not sure) was soggy. The tandoori flavours didn’t come through and she said that from a spice point-of-view it was very bland. Disappointing at £20.95.
To accompany the meal Mrs W had a large glass of Shiraz and I had a pint of Hopical Storm, one of my favourite craft ales.
In all this was a moderately expensive meal at a shade over £50 for the two of us including drinks, especially when one of the meals wasn’t up to scratch. However, I wouldn’t shy away from another visit if the urge presented itself. Happy to recommend but avoid the halibut if it’s on the menu.
The Willoughton Wanderer 
Leave a comment