The Sycamores Restaurant at the Red Lion,
Rhos Road,
Penyffordd
Tel: 01244 540682
THE packed car park was a clear sign that this was a pub which has a good reputation for fine food.
It was obvious The Red Lion, Penyffordd, which is less than a 10 minute drive from Broughton Retail Park, has a loyal flock of customers who return again and again to sample its well-cooked fare.
It was Sunday lunchtime, when some pubs stick to traditional roasts with maybe one or two alternatives. Not The Sycamores.
Here you can fly in the face of convention and celebrate Sunday with swordfish if the fancy takes you, or perhaps a chicken curry.
You could opt for trusty favourites like rump steak, chilli con carne or even fish and chips (fresh beer battered haddock no less).
Despite the wide choice most of my fellow diners had plumped for the roasts, and I followed suit.
Beef, lamb, turkey? All tempting in their own way, but the prospect of mint and redcurrant gravy swung it for me and I ordered lamb.
First though the starters, with the special of the day, salmon and prawn fishcake. I prefer something a little more savoury, so I went for ciabatta with garlic and melted mozzarella.
Everyone has heard of Welsh rarebit, this was the Italian version. A full ciabatta sliced in two. It looked and tasted delicious, but self control restricted me to one half so I could keep my appetite keen for what was to come.
The lamb arrived adorned with a sprig of rosemary amid a gloriously rich looking gravy.
It came with a couple of roast potatoes and a handful of boiled new potatoes. Seasonal veg on the side completed the dish with an array of carrots, cabbage and broccoli.
I would have liked the roasties crispier, but on the whole as a main course it was a triumph on a plate.
Two courses would normally have sufficed but professional duty to Weekend Xtra readers insisted I delve into the dangerously delicious calorie war zone that was the dessert menu.
This threw me into a dilemma, teetering between the comfort of apple and rhubarb crumble, the purely evil delight of chocolate fudge cake, the nostalgia of a traditional trifle or the unashamed fun of a banana split.
In the end I knew what would best complement such a rich lamb dish, and that was the glazed lemon tart.
Good choice! My tastebuds danced around each citrus bite.
The art with puddings as tasty as this is to prolong the pleasure, relishing each morsel, and at this I have become the master.
The Sycamores experience was made all the more enjoyable because of the friendly and attentive staff.
I felt looked after throughout and when the bill arrived it came with a handful of mint imperials. Nice touch!
This place certainly has the ‘x factor’. Their a la carte menu will blow you away and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to try it. Book ahead it to avoid disappointment.
The Bill
The Sycamores Sunday lunch Menu:
Three courses – £11.95
Two courses – £10.95
One course – £8.95