We got Wedgewood delivered for my birthday and last years wedding anniversary, four courses, just outstanding.
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Got the cutting chaii Valentine’s box booked for next weekend, it’s a really good Indian.
Had monkfish and chips with tartar sauce from the Fishmarket today. Was really good. I was a bit underwhelmed last time I was there but today made me see what all the fuss is about.
I mentioned the Smiddy BBQ further up the thread. Got a sharing platter the other week. Brisket, pork butt, pork belly burnt ends, ribs, cowboy beans, pickled red onions, pickled gherkins and red slaw. It was unbelievable. You could cut the meat with a spoon it was so tender and the taste was out of this world. Would 100% recommend.
We got treated by our daughter last night, Home by Nico, the home dining version of 6 by Nico. Its the Tuscan menu at the moment, soup, pork ragu, pasta main course, and 2 hazelnut bombolonis and a decent bottle of Chianti (untouched, still on the Lent wagon), but really delicious and great value £60.
We took a stroll across the Tay Bridge to Newport yesterday; got a coffee and a cake from Newport Bakery. Owned by a chap who has a Michelin recommended restaurant and won Masterchef Professionals a few years back.
Best Basque cheesecake I've had in this country. Partner had a slice of their bakewell with candied orange peel and it was similarly phenomenal.
Any Fifers, would highly recommend.
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/...rants-scotland
Maybe sometime soon we’ll be able to sample some of these
Was at Fazenda on Thursday for lunch. £21.70 fixed price for the usual unlimited meat visits and pick from the menu sides. Shared a dessert and couple of coffees. £56 for two.
Food lovely. Service brilliant despite the staff having to wear masks all the time. A well earned service charge.
Great to be back in a busy restaurant.
Has everywhere put their prices up? Some of the prices I’ve seen are unreal. The refinery at St. Andrews Square is about £6 a pint and £15 or something for what could only be described as a kids portion of fish and chips. Then they add on a 12.5% service charge after heavily encouraging you to use the app to avoid contact/maintain social distancing. On the app there’s no way of removing the charge.
A few other places that didnt used to be so expensive (Pear Tree being one) are apparently well over £5 a pint and over £6 for a decent few of their offerings.
I can't think of many places in town you aren't paying around the fiver mark for a pint now. Last pub I was in before the latest lockdown was the Abbotsford and think that was about £4.80. I daresay the additional staffing costs, costs for additional cleaning and sanitising materials and so on required to open hasn't been totally offset by a temporary VAT cut that doesn't include alcohol.
I was in the beer garden at Ten Hill Place over the weekend and they were charging £5 for a pint of flat Carling in a plastic glass.
I know places have had it difficult but if they charge charging ridiculous prices for a rubbish product they aren't going to last long. The novelty of being able to get out and into these places will only last so long.
Prices will be up in most venues. Since the first lock down, most have only traded a few months, with much reduced turnover yet have had 2 minimum wage increases and supplier price increases. As stated above, the temp VAT cut does not include alcohol. Whilst delighted to back open, the industry is trading with 2 hands tied behind its back. Reduced capacity, reduced hours etc for the foreseeable. It’s going to be very difficult to make any sort of profit. I expect we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg with venue closures.
If you’re not able to stand and wander etc at pubs by the end of summer I’d think a lot of people will stop going.
The novelty of pubs being back open will keep them busy just now but longer term that novelty will wear off and folk will decide table service and no standing is absolutely crap,
Australia are back to total normality on that front though so I don’t think it’ll be a long term thing.