If you believed roast dinners were only delightful during the cosy winter months, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
Due to the recent dreary weather in Norfolk, I found myself unexpectedly craving the feeling of a warm traditional pub with a sumptuous Sunday roast.
This summer's persistently wet and windy climate prompted my partner and I to seek solace at the Red Lion in Bishopgate on a Sunday afternoon.
We have visited The Red Lion many times before for an afternoon pint or a pit stop on walk and the atmosphere in this pub is second to none. It has the warmth and liveliness of a traditional pub but a newness that is fresh but comforting.
When we arrived the pub was bustling with people, all with the same idea of securing a Sunday Roast.
We had previously booked which I’d highly recommend doing if you plan to make a trip.
We sat down on a small table for two and had a chance to take in the whole atmosphere of the pub.
Our table was booked for two hours, which gave us plenty of time to eat, drink and talk between the two of us, however if you were a larger table you might want a longer time slot as the time did fly quickly.
Our drinks order was swiftly taken once we sat down and we ordered a pint of diet coke and a malibu and coke and within two minutes our drinks had arrived.
The staff were extremely attentive and when we asked for a few more minutes to browse the menu they obliged and were back within two minutes to take our order when we were ready.
We thought we’d make the most of our dinner date and ordered a starter of olives and focaccia bread with dipping oil.
The starter graced our table within 10 minutes of ordering and set the tone for a leisurely and satisfying meal. The olives were absolutely delicious with a delicate hint of garlic that elevated their taste which was irresistible.
The bread was fluffy on the inside but had a golden crisp to the exterior making it perfect for dipping in the balsamic oil which was sweet and moreish.
The starter allowed us to take our time and soak up our surroundings which made for a relaxing atmosphere.
We had both ordered the Vegan Roast dinner which consisted of a Polenta roast, baked carrot, red cabbage, savoy cabbage and potatoes. Unfortunately, with the vegan roast you don’t get a Yorkshire pudding or cauliflower cheese due to dairy and eggs which is a shame as these options could easily be veganised to accompany the vegan alternative of their roast dinners.
The polenta was seasoned beautifully with a savoury and peppery taste which made a great meat alternative. The Polenta soaked up the flavours of the meal and with the accompaniment of the red cabbage that was sweet and saucy made the polenta rich and decadent. The carrots were cooked perfectly with them being slightly soft but having the snap of a typical carrot, it was glazed with a sweet maple sauce which was highlighted against the contrast of the rich gravy.
The potatoes were stacked full of flavour due the herbs that they were cooked in. The potatoes had a firm outer shell and were fluffy on the inside, they weren’t crispy potatoes but they certainly were delicious.
Everything on my plate partnered with each other exceptionally and made for a fantastic roast dinner. The only negative I would give is that I wish there had been more on my plate, it did state on their menu that vegan roasts get extra vegetables which when compared to other roast dinners in the restaurant wasn’t the case. I would have loved some cauliflower, extra carrots or potatoes to really feel full by the end of the main course.
As we still had room left, we opted for a dessert and I was appreciative to see that they had a vegan option of their baked cookie dessert with vegan ice cream. We decided to have one each and they swiftly arrived straight from the baking tin onto our table. The deep rich chocolate of the dessert was enticing and I couldn’t wait to try it.
The texture was perfect and resembled a cookie that had magically reached its ideal midway point through baking which resulted in a gooey chocolatey centre and the firmer corners added a beautiful contrast. The chocolate was smooth and with the partnership of the vanilla ice cream added great balance to the dish.
Setting
The perfect pub location. Sitting in the beer garden you can choose to overlook the river or if you sit outside the front you get a fantastic view of the cathedral.
Price
Our full bill came to £65.10, I would say it’s on the pricier side seeing as the roast dinner didn’t fill me up. However, it was absolutely delicious.
Service
The service was fantastic and I couldn’t fault them. It was a busy sunday and the staff were helpful and engaging with everything we needed.
Highlight
The Polenta was a fantastic meat-alternative on the roast dinner and flavoured to perfection.
Summary
The Red Lion should definitely be on your list to try if you are on the look-out for a Sunday Roast.
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