IT WAS a last-minute decision to pop out for Sunday lunch – but boy did I choose right.
Although what I ordered may have been fairly boring, what I was served was anything but.
There were hidden treats in both my starter and main meal at the Bear & Ragged Staff in Cumnor, and I will certainly be back for more.
Having not booked, I feared the worst when I pulled into the car park and struggled to fine a space.
But after squeezing into a tight gap, I was relieved when entering the pub to find a handful of tables unoccupied.
With a group of ten following me in, I decided to place my order sharpish, so avoided studying the more adventurous options on the menu and plumped for the soup of the day: leek and potato, served with homemade bread (£6.45).
When it arrived, I was forced to do a double-take.
I had a deep bowl of bright green soup in front of me, with two toasted pieces of bread accompanied by a generous,
attractively-presented orangey butter.
My first reaction was that I must have
mis-heard the waitress and in fact it was some form of pea soup – I was certainly not expecting such a vivid colour.
But I dived in nonetheless and was instantly blown away by the flavour. Leek and potato it was. And delicious too.
Turning my attention to the intriguing-looking butter, I broke all etiquette and put a small scoop in my mouth without the bread.
There was a little kick to it, although I still was not sure exactly what the added ingredients were.
When a waiter walked past, I took the opportunity to ask more about the food.
He explained that the chef uses the top (green) part of a leek rather than the bottom and that the bread came with a paprika butter. Both certainly hit the spot.
For main, I opted for the roast rump of beef (£14.50).
A huge plate with four generous slices of meat was placed in front of me, along with a big Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, beans, parsnips and carrots covered in a rich gravy.
I was just working out where to start, when the waitress returned with a bowl of cauliflower cheese with broccoli, as well as a jug of extra gravy.
That had to wait on the sidelines for a while, until I made room on my plate, but even after some ten minutes it was still piping hot.
It was a real struggle, but I was determined not to be beaten. And I wasn’t. I will be back for more surprises in the very near future.
l Bear & Ragged Staff, Appleton Road, Cumnor, OX29QH (01865 862329) or bearandraggedstaff.com
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