FOOD + DRINK
A well conceived seasonal menu , fresh local Kentish produce , a beautiful oak beamed dining room , and a quite unforgettable view for dinner at the
Castle View Restaurant
BY SAMANTHA READY
My guest and I are no strangers to Leeds Castle , having been regular visitors to the magnificent Castle itself and to the myriad of activities and events held throughout the year in the grounds . However on this slightly damp autumn evening , our destination was to the rather aptly named Castle View Restaurant .
The dining room itself is a cosy , relaxed , comfortable wood-themed affair ; vaulted oak beamed ceilings , a mixture of round and square tables and chairs , configured to cater for intimate tables of two to large groups of celebratory diners without detracting from the atmosphere or ambience , and an efficient and friendly team of waiting staff catering to every whim without interfering with an evening ’ s natural flow .
But of course what sets this restaurant aside is its view , and it is beautiful !
For outside of the windows ( be sure to request a window-side table ) and across from the terrace lies the 900-year-old Leeds Castle . If you arrive before sunset as we did , you ’ ll get to witness the view change from its sunlight splendor to its nighttime grandeur as it is spectacularly lit as night falls to provide one of the most unique and awe-inspiring dining views in the county .
The team at the Castle View Restaurant don ’ t just rely on the view . Harnessing the abundance
of fresh , local , quality , Kentish produce , they offer a varied , modern British seasonal menu with a nod to all that is great about our country , as well as a changing daily specials menu both of which immediately had our taste buds watering as we made our decisions for the evening , aided by a rather large bowl of olives from the appetisers menu and some soft , fresh bread .
Our starters arrived quickly , my guests South Coast crab and avocado tian was delicate , light and fresh with the accompanying pickled apple and coriander oil giving it a welcome kick . Whilst my Scotch duck egg presented itself as the largest scotch egg I ’ d seen , served cut in half with an oozing orange soft centre encased in a generous mound of perfectly seasoned pork and a crisp outer crumb . The chutney and celeriac remoulade added a pleasant tasty touch ; it actually was my favourite dish of the evening – an impressive accolade from a die-hard pudding eater !
Next up for our main course , my guest was swayed by the daily special of pan-fried sea bass . The perfectly cooked fish was served upon a ratatouille and tomato ragu with a punchy saffron sauce and pomme mousseline . It was a pretty dish and was pretty swiftly devoured . I opted for the classic fish and chips , and what appeared was a huge fillet of Spitfire Ale battered cod , chunky mushy peas , a stack of triple cooked chips and some homemade tartar sauce . It was everything that fish and chips should be : crispy , plentiful batter , white meaty fish and a good crispy chip .
Needing a breather between courses afforded us some time to truly take in the view as well as the contentment of our other diners , and it didn ’ t take much persuading to plump for pudding .
My guest opted for the banoffee tart – an individual short tart , heaving with toffee sauce and fresh whipped cream , with an added interesting touch of some fresh honeycomb too ! Whilst this time the special menu swayed me with its tempting and recommended dark chocolate mousse , which was actually a delicately presented dish of mousse , milk chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream , and a fresh bright side of chocolate soil , chocolate sorbet , mango and ginger purées and fresh strawberries . The mousse was worthy of its recommendations , just the right side of rich and sweet , smooth and delicious – the perfect finishing touch to that perfect view .
Castle View Restaurant at Leeds Castle Maidstone ME17 1PL 01622 767766 www . leeds-castle . com
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