insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 07 - September 2015 | Page 41

FOOD+DRINK MURRAYS: The Oldest New Restaurant in Chichester BY MELISSA JONES Murrays Restaurant is perfectly situated in a grand Grade II listed Georgian property in the heart of Chichester. The restaurant, inside the charming Ship Hotel, opened its doors in November 2013 and is the only restaurant in the city to hold an AA rosette for culinary excellence. Adjacent to one of the UK’s regional flagship theatres, Chichester Festival Theatre, Murrays makes the most of its prime location and offers diners a ‘Prixe Fixe’ menu. The menu, timed expertly for pre-theatre viewings (12-2pm and 5-7pm), offers diners a hand-picked selection of favourites from the A la Carte menu with 2 courses priced at just £17.50. and pea purée, presented on a black slate board. The duck spring roll is another must have; the rich plum sauce delivers the right combination of sweet and sour and the bed of sautéed vegetables compliment the crunch of filo pastry. Menus change seasonally, with the most recent change on 17th August introducing a variety of new dishes, all made in-house and excellent value for money with mains starting from just £10. There is something for everyone, with the menu featuring favourites such as succulent fillet steak served with fries and seared salmon fillet with Jersey Royal potatoes. The close proximity to the heritage site of the theatre means that both The Ship and its adjoining restaurant has been host to a number of English silver screen icons over the years. Star-studded guests include Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith as well as Prime Minister David Cameron. The restaurant pays tribute to its former owner, Admiral Sir George Murray, who captained Lord Horatio Nelson’s fleet in 1805. Not only is it his namesake, the restaurant also displays a modern twist of colonial opulence in its interior. Using an eclectic mix of textures, earthy colours and greenery, Murrays offers a truly unique dining experience. For those with a sweet tooth, the perfect way to end your superb dining experience at Murrays is with the warm chocolate fondant served with salted caramel ice cream. The rich chocolate melts in your mouth and is set off by the salty flavour of the ice cream. The menu is accompanied by an extensive wine list with many offered by the glass as well as the restaurant’s very own The Captain’s White Burgundy and The Captain’ Claret. An extensive range of original cocktails are also served in the comfortable Captain’s bar and make great pre-dinner refreshments. Don’t Worry About a T’ing with its Caribbean vibe definitely hits the spot after a long day at work. Head chef, James Dean, gathers his inspiration for the menus from seasonal produce, all supplied by local Sussex-based suppliers. James says: “I build the menus based on seasonality and what is available at the time and try to source our produce from areas as local to Chichester as possible.” James’ signature dish is monkfish, which will be making an appearance on the menu this winter. “I love cooking with monkfish. My signature dish is spiced monkfish with curry crushed potatoes.” True to his word, this really is James’ signature dish with it securing him second place in the Grampian Young Chef of the Year competition in 2009. Serving food throughout the day, Murrays really is a must when in Chichester. Murrays Restaurant at The Ship Hotel North Street Chichester PO19 1NH 01243 778000 [email protected] www.theshiphotel.net We had the pleasure of enjoying Murrays’ summer A la Carte menu, which boasts an array of fresh vegetables and salads along with meats and fish. If you’re looking to indulge, the scallops come highly recommended and are served alongside shards of crunchy pork crisps 41