REVIEW : The Adamson, St Andrews
It was time for another Sunday Roast lunch, but this wasn’t just any Sunday Roast lunch, this was an Adamson in St Andrews Sunday Roast lunch!
REVIEW SUNDAY LUNCH AT THE ADAMSON ST ANDREWS
The Adamson occupies a spot in the heart of St Andrews. Not only is it a modern day bistro serving local, sustainable, Scottish produce, the building itself has had an interesting past.
The building has been around since the early 1800’s and housed the Adamson family whose eldest son, John, went onto take the first photographic calotype portrait in Scotland in 1841; hence the camera tripod in the Adamson logo.
Since then it has been a post office and now The Adamson.
The space of the Adamson is quite long and thin but through very clever design, the space seems larger and the flow effortless. Set on 3 split levels but all only 3-4 steps up, the main area is disable accessed via a long ramp that also acts as a walkway between the front and the back of the restaurant.
The decor is modern with dark teal the main highlight colour with exposed brickwork and plenty of smooth panels and handrails of wood. Large mirrors adorn the walls and the kitchen is open so you can have a good nosey to see what they get up to.
We were here for one reason and one reason only, for the Sunday Roast Lunch.
Lacey, the assistant GM, really looked after us (as she did with every other table there).
She started Mr TS off with a Choc Orange Martini. A sexy little number and akin to a Terrys Choc Orange on a very boozy night out. Quite delightful!
As always I was driving so it was a wee non-alcoholic drink for me. Lacey kindly suggested the Watermelon and Orange Cooler. A large glass of slush puppy arrived - I couldn’t have been happier.
A wee glass of Malbec and Picpoul for during our Sunday Roast. I had two sips, savoured the taste and handed the remainder of my Picpoul to Mr TS.
Review : Sunday Roast at The Adamson
Then it arrived. The Sunday Roast. It’s a Rib Roast served with duck fat potatoes, seasonal veg (carrots, green beans, cauliflower and parsnips), Yorkshire Pudding, a red wine jus and horseradish (£19.95).
Oh my giggy aunt! Two big thick slabs of beef, served pink and medium rare that was perfectly seasoned and cooked; even the fat was quite sweet and sticky. Vegetables were al dente, the potatoes heavenly and the Yorkie large, crispy and fluffy and the ideal vessel to pour the jus into before it spills out over the roast.
The meat was soft but retained a slight chew and the flavour was deep and meaty. Just bloody lovely.
I was so tempted by the Sticky Toffee Pudding but if I had another one, I think I might start to turn into one; so I ordered the next best thing, the Key Lime Tart with salted white chocolate crumble and a passionfruit sorbet (£6.50).
I loved all the elements of this dessert, just the pastry was too hard and had I tried to cut into it, it would have spun off the plate and landed on the table next to me in someone else’s Sunday Roast. It was super sweet but the lime was strong and cut through the sweetness. A pleasant little dish.
Vanilla Panacotta with pear and honey mousse (£7.50).
You could taste the vanilla here but it was quite subtle which meant that the pear and honey flavours came to the fore. I loved the poached pears but equally liked the white chocolate shard.
Executive Chef Andrew and Head Chef Simon, both stepped out of their natural habitat, the kitchen, to come over for a quick chat and a photo. They told us all about their Ski Lodge that was opening next door; The Adamson Christmas pop-up from 21 November for 8 weeks.
The Adamson Ski Lodge has an exclusively designed warming cocktail menu for the winter season alongside festive nibbles and hot dogs. The Ski Lodge is a veritable wonderland of apres ski decked out like an Alpine lodge, complete with faux fur and twinkling lights aplenty.
Cocktails adorning the drinks list include creations such as Pom Pom Fizz; Veuve Clicquot, pomegranate & magic glitter dust and a Glenmorangie Hot Toddy as well a selection of Christmas Cocktail Trees that offer 9 arms featuring a variety of Champagne cocktails.
The Adamson restaurant boasts a really mouth-watering menu from seafood dishes like Lobster and Avocado salad, Halibut and Rock Oysters to beef cuts cooked on the Josper Grill including Porterhouse and Tomahawk steaks. Side dishes set the taste buds to drool such as Duck Fat Purple Potatoes, Truffle and Parmesan fries and Green Beans and shallots.
I wish we could pick up The Adamson and bring it to Edinburgh…. alas I’ll have to make St Andrews one of my Sunday Roast dinner destinations instead!
St Andrews is just over 1.5 hours drive from the centre of Edinburgh to St Andrews and it is a pretty town to wander around in as well as taking in the historical buildings, the golf and the seaside. Whatever your reason for visiting St Andrews, make sure you include a trip to The Adamson.
The Adamson, 127 South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9UH Tel : 01334 479191 www.theadamson.com
My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10
I was invited by The Adamson to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.