FOOD : Review of Dinner at The Lawn, North Berwick
I’ve been the the Marine and Lawn Hotel in North Berwick for Afternoon Tea and dinner, shortly after it opened, and so was delighted to receive an invite to return for a special Jazz Dinner for the Anthony Nolan Charity.
Watch my reel about Afternoon Tea at the Marine and Lawn here
REVIEW OF DINNER AT THE LAWN, NORTH BERWICK
This 19th-century, 84 bedroomed venue is owned by the US-based Marine & Lawn Hotels and Resorts, as well as Rusacks St Andrews and the Marine Troon. You might have guessed the theme here - they are all located at pristine golf courses.
The whole hotel has been beautifully restored and refurbished with every aspect of the reception, lounge, bar and restaurant detailed and focussed on drawing your eyes to the incredible views over the golf course, the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock.
The restaurant, features fixed booth seating, a black and white chequered floor and plenty of space to fit in a full jazz swing band, Tuxedo Swing, on this particular night.
Chris Niven is the Executive Chef here (Masterchef: The Professionals 2017 contestant) and really showcases what a superb larder we have in Scotland. The dishes are without a doubt seasonal and ever changing.
Snacks
Loch Fyne Oysters - 3 with spiced red pepper dressing and coriander (£9)
The oysters were dressed for the occasion swimming in pools of tangy dressing. Delicious!
Haggis Bon Bons with Arran mustard mayo and pickled apples (£5)
These appeared rather pale in colour but didn’t detract from the flavour. Peppery, spicy and soft of the inside with a crunchy outer shell. The mustard mayo was smooth and added another level of flavour but it was the pickled apple that really complimented the haggis.
Starters
Loch Duart Salmon Tartare with dill, creme fraiche, roe and citrus (£12)
A visually stunning dish with the salmon skin spread like a fan drawing your eyes down onto the plate. Soft smoked salmon finely diced with the ideal amount of citrus for a zing, creme fraiche to bind it and the dill to lift it. Delightful.
Heritage Beets with Knockraich Farm crowdie, rhubarb, apple and walnuts (£9)
Stunning dish from the sweet yet earthiness of the beetroot to the tart creaminess of the cheese, tang of the apples and the crunch of the walnuts.
Mains
Barnsley Lamb Chop with peas, asparagus, broad beans and anchovy butter (£26)
As with all lamb chops, its more about the taste than it is the amount of meat. Only a few mouthfuls on this chop to eat, but every one was tender and succulent, almost melt in the mouth like the butter circles atop the chop on serving. The peas, asparagus and broad beans were such a gorgeous flavour bomb really complimenting the lamb and adding a fresh note to the dish.
300g 35 Day Aged Tweed Valley Sirloin with Bearnaise sauce and dressed leaves (£32) is there anything better than a steak cooked to just how you like it. Well done, this steak was spot on, cooked medium and seasoned to perfection.
Sides
Ratte Potatoes and dulce butter (£4.50) and Tenderstem Broccoli with chilli and garlic butter (£4.50)
Desserts
Doughnut with Champagne rhubarb and ginger ice cream (£8.00) and Home Ice Cream, 2 scoops (£5.00)
The doughnut was not something you would expect to find on a dessert menu but what a simply wonderful dessert. The champagne was inside the doughnut, and flooded out as soon as you open up the doughnut. Loved the addition of the rhubarb and although the ginger ice cream was a separate dish and didn’t really accompany the doughnut, the ginger flavour danced across your tongue in preparation for another boozy doughnut bite.
Ice cream was okay with vanilla trumping the strawberry.
Once dinner was over and Tuxedo Swing had swooned us, we followed them into the Bass Rock Bar with its twinkling chandelier and opulent furnishings. This is the place you want to sip long on a whisky or a cocktail, relax and let the world go by.
The Lawn restaurant offers an all day dining menu - lunch, Afternoon Tea, dinner and drinks as well as offering a superb Sunday Roast.
Having dined here three times for dinner and Afternoon Tea, this most definitely is a place to come to enjoy a taste of Scotland and dine in a hotel with one of the most beautiful backdrops on the East Coast.
The Lawn, Marine, 18 Cromwell Rd, North Berwick EH39 4LZ. www.lawnrestaurant.co.uk
The Lawn caters for:
Vegetarians and other allergies (you need to make them aware of them though)
The hotel is dog friendly but you need to check if allowed into the restaurant
Wheelchair accessible
My Spoon Award : Gold 9/10
I was invited by The Lawn to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.