Review: The Waggoners (Ayot Green, Welwyn)
Date of visit: 22nd August 2012
WOW, WOW and WOW again.
My first perfect score has finally arrived, for both service and
food. We had the pleasure of going to
The Waggoners set in Ayot Green near Welwyn last night to celebrate David’s
Birthday. Once again we had taken advantage of the
vouchers from 106 Jack FM, which allows you to pay £25 and you get £50 off your
bill. The Waggoners is a refurbished 17th
century coaching Inn and is set between pretty houses and cottages around a
beautiful English green. Even though it
is an English pub the cuisine is French.
On arrival we were greated by a lovely lady, wish I had got
her name. Our table was in the second
room in the restaurant, the décor is lovely and really pub like. Make sure you duck as you go through doorways
as the English must have been very short in the good old days. The service from the time of our arrival was
very professional and yet not stuck up at all.
The staff was there when you needed them, but never in your face. We started off with a lovely little canapé of
battered prawns. I unfortunately had to
stick to soft drinks as it was David’s Birthday and it was only fair to let him
have a couple of beers. He had one of
his favourites London Pride from Fullers.
Danielle attempted for the first time, to eat frog’s
legs. She has a lot more guts than me,
there is no way I would ever eat them.
It was a treat; it took a couple of minutes for her to pluck up the
courage to take the first bite. She
managed to eat two of the four, but eventually put them on David’s plate. She said all that was going through her mind
was little green frogs jumping around.
Although she said it did taste very nice. Cuissesde grenouilles
panes: Breaded frog legs with a shitake
and mouli cake served with a garlic and parsley mayonnaise, cost £8.20. I had had and lovely cheese tart for my
started, I don’t see it on their website menu.
It was absolutely divine. David
also had frogs legs as well as Danielle’s left overs.
 |
| My starter |
For mains Danielle had Aile de canard sure pain d’epice a
l’orange et porto: Duck breast with
ginger bread red onion and plum chutney, sautéed potato, orange and port sauce,
cost £17.00. She said it was mouth-watering,
the best she had ever eaten.
David had, Coeur
de boeuf au vin rouge: Rump of beef with
croquette campagnard potato, melted leeks and red wine sauce Joue de boeuf a la
Guardian, cost £18.50. It was David who
decided that the food at The Waggoners was going to be my first five
stars. Having lived in South Africa for
most of his life, he knows his meat and until now he had not found a steak in
the UK that could match South African meat.
He gave me a taste and it was out of this world. Even though it had a red wine sauce that he
normally hates, if he could lick his plate I am sure he would have.
I had Ballotine de poulet: Chicken ballotine with cumin Savoy cabbage
and butternut squash mash, light curry sauce, cost £15.00. This requires another Wow, gorgeous are just a few of the words I can use.
I did surcome to the dessert menu and had Pithivier glace a la pistache: Almond and cream pastry served with a pistachio ice cream, cost £6.50.
Overall Experience
A truly wonderful experience, but I think it will be a place for special occasions only as it is a bit on the pricey side, our total bill was £105 for the three of us, and that did not include my usual bottle of wine. If you are looking for perfection in a perfect setting The Waggoners is the place for you.
History of The Waggoners
The Waggoners has not changed its use for over 400 years,
although when first built it is believed to have been housing for workers at
Brocket Hall. It has always served drink and food but the custom that visits
the area has changed as it was primarily used as a coaching inn, hence the
name.
* * *
The Waggoners, along with The Shoulder of Mutton (The Red
Lion) was the last pub at the top of the Mountain Slow. During its oldest
period The Waggoners would have been the more dominant of pubs catering for
commercial transport of the times. The Waggoners was built on level ground
enabling waggon drivers not to labour their horses immediately after their rest
by pulling loads up-hill from a standing start especially after still being
worn out from the long drag up Mountain Slow.
* * *
Infamous brothers, the Fox twins would drink in The
Waggoners, well remembered as poachers; they looked so alike their best friends
could not tell them apart. The story told about the two characters is whenever
one was summoned to appear at the police court the other would present himself
to answer the charge. Needless to say they were invariably able to prove ones
innocence every time and consistently made the prosecution look foolish.
Brickwall Close, Ayot Green, Welwyn, AL6 9AA
Rating Guide
5 Stars - Perfect
4.5 Stars - Exceptional
4 Stars - Excellent
3.5 Stars - Very good
3 Stars - Good
2.5 Stars - Average
2 Stars - Bad
1.5 Stars - Very bad
1 Star - Dire
That sounds delicious, hubby liked the sound of Danielles dish, and when I read Davids he was even more interested. It must have been tip top to get top marks. The beer is good too, we often stop there for a shandy whilst walking the dogs. might have to persuade hubby to take me there for lunch. Nx
ReplyDeleteA friend was chef there a few years ago and it was great then; good to know it is still. Last night, we ate in The Red Lion, just a couple of minutes away, which has also raised its game and is definitely worth a visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I will have to give them a try
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