Review: The Catherine Wheel

the Catherine Wheel

(albury, HERTFORDSHIRE)

Star Rating:  Food : 4.5 Stars  Service : 5 Stars

Hygiene rating: 5

Date of visit: 5 February 2013

Once again I have to thank 106 Jack FM Hertfordshire for offering value for money vouchers and allowing us to find little treasures that we would not normally have found on our own. The Catherine Wheel in Albury is about twenty minutes drive from Hertford along narrow little lanes.  From the moment we arrived you felt welcome, there is ample parking the pub looks lovely from the outside, but it gives very little away as to what you will find when you walk in.  Normally I am not a fan of dogs in a food establishment, but on this occasion we were greeted by the most docile of Rough Collie, who we all warmed to straight away.  The décor is modern and very very clean.  I immediately started to steal ideas for my own home (much to David's dismay as he knew that he would have to put on his decorator overalls and do all the work).  The pub is run by a husband and wife team who are very friendly but also don't overstay their welcome at the table but if you need service they are there.  

They have a limited menu, which suites me.  Means that they are not storing food for long periods of time and I hate large menus as I never know what to order and always revert to my usual boring choices.  

For starters we shared Home-baked bread at £2.00, Olives at £2.50 and Roasted Chorizo and Chestnut at £2.95, absolutely delicious.

For mains Danielle wanted something light and not deep fried so she asked if she could combine two starters, Warm Goats cheese and cranberry puff pastry tart at £5.95 and a Classic Caesar salad, herb croutons and fresh nut and feta cheese salad at £5.95.  They were more then accommodating and she thoroughly enjoyed her meal.

Now if it was not for David's meal they would have been given a five for their food.  David ordered 'The Catherine Wheel' - home-made beef-burger topped with red cabbage coleslaw served in a fresh ciabatta bun with chunky chips at £10.95.  The coleslaw was served in a separate bowl, which if he had not realised he needed to put it on the burger and not eat it on its own might have made the burger more palatable.    The burger was a bun with a burger patty on it, he said it was very dry and not exciting at all.  It did not help that I was having a moment with my meal that was divine.

My food on the other hand was delightful, I ordered the Crispy suet pastry pie-of-the-day with creamy mash, rich gravy and seasonal vegetables (freshly made) £10.95.  Wow, wow and wow again is all I can say.  It was a beef and red wine pie and the meat melted in my mouth.  

Overall Experience

The meal with a couple of drinks and one glass of wine cost £52 for three of us.  With the voucher that we paid £25 for and got £50, it was an absolute bargain for what we got.  The owners alone make you want to go back let alone the décor and food.  I will be returning in the summer to enjoy their lovely gardens.  I highly recommend that you take the trip out to Albury and pay them a visit.

http://www.thecatherinewheelalbury.co.uk

Pelham Road, Albury, SG11 2LW

Tel: 01279 771191

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