Due South
our comments
Mother’s Day lunch is perhaps not the ideal day to try a restaurant (but not as bad as Valentine’s Day). We got their early to secure one of the few window seats, because eating at the back is a bit like eating under a railway arch, although I’m sure its not so gloomy at night. Unfortunately the usual main course grilled fish of the day, at a reasonable £12.50 had been replaced with a whole Dover sole at £25 a pop. A shame. Potted shrimp starter was a bit heavy on the butter and the shrimps didn’t have the strength to fight through. If I’d had my eyes shut, I would not have been convinced they were there at all and thought I was just munching my way through a pot of Lurpak. The bread had been toasted to a severe crispness; it could have done with a soft centre. Quite impossible to spread the potted shrimp onto without a shattering crash and fragments going everywhere. A plate of home made feta with the increasingly trendy Puy lentils was far better, the feta far less salty than the stuff beloved of Greek restaurants and the lentils cooked just right. A plate of oysters, priced singly so that you could order as many or as few as liked was a nice touch, and benefited from a spicy dressing. It being lunch and Mother’s Day the two mothers I was with, one mine the other my wife, both had roasts –lamb and beef. My mother raved about her tender beef and it was indeed very good. Even the roast potatoes got approval. The locally sourced lamb made a good roast too, although the red cabbage was wickedly acidic. My lamb’s liver with a garlicky mash benefited from a splash of strong green kale, an underused vegetable that, like Swiss Chard, earns its place in the English vegetable plot by being virtually indestructible. So full marks for good use of British produce and thankfully not a tasteless Kenyan green bean in sight. Good as my liver was, I do wish I’d had the fish soup which looked gorgeous. I suppose the thought of soup as a main course put me off; maybe they should call it stew because it certainly looked more like one when I saw one going past. Puds were fine, a nice honey tart had a decadent splash of Calvados cutting through the sweetness and some smooth ice cream topping it off. Due South has all the right attitude to its menu and sourcing policy and its prices are reasonable. Recommended.NH - March 2005
your comments review this restaurant
fantastic as allways
Comment on this reader review
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Lovely dinner at due south again last night.
Had the scallops to start and then the venison.
Sat at the back of the restaurant which was very cosy and romantic.
Its great to know that your dinner has not traveled hundreds of miles before it reaches your plate!
Keep up the good work due South!
Comment on this reader review
sarah
Thursday, January 10, 2008
So disappointed. Let's get the good bits out of the way: charming service and a window seat.
However, the seat was a wonky old church chair, sat at an equally wonky table, at an akward angle with the legs in the way of your feet and knees. Very basic presentation.
Noisy - and got noisier with inappropriate loud music.
Dim - could hardly see the menu.
And for the food - limited choices for veggies and even for the fish-eater with us. Mostly lukewarm and - with the exception of a generous crab starter and the side dishes- in tiny portions. Veggie starter and main looked and tasted similar.
Terribly expensive and just not worth it.
Comment on this reader review
Monday, December 03, 2007
I am so surprised about the previous reviews I am reading now, I came last night for dinner with friends, not for the first time and our time was absolutely fantastic. The service and staff was attentive but not intrusive and the quality of the food was nicely flavoured and imiginative, and let's talk about the puddings and the presentation. What wow factor!!!!!!
I will certainly bring more of my friends.
Comment on this reader review
Dean
Saturday, November 24, 2007
This is one of the most disappointing meals we have had in a long time. Starters of pease pudding and scallops was very bland and a strange mixture of hot scallops and cold pease pudding on a hot plate. One of our group had pheasant which was dry and tasteless and another in the group had the turbot which was large enough to feed a small mouse.
Staff were few and far between and service of wine was very slap dash. On one occasion they left the bottle of wine by the table un opened. On the positive side, the cheese board was very good and the location is good.
Comment on this reader review
A Wealls
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Very underwhelming. We've eaten here before and it's been good but this visit was really disappointing. The food was just bland. Rabbit wrapped in bacon and fennel was extremely dry and the tablespoon of sauce dotted artistically around the plate simply didn't suffice. The fennel was non-existent. Severely lacking. My wife's pork belly was boring and pretty dry also. All-in-all a real let-down. Shame. The waiter took our comments on board and we got a £20 bottle of Macon Villages knocked off the bill which was appreciated. Don't - necessarily - believe the hype.
Comment on this reader review
bumpy - View all reviews by this user
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
brilliant food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff, apart from one short plump blonde girl. But most of all the food was absolutly gorgeous.
Comment on this reader review
Louise
Monday, October 08, 2007
amazing
Comment on this reader review
Zoe
Monday, October 08, 2007
what a shame that one of Due Souths diners finds chocolate brownie old fashioned!
I have to say that my world will never move on from chocolate brownie especially due souths!
Comment on this reader review
Happy choclate brownie eater
Friday, October 05, 2007
ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER LOVELY EVENING AT DUE SOUTH!
The new menu for October was all I had expected, scallops and ham hock for starter, venison main course was fantastic and the Apple pie to share a lovely idea and very yummy.
Service was attentive but unobstrusive.
All good thank you.
Comment on this reader review
annie
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
