Saturday 5 May 2018

REVIEW: Restaurant 23, Tring

Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant
Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant
Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant

Going out for dinner feels like a rare treat these days. We've been saving so hard for so long - first for our house, then for the wedding - that going out to dinner 'just because' is something that doesn't happen much any more. And that's been especially hard to take since moving to Tring, because there are so many amazing restaurants here. So it's taking me a long time to make my way around them all - although being asked to do the occasional review is helping me tick them off.

Restaurant 23 was at the top of our list - it popped up last year in a beautiful building with a great-looking menu, and word of the street was that it was one of the best places to go for a really special meal. Which was totally right - this is fine dining nestled on our sleepy little high street.


The restaurant is set over several floors of a gorgeous old building, that used to be the medical hub of the Rothschild family's estate according to their website. Inside, it's all decorated in soft greys - totally my taste.

The starters are quite heavy on the fish, which Matt was v.happy with, so he went for the hot oak smoked Scottish horseradish and chive fishcake. He said it was really good with an excellent flavour, super filling and he loved the white sauce that came with it. Holds up - he demolished the lot.

Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant

I was tempted by the confit duck spring rolls or the mushroom and goats cheese with a pistachio crumb (YUM) but instead went for exactly what I fancied - the baked camembert. Nothing makes this girl happier than a slab of molten cheese, and this was infused with home smoked garlic and rosemary, served with ciabatta and red onion marmalade. The smokiness really came through, and the marmalade was pleasantly tart without being overly sweet. There was also the perfect amount of bread to demolish the whole thing. And the cheese - I mean, it's melted cheese. Nothing is bad in this scenario.

Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant

Matt went for the grilled cod with battered monkfish tails, which came with homemade tartar dressing and triple cooked goose fat chips. I'm salivating thinking about those chips. It was ostensibly posh fish and chips, but done really bloody well - and Matt declared it a huge portion, he could barely finish it. He also liked how the fish was cooked two different ways, and said it was light and crisp - not doughy. Simple but excellent.

Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant

I was so tempted by a steak as they sell a sirloin and a fillet on the menu and I haven't had one in ages, but it always feels like a bit of a cop out when doing a review as there isn't much you can say about a steak, y'know? So I usually try to get something that I couldn't get just anywhere (even though I have no doubt that their steaks are pretty special).

So the duo of pork won out, and I'm darn glad it did. Sous vide pork tenderloin and roasted pork belly with veal jus, parmientier potatoes and the fanciest crackling I've ever had. Look how bubbly it is! It was delicious - the meat had such a good flavour and I loved the dash of vanilla in with the apple puree.

Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant

Matt was pretty stuffed when it came to pudding time, so he went for a simple scoop of banana ice cream (he literally ordered a three course meal of foods I don't eat, FYI) but I couldn't resist the absolute chocolate ganache, which came with orange and campari sorbet, mint and dehydrated raspberries. It was unctuous, dark and rich and went so well with the orange sorbet which offste the richness beautifully. Such a good combo.

Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant
Restaurant 23 review in Tring, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire places to eat nearby natural history fine dining fish restaurant

We had a fabulous meal at Restaurant 23 - the service was excellent, the setting is beautiful and the food was amazing. We're definitely planning to return next time we want a special meal, and I'm dying to try their Sunday roast (and work my way through their cocktail list).

Restaurant 23 is at 23 (of course) High Street, Tring, Herts HP23 5AH. The restaurant kindly paid for our food in exchange for this honest review.
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