New name but still great for a special night out (From Gazette)

New name but still great for a special night out

10:00pm Wednesday 24th June 2009

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IF YOU feel you’re in need of a touch of luxury without travelling too far, then the Old Siegehouse, Colchester, could be for you.

It may have recently rebranded from its previous name, Gastro 1603, but it seems to be business as usual for the restaurant.

The outside of the building may look a little dowdy, but don’t be fooled, the inside is light, airy and the perfect setting for a good meal with friends.

The tables are beautifully set with plenty of space and the staff are attentive without being pushy.

But what really made it for me was the jazz trio in the corner. I’m not usually a fan of jazz music but in this setting, as background music, it was perfect.

When it came to the menu, one friend commented it was small, but it still took us a long time to choose what to have.

We decided to share marinated olives and a bread basket for starters and it was everything you would expect.

One friend chose the 8oz rib eye steak which came with gratin Dauphinoise and was topped with a pesto sauce.

She described the steak as juicy with a flame-grilled taste and the plate was cleared completely, which says more than any words. Another friend opted for the steamed suet pudding which he described as “stodgy comfort food” with a traditional dumpling-like texture and rich meat and gravy filling.

My cod fillet was as close to perfection as you can get. It was tender and flaked easily under my fork.

It was served on a bed of gnocchi with a creamy tarragon sauce, which was gorgeous and full of flavour.

We shared a tureen of vegetables, including broccoli and courgettes, which were cooked perfectly. The portion sizes were spot on, leaving myself and one friend to head straight for the dessert menu.

I opted for the profiteroles, which came with chocolate Chantilly cream, while my friend chose the raspberry creme brule.

The moans of delight tell you just how fantastic the desserts were.

The menu seemed a little on the pricey side, but for a special treat, it was just perfect.

What we ate

Olives £2.75

Bread basket £2.95

8oz ribeye steak £15.95

Suet pudding £12.95

Cod fillet £13.95

Profiteroles £5.95

Raspberry creme brule £5.45

Our verdict

Atmosphere 5

Food 4

Decor 4

Value 3

Service 4

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