Charlton Arms Hotel, Ludlow

This is a very difficult food review to write - because I had a bad experience with two courses and my partner had three very good courses,

.

It was a bit like eating in two entirely different establishments, or the same restaurant on a good and a bad night!

So here goes . . .

We have tried to get into the Charlton Arms at weekends for some time but always failed. Fully booked, fully booked. Surely a good sign?

So we tried on a Thursday and finally got in. Great, we thought.

The Charlton Arms has been extensively refurbished, rebuilt in parts and extended over the past two years.

It now has a dining room with perhaps the best views in Shropshire. Almost floor to ceiling windows on two sides look out over the River Teme and up to Ludlow Castle. Simply stunning.

We walked through the bars and noted several plates of good food being consumed with relish along with pints of real ale for which the Charlton has a fine reputation.

On into the restaurant and those views. We sat by the window but even if you are at the back of the room you still get a fantastic vista.

Bread and butter were brought to the table as we examined the menu - which changes regularly.

On this night there were four choices for main courses and perhaps they could have been better thought out - two steak dishes, one fish and one veggie. I would suggest a chicken or lamb option would have been better than two beef. But then I don't plan the menus.

I went for warm chicken, bacon, mushroom and hazlenut salad (£5.50) while Neil had homemade soup of the day - carrot, orange and coriander.

His soup was delicious but my starter was not and in fact I had to send it back.

It takes no time to cook the chicken and bacon to order as usually the chicken is in small strips and the bacon chopped up. Turn out on to a bed of salad with the nuts and you have a lovely meal. And yes, I have done that myself for eight at the table.

However this chicken and bacon had obviously been pre-cooked and then re-heated in, I suspect, a microwave. The result was a rubbery disaster and worse still, half of the meat was cold and the other half tepid - a potentially lethal combination. Two mouthfuls and it had to be returned to the kitchen from where it should never have been allowed to emerge.

And no I didn't make a scene, just quietly pointed out the problem. I declined the offer of making another choice and had some bread instead.

On to the main courses. Neil struck gold again with rump steak in a red wine and shallot sauce (£14.60).

It was tender and came just as a medium steak should with a dish of lovely, crisp vegetables and one of crispy potatoes.

I had mushroom stroganoff (£9.20). I was starving but the sight of a dish of reddy/orange mushrooms made me apprehensive.

I know there is a trend to add paprika to this classic dish of cream and brandy but please put it in the description on the menu because I am not alone in my dislike of this twist.

Putting aside the paprika the mushrooms were pretty well tasteless. I managed half the dish, mainly because I was hungry. It came with a side dish of perfectly cooked rice and a nice salad.

I couldn't face further disappointment and stuck at the mains but Neil again struck gold. He had a lovely pudding comprising a creme brulee, ice cream and chocolate mousse (well he thinks it was mousse, he can't remember how it was described!). That was £5.20.

There is the aforementioned selection of very well kept real ale and the usual bar drinks and a short but comprehensive and well-priced wine list.

I really do want to try the bar food as, while we ate, dishes coming out of the kitchen looked very good and the chalk board menu looked interesting and promising.

Only thing is, after this, will I be allowed over the threshold again?

ADDRESS

The Charlton Arms Hotel, Ludford Bridge, Ludlow 01584 872813

MENU SAMPLE

Starters

Warm goat's cheese in filo pastry on a bed of vegetable brunoise (£5.50); Smoked salmon on a bed of horseradish potato salad and paprika dressing (£5.75)

Main courses

Pan fried tournedos of Herefordshire beef, potatoes 'Anna' and a chorizo sauce (£17.30); Line caught fillet of wild black bream with basquaise topped with a poached egg (£12.60)

Desserts

Daily selection of homemade desserts all £5.20

ATMOSPHERE

We visited on a very quiet night so it was a little cold

SERVICE

Good. But waiting staff should be taught from which side to serve at these prices

DISABLED FACILITIES

Full facilities