Meadow Inn, Ironbridge
Star rating: **** Our first visit to the Meadow Inn was last year, writes Kirsty Marston. The pub was packed on a beautiful summer's evening. A sign of good food and drink.
Star rating: **** Our first visit to the Meadow Inn was last year, writes Kirsty Marston, but we were back in our car within minutes as they were fully booked - the pub was packed on a beautiful summer's evening. A sign of good food and drink.
Even though we didn't book for our next visit on a Bank Holiday weekend, it was surprisingly quiet.
We took friends from Stockport and their seven-year-old daughter for an afternoon meal.
We all enjoyed the generous portions, the home-made chips and the wide choice of reasonably priced meals on the menu.
What we didn't enjoy were the shocking drinks prices - more than £20 for four glasses of house wine served by the glass.
When I queried it the woman told me it was more than £5 a glass of wine and the bill was correct. She then told me I could have had a bottle for somewhere between £12 and £15.
Now I've got that rant out of the way early I will continue.
The Meadow Inn is set in the most beautiful surroundings, with a large beer garden.
The interior is warm and welcoming, with leather chairs, chunky tables and a contemporary feel.
I can imagine anybody who likes a good old fashioned-style pub would hate the new Meadow but we loved it.
For starter I opted for the homemade soup which was served in a huge bowl with a more than generous portion of fresh bread. The chunky leek and potato soup was hot and certainly homemade.
Some wanted to save themselves for the main course but Ray did join me and had the warm black pudding served with new potato and spinach salad.
It looked more a main course than a starter but soon disappeared from his plate. It was a good sign of things to come.
For the main courses I fancied an omelette but the homemade chunky chips as a side order were a must.
I had numerous fillings and it was served light and tasty with a once again generous portion of side salad.
My light meal looked fantastic until I saw my friend Karen's meal arrive - a homemade chunky beef burger. Wow - served on a huge ciabatta roll smothered in cheese and tomato chutney, it was amazing.
And as Karen tried to battle her way through it, it was obvious we were all dying to help her out.
Little Eloise chose the mini fish and chips off the children's menu but again it didn't look anything like a children's portion and I obviously had to give her a helping hand.
The mini battered fresh fish were lovely and in small enough portions for youngsters to manage - great to see the Jamie Oliver style children's meals sticking around and not being replaced by ready meals out of the freezer.
Eloise was even too full to manage an ice-cream - in fact, all of us were despite the tempting sticky toffee pudding and many other full fat delights.
Ray went for the fisherman's pie with haddock, salmon, Greenland prawns and hard boiled egg topped with creamy mash, while John enjoyed the sausage served with mash, onion gravy and seasonal vegetables.
Both meals again were more than generous portions but none of the meals lost their quality through the quantity served.
We all had to send the waitress away to allow us more time before ordering but not because she was rushing us, but simply because we were all so torn between the huge choice and tempting meals on the menu.
My partner and I have since returned, planning to enjoy as the Monday night fish and chip supper for £7.95 with a glass of wine or half a beer.
But the memory of Karen's succulent burger had stayed with us and we both went for that instead.
Sadly this time the chunky chips had been cut rather too chunky and had not been cooked for long enough and were still hard in the middle - my advice to the chef is to make more chips out of each potato and leave them in the fryer that bit longer.
But we will be going back for the fish and chip supper next - and then we'll have to check out the Sunday roast to see if that meets the same standards.
The Meadow Inn offers a great drinking and dining experience where staff are smart, polite and efficient.
The meals are a fine example of great home cooking.
We would return for meals and a drink but to stay for several glasses of wine wouldn't be an option due to the extreme prices.
My only advice would be to make the price of the drinks in line with the price of the meals.
ADDRESS
The Meadow Inn, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge
Tel: (01952) 433193
MENU SAMPLE
Starters
Selection of breads and olives (£2.35); Prawn cocktail (£5.35); Chicken liver pate (£5.50)
Main courses
Roast belly pork in five spices (£8.95); Local free range chicken stuffed with sausage meat and pistachio nuts wrapped in bacon (£11.75); Oven roasted peppers stuffed with vegetable couscus and melted mozzarella (£8.95)
Desserts
Chocolate brownie with hot chocolate sauce (£4.50); Ironbridge mess (£4.50); Egg custard tart served with fresh raspberry (£4.50)
ATMOSPHERE
Contemporary style, relaxed pub with cosy corners for more private dining.
SERVICE
Polite staff and efficient service.
DISABLED FACILITIES
Disabled facilities throughout.
