The Windmill, Rowton

and family make a lunchtime pit stop and receive a full service and fill up!

The signs scream out at you as you drive past: Stop! Driving past. Pop into a real country pub!

Other signs promise a beer garden with stunning views and traditional country inn family owned and run for nearly 100 years.

Normally, we would have driven past but this time we had planned a pit stop for lunch over the bank holiday weekend to see what all the fuss was about.

The Windmill looks every inch the traditional pub with lots of nooks and crannies, old pictures and several Shropshire Star articles, including one about Megan Hughes, who celebrated 60 years as landlady last year.

We ordered drinks at the bar and were told by a friendly waitress to sit wherever we liked. The menu was varied and we were told that the children's menu was basically a smaller version of the main menu, which I'm always in favour of.

I was spoilt for choice with the starters – it was whether I went for smoked salmon and prawn platter on a bed of lemon dressed leaves with wholemeal bread £5.65 or brandy flamed mushrooms on toasted garlic ciabatta £5.25. In the end I picked the mushrooms, which were excellent. The thick mushrooms and sauce were mopped up with the wonderful garlic ciabatta.

Neil went for the smoked mackerel fillet with cracked black pepper and a creamed horseradish dip (£4.25). The mackerel came in strips and Neil described them as being extremely tasty.

Our son Daniel, as per usual, had the best of both worlds and tucked into both mummy's and daddy's starters.

While we waited for our main courses Daniel and daddy went exploring in the beer garden. It was not really the weather to be sitting in the garden, with the rain on and off and the wind blowing a gale! I sat and had a leisurely read of the Sunday magazines. But, I also checked it out later and the views were spectacular as the signs proclaimed.

Another sign said all food was cooked from scratch and again we had no objections to a little wait if our meals were freshly made.

The Sunday roast aroma had hit me as soon as I walked through the door so my main course decision was easy. I opted for roast topside of beef and Yorkshire pudding (£10.95). The beef came with duck fat basted roast potatoes sprinkled with rock salt and cracked black pepper.

Daniel picked lasagne with a crisp mixed leaf salad and chips and Neil pored over the menu for a while and went for the medallions of fillet steak tower with smoked bacon, Chorizo sausage, beef tomato and flat mushroom topped with Port pan jus (£18.95).

I think all our eyes were on Neil's meal when it arrived and ours paled into insignificance. I say that but Daniel loved his lasagne and managed to finish most of his rather large plate.

My beef was nicely cooked, but I thought the gravy was a little on the weak side, but we certainly didn't lose out when the vegetables arrived. There were seven vegetables – cauliflower, cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato and asparagus. All of them were cooked perfectly. The asparagus which can always be a little hit and miss was definitely a hit. I thought the sweet potato was a little well cooked, but six out of seven were excellent.

Neil thought the fillet steak was not the best he had tasted and he said if it had been he would have described the meal as exceptional. As he is not big on superlatives I think that is exceptional!

We were then asked whether we would like dessert. I never thought I would see the day when my husband said he was full and turned down dessert, but this was that day. Daniel and I shared a subtle light baked lemon cheesecake with summer fruits. I was expecting it to be a little fluffier, but it was tasty.

We had read the article about the landlady Megan Hughes, but hadn't caught sight of her until we were just about to leave. She was charmed by our son's beaming smile and gave him a lollipop, which made the smile even wider.

All the Bailey clan were more than content and carried on our journey to Wales.

ADDRESS

The Windmill, Halfway House, Rowton, near Shrewsbury SY5 9EJ

Tel: 01743 884234

Web: www.windmillatrowton.com

MENU SAMPLE

STARTERS

Chicken liver pate with a ramekin of Jane's farmhouse relish and warm toasted wholegrain bread (£4.95); Jumble salad of Shropshire asparagus, sun dried tomatoes and goats cheese (£4.95)

MAINS

Fillet of sea bass papillote with tiger prawns, red onions and lemon butter served with new potatoes and fresh vegetables (£11.95); Supreme of chicken wrapped in bacon with a creamy stilton and garlic sauce (£10.45).

DESSERTS

Fresh vanilla pod crème brulee (£4.45); Jane's deep dish apple pie with creamy custard (£4.45)

SERVICE

Friendly and efficient

ATMOSPHERE

Cosy