Turned into Cattle Grind

Establishment: Cattle Grid.

Location: 31/32 Jubilee Arch | Royal Windsor Shopping, Windsor SL4 1JP 

Tel: 01753 751121

Date of Visit: July 2015

Review:

Back in June I wrote in A Fine Place for a Steak Out! “If you feel like being Desperate Dan for the night then make your way to this steak house at the end of the shopping arcade. It pays to book in advance as it can be and often is very busy, testament to the food without a doubt...”

...” The steaks are divine, Sirloin through to T-Bone, I’ve never had a bad one yet and I don’t think I ever will”...

Today I’m going to eat my words and they will probably be tastier than the steak my partner had the other night.

This place is going downhill fast than Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards (people of a certain age will remember him).

Inside the restaurant on one of the walls are the descriptions of what the meat will look like depending on how you order it. It’s a pity the chef can’t actually see these because medium rare shouldn’t arrive medium to well and medium shouldn’t arrive rare, so rare in fact a good vet would have had that beast back on its feet. The chef had two goes at getting my partner’s steak correct and it just didn’t happen.

This place used to be good, we’ve eaten in there many times over the years before I started blogging and unfortunately what I’m writing now doesn’t do the past visits the justice they deserve.

Apart from the steaks not being cooked to our liking, the plates were full of oil or grease. This was mentioned twice to the staff and various excuses were given, one was it’s the juices from the meat. I’ve cooked steak and beef many times in my life and what was on those plates were not meat juices. In fact we were both left with an oily taste in our mouths after we’d finished our meals.

To be fair, we were given a discount on the bill for the issues we encountered but realistically 15% off the bill doesn’t make up for the disappointment of expecting a decent piece of steak and getting something greasy and sour tasting.

Apparently we’re not the only ones to have experienced these issues recently, other review sites I've visited have similar comments as well. I’ve been promised that things will improve and return to the better days.

Let’s see shall we...I’ll give it a few months and go back...watch this space.

Birthday Breakfast at Bill's

Establishment: Bill’s Restaurant.

Location: 64 – 67 Windsor Royal Station, Jubilee Arch, Windsor, SL4 1PJ

Tel: 01753 -864586 or e-mail Windsor@bills-email.co.uk

Date of Visit: July 2015

Review:

For the second year in a row we gone to Bill’s to celebrate my birthday in the form of a nice breakfast in preparation for a long day of further gluttony and alcohol and for a second year in a row we’ve not been disappointed by the food.

The beautifully prepared fry up (see picture) and coffee were consumed with gusto and it was nice to see that because I don’t eat eggs an alternative was offered straight away, many places I’ve been to just leave them off and don’t make up the difference, in fact one restaurant recently wanted to charge for a replacement item.

The breakfast menu is extensive ranging from Toast, the full English (Vegetarian version as well), pancakes & bacon, sausage or bacon in a brioche roll, porridge and various types of speciality egg dishes, there’s even a gluten free menu for those that are wheat intolerant.

The food was spot on and did the trick but the disappointment for me was that the staff when we wanted to pay and go off to do other things were nowhere to be found. We had to wait about 10 minutes to get someone’s attention. Still one minor thing won’t put me off going back again next year or even trying something other than a breakfast in there.

One thing I did notice was there was an automatic 10% service charge added to the bill, personally that irritates me, I’ll decide if the service and food merits a tip.

You reap what you sow!

Establishment: Harvester – Bells of Ouseley

Location: Straight Road, Old Windsor, SL4 2SH

Tel: 01753 861256

Date of Visit: July 2015

Review:

So we move on to the next instalment of where to go to eat for breakfast.

I’ve chosen to eaten twice at the Bells for breakfast, once right at early doors 9.00 am and the latest at late morning just before 11.00am, out of the two, the earlier one was the best option.

The concept is great, you can have unlimited continental for £2.99 or unlimited cooked & continental for £4.99, drinks are extra but for £2 something you can have unlimited coffee and juice as well.

If you have the cooked breakfast, you tell the chef what you want and how much. Choose from bacon, sausage, black pudding, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, chips or hash browns (or both) and eggs (however you like them). Then it’s off you go to get your coffee, tea or juice and to toast your bread whilst you wait for the plate full of goodies you’ve chosen to turn up.

Unfortunately, the down side of eating later in the morning is, if the establishment is gearing up to swap over to the lunchtime menu then the juice and bread can take a while to replenish or as in the other day they can disappear altogether. So as I said earlier, the early bird catches the worm, so to speak.

Two large cooked breakfasts with coffees, juice and toast for £15 is nothing to be sniffed at, order enough amnd you’ll not need anything else until evening time.

At the end of the day it's a Harvester, good food served quickly, not a Michelin starred restaurant.

You can leave your hat on.

Establishment: Monty’s Cafe.

Location: 15 Saint Leonard's Road, Windsor SL4 3BN

Tel: 01753 867966.

Date of Visit: June 2015

Review:

People say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I believe them, anytime I’m in town at the weekend we have to go to Monty’s so I can get fill of what does me the most good. Let’s be honest It doesn’t do the waist line any good but it’s what the heart desires.

Monty’s is a great place to sit and watch the world go by (if you can get one of the window seats) whilst you enjoy a delicious plate full.

Take your pick from the long breakfast menu including Eggs Benedict, bacon sandwiches, pancakes, an English breakfast or my personal favourite the full Monty. If you're still hungry after that plate full your not normal.

Even when the place is full with people queuing out of the door the service is still quick and spot on.

Pop down and give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

A fine place for a Steak Out!

Establishment: Cattle Grid.

Location: 31/32 Jubilee Arch | Royal Windsor Shopping, Windsor SL4 1JP 

Tel: 01753 751121
Date of visit: June 2015

Review:

If you feel like being Desperate Dan for the night then make your way to this steak house at the end of the shopping arcade. It pays to book in advance as it can be and often is very busy, testament to the food without a doubt.

The menu is straight forward as it just says Cow, Pig or Burger. There are others as well but let’s stick to the main players for now.

The steaks are divine, the Sirloin through to the T-Bone, I’ve never had a bad one yet and I don’t think I ever will.

Now, let’s talk about the Ribs. The last time I saw a rack of ribs that large it was in the natural history museum, I jest of course but these beauties are not for the faint hearted. Order them with Peri-Peri sauce to add that extra kick, if you like spice then you’re not going to be disappointed.

*Monday night is challenge night! The only limit is your appetite. If unlimited ribs & chicken wings are your forte then give it a go.

On to the burgers, you’ll need large hands to pick these bad boys up; with the various toppings available to compliment the prime beef the world is your oyster.

If you’ve room left afterwards then there are the desserts to attack, Ice cream, Brownie, Cheese-cake and my personal favourite, Belgian Waffle.

There’s a reasonable selection of beers, wines and spirits and they do serve a beer from the local brewery which is also one of my favourites.

Finally, my only gripe (and it’s a small one) is the venue can get a bit cramped when busy but then again if it got any bigger in size, it would lose its charm.

Don’t forget to book! Now, where’s my phone...?

Let's get this Party started

Welcome to my personal blogger site reviewing the many eateries in Windsor and the surrounding areas.

Before we get to the reviews, let’s start with a little about me, I live in Windsor and eat out regularly in many of the great establishments we have in this historic town. So I decided that I want to share with you the experiences I have, be they good or bad.

There are, according to internet sources over 170 places to eat in Windsor ranging from Independent Cafés and coffee shops, local pubs and hotels right up to the Chain restaurants and fast food places. The cuisines offered are multinational and cosmopolitan, so I’m sure there’s something for everyone’s taste buds.

I’m not a qualified chef or a wine & beer snob, so the opinions I will give will be my own, open and honest and as I see and experience it at the time.  I will always visit and review anonymously so that nothing will be experienced that you the regular man or women on the street wouldn't' possibly experience.

I will always welcome feedback and if you feel that you don’t agree with my opinions then that’s your prerogative, we each have our own opinions on everything and I’m fairly sure we may not always agree!

I hope you enjoy the reviews and benefit from the experience, feel free to drop me a line if you want me to review a place, I’m always up for a day/night out!

Bon Appetite!