Thread: Best restaurant in the UK? It's a pub - The Sportsman (Seasalter, UK)

The Sportsman was the last of the restaurants on my recent trip. And while Noma was special, The Sportsman was just downright perfect - it lived up to every expectation I had. I've avoided London on most of my European adventures but The Sportsman is a reason to get a connecting flight through.

The chef has a uber-local philosophy. He will make everything he possibly can (bread, butter, ham, grab seaweed out of the water, pick herbs in the countryside) and everything else comes from within 10-15 miles of the restaurant (pork, lamb, fish line-caught off the local boats, etc.)

And it's just a pub for the surrounding few villages. People come here to hang out and drink - and get some great food.

Here's a quick review since it will take at least a month to get it up on the blog...

Oyster with home-made chorizio - it's not necessarily a new combination but it's a great combination when the product is of this quality. A short quick statement - this is serious business.


Carrots


Pork scratchings - yummy!


Pickled Herring - some of the best herring of the trip,


Bread, home-churned butter and Seasalter sea salt - the butter was only a notch below my all-time favorite (Bordier at L'Arpege, Paris) and the bread was some of the best i've had in a restaurant in recent memory



Rockpool - Influenced by Manresa's tidal pool but the two are very different dishes. Manresa's is far saltier whereas this tended toward the herbacious (and somewhat sweet if i recall correctly.) It was quite a delicate dish.


Something I've forgotten


Crab risotto - Iodine and crab essence - some reports have the rice being overcooked and maybe it was just a touch but it added to the creaminess


Seasalter Ham cured in December 2007 - I'm sitting there, falling in love, and then this comes out. Remarkable. No, it wasn't quite Jamonisimo's bellato but it was gorgeous stuff.



Brill braised in vin jaune with smoked pork - The bones had been used in the rockpool earlier, and this was obviously a fresh line-caught fish from the morning - if only people could experience such beauty - they would never settle for the crap in the supermarkets. As good as the fish was, the vin jaune stole the show for me - it had a wonderful creaminess without being overbearing and a great balance.


Fried lamb belly (i think) - Not quite my thing but good nonetheless - there was a great interplay between the crunch breading and tender meat inside



Roast rack of Monkshill farm lamb - A beautiful piece of lamb - last time I had lamb this good was probably last year at Manresa


Elderflower panna cotta?


Elderflowers - Fried and Lolly dipped in cake milk - Just look at the exquisite frying - excellent - Cake milk - very yum (much better than a Moto liquid donut!)



Rhubarb sorbet - A bit unexpected, considering the meal we just had, but the pop rocks inside were perfect for the rhubarb's tartness


Mignardises - A nice finish without being overbearing



If you want to eat the best food in the UK, I believe this is it. I really wished I had planned better - I would love to do a la carte for lunch and tasting menu for dinner (or even over 2 days) - some of the "regular" a la carte dishes sounded, and looked, better than some on this tasting menu.

The Sportsman would make my Top 10 in the world.

- chuck

The bread and butter looks remarkable. How would you describe the flavor of the ham?

How were the carrots served? I frequently ate fresh radishes in France with a little butter, salt and pepper.

carrots were exactly as you seem them - au natural.

ham was quite good - they served it at the right temperature (which is near impossible these days) so the fat just melted on your tongue; and quite sweet.


- chuck

Wow, that is some beautiful food

Another incredible post! God I can't wait to go on my Euro Trip. I intend on adding some of the places you have gone to my list when I go next year. I always look forward to your posts. Now that I have my camera back I will start posting up my reviews. They won't be as good as your reviews as I am an amateur foodie but I enjoy posting them up.

Originally Posted by LAMBORYDER

Another incredible post! God I can't wait to go on my Euro Trip. I intend on adding some of the places you have gone to my list when I go next year. I always look forward to your posts. Now that I have my camera back I will start posting up my reviews. They won't be as good as your reviews as I am an amateur foodie but I enjoy posting them up.

practice makes perfect where do you intend to go in Europe?

- chuck

The usual. London, Paris, Amsterdam

The Crab Risotto looks amazing! I'll have to stop here when I'm back in London in the fall.

How was your stay at the Hoxton?

Chuck.. great review! Can't wait to read about your entire trip on the blog.

Originally Posted by whitlock

The Crab Risotto looks amazing! I'll have to stop here when I'm back in London in the fall.

How was your stay at the Hoxton?

perfect hotel - exactly what i like - who needs amenities, just give me wireless - nice enough but cheap enough - and a location i never really explored before.


lamboryder, read through my blog and the AGSurfer post from a few days ago for lots of Paris ideas, both high-end, casual, and speciality shops.

- chuck