The Red Lion
Old Favourites at The Red Lion
Comfort food. That was what we wanted when we headed to the Red Lion - and not having to cook ourselves.
Just around the corner from our guest house in Swanage, probably no more than fifty yards as the crow flies (not that a crow could fly though the several tons of Purbeck Stone between us) the Red Lion is our local. We eat here quite a lot, often in the summer when after a day working in our Tea Room we want to get out and about have something to eat that we haven't prepared ourselves and not spend a fortune.
We both love steak so we should go on Fridays when they have a good steak and wine promotion running (even through the summer), but we go when the thought occurs and this time it was early Sunday evening. Out of season and early we didn't need to book, just decide what we fancied and look forward to eating. We often describe the Red Lion as the only real pub left in Swanage. Despite doing a roaring and increasing food business (of which we are of course professionally in admiration) it retains a traditional pub atmosphere where locals and visitors mix and feel comfortable.
Helped obviously by real ales, at least three and usually nearer to six, and more ciders than Heinz - I kid you not, the boards may be inconsistent in the count they display but it is now well over fifty and rising. Being ruled by a Landlady (Karen) who actually serves regularly behind the bar, knows her customers and dispenses the appropriate mix of banter, gossip, insult and drink upholds a fine tradition. It would be unfair not to mention daughters Jodi and Pippa who have inherited the same knack, and the other helpful and friendly staff who are at various stages of the learning process.
So what did we have to eat then? Jude started with pate and went on to mussels. I started with mussels. The Red supports an indeterminate (to me) number of chefs. Each seems to have their own way with mussels; sometimes with a seriously well flavoured and balanced sauce; other times, like tonight, just a simple smooth light cream. For those of you impressed by numbers, my mussel count was just over thirty and Jude stopped counting at fifty for her main.
The highlight for me, as it always is, Steak and Kidney pudding. Not one for the weight-watchers it stands proud on the plate - plump, well-rounded and full of proper chunks of tasty meat. When it was first introduced to the menu it was served with Ratatouille, which sounds wrong but actually works perfectly. Now the menu refers disappointingly to house veg and I was served roast parsnips and peppers with peas. Fine by me. Be warned - No potatoes! A sensible policy decision I can vouch for; I did have a side-order one time I was feeling particularly hungry, but couldn't finish.
No puds, no cheese - no need. Just under £40 pounds for two generous courses and a couple of drinks each.
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