Eat My Words: We review Ellenders at Boston United’s Jakemans Community Stadium

If I told you I was grabbing lunch at a football stadium your first impression would more than likely be to screw your nose up at the thought of a pie kept lukewarm under the serving lights.

And for many years that'd be exactly the best thing on offer at even the most glorious grounds in the country.

Fulham’s Craven Cottage may be a breathtaking venue but - trust me - the undercooked hotdog, half-defrosted bun and ‘sorry cocker, no ketchup’ monstrosity of days gone by remains one of the worst food experiences I’ve ever had.

Ditto the pies at Old Trafford or overpriced stodgy fish and chips at Wembley.

But for this meal I wasn't ordering from the concourse hatch, but at Ellenders, the Wyberton restaurant which forms part of Boston United’s Jakemans Community Stadium complex.

And, despite the first impressions of this being of a very swanky, modern place with its mismatch leather and velvet seating and industrial light fittings, it doesn't take long for the underlying soccer themes to grab you.

The back wall of the place has a vast array of images from the club's glory years - promotions, titles and the 1985 FA Trophy final at Wembley (this season’s National League North play-off final victory was yet to make an appearance, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be long).

Further nods to the club’s history could be seen in the barrier gates from the Pilgrims’ former home of York Street which hang above the bar and the old illuminated players and officials entrance sign. Benches and the plinth which welcomes diners are made from the ground’s old wooden seats.

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Despite not living too far away, driving past the place most days and even watching matches at the stadium, I'd not eaten from the lunch menu at Ellenders - despite the hipster lack of apostrophe, named after Paul Ellender, the defender who captained the club to the Football League promotion, whose match-worn shirt hangs above the bar - before.

I once got talking to a bloke in Scarborough who asked me where I was from and then, after a brief pause with his mouth wide open and a knowing finger pointed in my direction, responded with: “Ellenders.”

It turned out he’d once came over to the area to buy a motorbike and needed somewhere to refuel himself.

Even a man who lives a good four-plus hours away away had been there for a meal. So why not I?

Upon arrival I was pleased to see that on this Saturday, unlike matchdays when it’s standing room only as the place doubles up as the supporters’ bar, there were seats available.

On first impression I’d say there was an alarming number of empty seats available, but there was a big game on the box later that afternoon and the majority of tables were sporting reserved signs.

The menu was simple but effective, a nice selection of sandwiches, toasties and jackets while the mains were familiar favourites; fish and chips, pies, scampi, hunter’s chicken, burger etc.

The kids’ menu - one course £7.50, two £8.99 and three £9.99 - was also familiar reading. Goujons, cheeseburger, sausage and mash, mini fish and chips and pasta the mains options.

Always one for the exotic I went for the burger while my wife ordered the chicken and mushroom pie. For my lad it was the sausage and mash followed by a scoop of ice cream.

You may have seen a menu like this in many places before, and you won’t be the only person.

But we found the Ellenders grub to be a step above the regular choices.

The burger was fat, juicy, very tasty and smothered with glorious cheese.

I’m told the pie was pukka, albeit in a different manner to a traditional footie ground feast, with the crust spot on and the mouthwatering chunky chips looking a preferable option to my fries.

From the kids’ menu it was great to see the sausages were proper Lincolnshire bangers, while the ice cream was particularly risch (so rich I had to begrudgingly help the poor mite finish his dessert).

There was also a final treat waiting for me as I nipped to the gents when I bumped into England legend and former Boston player-coach Paul Gascoigne.

Sadly, it was just a photo of him in action for the Pilgrims, one of many club greats whose images lined the corridor; Jim Smith, Howard Wilkinson to name drop a couple more.

This narrow corridor made it feel like I was heading down the tunnel pre-match and I just wish there was a This Is Jakemans sign for us to tap on the way through to the gents.

Eating at a football stadium may not traditionally be your first choice. But it’s fair to say Ellenders was a positive result.

Out of five:

Food: The food was the traditional pub-restaurant options, but it tasted better than most. ****

Drink: Between us we sunk a pint of Atlantic Pale Ale, pint of Madri and two Fruit Shoots. The Atlantic is fantastic. ****

Decor: There’s a nice blend of modern hip restaurant and the club’s football history which works well with neither too in your face, appealing to all. ****

Staff: It was the calm before the storm with plenty of tables reserved for the afternoon’s big match on the TV. But we watched the chefs cook away through the open hatch, the two barmaids were chatty and the besuited lady overseeing it all ran a very tight ship, presumably all a Pilgrim can ask for. ***

Price: The meal cost a total of £57.69; £14.50 for the burger, £15 for the pie of the day and £8.99 for the two-course kids’ meal. Fruit Shoots were £2 while a beer costs you £5 for an Atlantic and £5.10 for a Madri. ***

Have you had a great meal? Share your own Eat My Words reviews or tell us where to try by emailing: news@lincsonline.co.uk