Eat My Words: We review the Petalo Lounge in Spalding

Timing is everything, apparently. Well, it certainly was for our visit to the Petalo Lounge in Spalding. Had we arrived much later for our brunch, we’d have struggled for a table.

It’s always a good sign when a place is as busy as this venue - which is next to Springfields in Camel Gate.

The decor could probably also be classified as ‘busy’ too - but not in a bad way. This former Frankie and Benny’s has been decked out with kooky accessories, bold floral wallpaper, fun paintings and retro-framed mirrors. There’s a lot going on – and a clear attempt to embrace a flower theme to fit the area’s heritage.

There are a few chairs outside too, although it’s arguable whether the view of the busy crossing outside Springfields offers much of interest to look at unless you want to be nosey at the shoppers.

It’s still a little dark inside - but a bit lighter and less cramped than Frankie and Benny’s, which, in my view, had had its day really. The bar has flipped to the opposite side and the kitchens are a little more enclosed – meaning you’re less likely to smell everyone else’s meals (and yours!) being rustled up.

So far, so good - but this is a food review, so did the good taste extend to the fare?

I plumped for the stack of pancakes with blueberries, maple mascarpone and berry compote.

My partner Lorna ordered the Miami brunch – an intriguing mix of cheddar and sweetcorn fritters, chopped tomato, avocado, black bean and sweetcorn salsa, pickled red onion, crumbled feta and two poached eggs.

Our timing might have been right for a table - but was it too early for an alcoholic drink at midday? Well, dear reader, I felt I had to sample the booze just to let you know what it’s like. A hardship, right?

I was impressed by the array of beers. I chose the Hofmeister Helles – a crisp, sharp Germanic drink that was very refreshing – but I would have easily been satisfied with the Brixton Reliance Pale Ale, Menabrea or Cruzcampo. They weren’t cheap – but I’m guessing you wouldn’t be ordering too many when you come here.

Lorna was a little more sensible and went for the chai latte. She found her drink a little too sweet but it was far from bad.

I’m a sucker for a pancake stack. I would say that IHOP (or the international house of pancakes, if you will) is a guilty pleasure when I’m in America but I don’t feel remotely guilty about enjoying it. This, therefore, had a lot to live up to.

Luckily it was delicious. The blueberries were suitably soft and tangy and there was a lot of compote. It might’ve been nicer to have this on the side to drizzle over your pancakes to suit your own desire. As it was you only got the occasional taste of the pancake on its own which, given that they were light and fluffy, was not something to hide. The mascarpone topped it off with aplomb.

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Lorna’s brunch was more filling than it may look in the photo. The fritters were very cheesy. She felt maybe too cheesy – although I enjoyed the small sample I tried. The black bean salsa was tasty but she wishes she’d seasoned the eggs with a bit of salt and pepper.

She felt it was a nice mix of flavours and made a nice change from poached eggs and avocado on toast, which has become the standard fare of this sort.

The clientele was a good blend of young and old, families and couples and even dogs – so pet owners can be assured their pooches will be welcome.

The playlist that accompanied our visit seemed to be something of a battle between Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, which probably suited the family crowd. (A 4-3 victory to Chris Martin’s boys during our visit).

I’d certainly come back. The tapas menu, while not especially Spanish, certainly looks tasty. It feels like a good addition for a town that doesn’t have too many choices of this style.

I know some would prefer to see this sort of thing in the town centre to boost its fortunes. The outdoor seating would certainly be better off by the river but it’s a shame it’s an ‘either/or’ debate. These venues (there’s a sister site in Grantham, among others) have to cater to demand – and the scarcity of tables on our Saturday visit showed that the Petalo Lounge is certainly in demand. While it continues to deliver a quality, varied menu in a fun setting, it’ll surely continue to be a popular addition to the Spalding dining scene.

Out of five:

Food: Two tasty brunch plates – and plenty more on the menu that looks worth a try. ****

Drinks: I was impressed by the choice of beer but this place seems to really excel with its cocktails, which we didn’t sample. Definitely something for everyone though, with lots of cold and hot soft drinks. ****

Decor: Lots of fun touches and a fresh look from its previous incarnation. It’s a little dark if you’re not near the windows. ****

Staff: Everyone we spoke to was very friendly and helpful. They checked in on our meal and made a point of coming over to say cheerio and to hope we had a good day. ****

Price: It isn’t exactly cheap – especially not the beer! There are also deals in the week which are well worth looking at to make it more affordable. ***

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