Eat My Words: We review The Red Lion at West Deeping
It’s easy to fall into the habit of visiting the same places when dining out, particularly when you live in a town such as Stamford with so much on your doorstep.
Add children to the mix and it can make you even less inclined to try somewhere new but a visit to the Red Lion in West Deeping confirmed that it really is worth going the extra mile for something special.
Chef and proprietor Frazer King prides himself on serving elevated pub food. The current menu offers delights such as barbecued venison shoulder, cured partridge and beetroot tart, wild mushroom and truffle pappardelle, and roast duck breast with black pudding hash brown. For the less adventurous diners he also serves slow roast pork shoulder, stuffed turkey and a classic cheeseburger.
On the night of our visit it was “pie and a pint” night with a choice of steak and ale, chicken and tarragon or spiced squash and spinach pie, washed down with a pint of beer or a glass of house wine for £17.50.
Our group also included two children and although my 12-year-old would have been only too happy to order the steak and ale with a beer, he was steered towards the children’s menu and they both opted for a burger and fries. The other options were sausage and mash, fish and chips or pasta bolognese, all priced between £7.50 and £8.50.
As part of a larger group we had been asked to pre-order so the service was swift and everyone was soon tucking into their meals. We were seated in the dining room which is a lovely, cosy space and perfect for bigger bookings. Just be warned though that this area isn’t dog-friendly like the rest of the pub so do bear this in mind when booking.
The pies were all beautifully presented and packed with filling. There was certainly no soggy bottom on my plate. Likewise the beef dripping chips were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Delicious. Mash and rosemary fries were also on offer.
The children both polished off their burgers without issue and we were all happy diners. If you pushed me to suggest any improvements perhaps a bit of greenery to accompany the children’s meals would have been nice and cooking the sprouts for a few minutes more would have made them more to my taste, but these are minor details and we really didn’t have any complaints.
Although the dessert menu was tempting, our visit fell within the season of over-indulgence and we opted out on this occasion to save our waistlines but others in our group happily polished off the cheesecake and a cheese board with products from Stamford’s Rennet and Rind.
Read all of our Eat My Words reviews here
A quick glance through the menu confirmed that the milk chocolate parfait with hazelnut praline and caramel popcorn (£9.50 for £5 for a mini) will be at the top of my list for any future visits.
While Frazer takes charge in the kitchen, his wife Emma is responsible for the front of house and together they have built this village pub into something special.
The log burners and sofas give the pub a cosy feel and there is a special dog station with water and blankets for canine visitors. There is a pool table for entertainment, a pub shop to buy local produce and a regular programme of events to support the community.
For anyone who hasn’t visited The Red Lion before, I’d urge you to make effort, even if it does mean nominating a designated driver for the night. I’m certain you won’t be disappointed.
Out of five:
Food: An impressive menu where everything hit the spot *****
Drink: A wide range of drinks including Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager and Rutland’s Two Chimps coffee ****
Decor: Cosy, comfortable and welcoming *****
Staff: A friendly welcome and efficient service *****
Price: It’s on the pricier side but in this case it’s worth it. ****
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
