Beefeater Review

Overall Rating

Food was good
Nice atmosphere
Friendly, efficient staff

Pre-ordered and paid for meals well in advance. When serving desert two of the deserts we had ordered a month before were not available, as they had run out on the day?!

This is the second review I have written for the Countess Wear (Beefeater) restaurant based souly on our Christmas day dining experience.
As fairly regular diners at this establishment we decided to try them this Christmas just gone, for their Christmas Day lunch. The waitress advised us to book early, which we did in October 2006, paying a deposit of £15 each adult and £5 each child.
We were given a choice from the Christmas menu to be handed in by 1st December, along with the full payment, which we did. Each adult meal cost £44.95 and children's meals cost £20.
The choices were very good, as follows:

STARTER:
Spiced Parsnip Soup
Oak Smoked Salmon
Prawn Cocktail
Roasted Red Pepper
Pork, Apple and Cider Pate

MAIN:
Roast Norfolk Turkey
Cured Wiltshire Gammon
Red Mullet Fillets
Fillet Steak Rossini
Roast Half Duck
Parsnip, Cranberry and Goat's Cheese Roast

DESSERT:
Christmas Pudding
White and Dark chocolate truffle Cake
Fresh Fruit plate
Horn of Plenty
Mincemeat and Cranberry tart
Cheese and Biscuits

CHILDRENS:

STARTER:
Spiced Parsnip Soup
Breaded Mushrooms
Crunchy Vegetable Batons
Prawn Bowl

MAIN:
Roast Norfolk Turkey
Cured Wiltshire Gammon
5oz Rump Steak
Grilled Salmon Fillet
Parsnip, Cranberry and Goat's Cheese Roast

DESSERT:
Christmas Pudding
Ice Cream Sundae
Profiteroles
Mincemeat and Cranberry Tart

My mother is very frail, and disabled with digestive problems, therefore we asked if we could order a children's meal for her, which they agreed to, no problems. The rest of our party consisted of my eldest son and his partner, my youngest son (age 8), my husband and myself, making a total of six places. They also provided us with a high-chair for my son's little step-son.
Total cost was £219.80.

We arrived in good time and had a pre-dinner drink in the bar. It was busy but not crowded, and the atmosphere was good.

When it was time to be seated we went along to the restaurant area, where after a short wait we were ushered to our table. The table was beautifully set, with crackers and helium filled balloons.

We did not have to wait long for our starters - the choices we had made a month previous. All were very satisfactory. The dishes were collected promptly, and after a short wait we were served our main courses. The meals were well cooked, well presented and piping hot as they should be. By this time we had cracked open our crackers and were all looking very festive in our paper hats! Though my husband's was yellow and my eldest had great pleasure telling him he looked like Bart Simpson. My eldest son was also enjoying the helium balloons, and was now talking like Mickey Mouse. We were having a really great time. We ate our meals, leaving room for dessert. Again, the dishes were collected promptly and we awaited our pre-ordered desserts. ALAS! The waitress came over and informed us they had run out of Truffle cake. Two out of four orders of truffle cake could not be served. This we thought was quite bad, considering we had ordered and paid for our meals a month beforehand! I was really looking forward to my Truffle Cake, and as mum, I usually have to give in to the rest of the family! But all was fine when my son and his partner gave up their Truffle Cake and had to have Ice Cream Sundae instead. I still had my Truffle Cake!

In all, the meal was very good, apart from the dessert hiccup they made. But I can't say we suffered for it! We were well fed, well looked after and very happy with the service. We will return for Christmas 2007.

I would recommend this place to anyone around the Exeter area thinking of dining out for Christmas.