Eating Out - The Keys, Slyne
I'm a great believer in the standards of the ladies loos reflecting the general quality of an eaterie.
Well cared for toilets show an attention to care and detail that generally carries through to the rest of the establishment.
So when we visited The Keys at Slyne recently, a first time visit after its refurb some months ago, I was heartened by the excellent bathroom that included linen-like napkins to hand dry and Molton Brown soaps and lotions as an extra treat.
The bar and restaurant itself, all rich chocolate browns highlighted by corn-coloured walls and stylish wooden furniture with cunningly placed mirrors to emphasise the feeling of light and space, showed that the former Cross Keys, a village hostelry and former coaching inn, had really upped its game.
Previous visits over the years had been hit and miss as its fortunes waxed and waned but spurred on by positive reports since the revamp, we booked for a Saturday night.
Booking incidentally seems to be essential, certainly at weekends, and probably during the week too as a friend reports a full house one Tuesday night.
Attentive and efficient young staff showed us to our table and we picked our choices. Honey glazed chicken (5.50) to start along with garlic bread (1.30) followed by chicken and ribs (12.50) and baked field mushroom (4.95).
The honey glazed chicken, while delicious, was a touch of a minuscule morsel for the price, particularly as starters are also labelled as small plates to enjoy as a light main. Which is what I devised for my mushroom as main with the addition of chips (2.25) and salad (2.65).
The mushroom poached in cream and coated in black pepper and Garstang blue cheese was a tasty delight, the salad decently dressed and the hand-cut chips a triumph.
Meanwhile the Cajun spiced chicken with a rack of BBQ pork ribs, chips, onion rings, tomato, mushroom and peas was as stickily satisfying as it sounds. Ribs can be disappointingly fatty with threadbare meat. These were the exact opposite. The spices were tingling tasty without resorting to so much heat as to sear the roof of your mouth.
Puddings didn't let us down. Chocolate fudge gateau (4.85) was served warm as requested though mistakenly with cream instead of Cool Cow Organic Ice Cream from Old Holly Farm, Garstang. Apologising, our waitress swiftly brought a renewed portion. And my summer fruits cheesecake (4.85) was a light delight, fruitily sweet and sour. A perfect end to a meal that with drinks, including a great ginger beer by Belvoir, came to 50.85.
Well worth a diversion if travelling home from a day out in the Lakes or a late summer visit to North Lancashire.
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Weather for Preston
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
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