Friday, August 24, 2007

The Glasshouse at The Grove, Watford

The Glasshouse serves buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They call it "an international 'Theatre of Cooking' where chefs perform at lunch and dinner, preparing British, Asian and Mediterranean dishes". The chefs were very helpful and the open kitchen clean and, at least with the wood fired ovens, interesting to look at -- but 'Theatre of Cooking'? Perhaps that's a degree of pretension that the food here really doesn't need because, by buffet standards, it's as good as any I've tried (maybe the 'Cravings' buffet at the The Mirage in Vegas slightly edges it).

There's a starters table of fresh salads, mozzarella and vegetables, including several Mediterranean offerings; a wide selection of breads; a table of of cold meats; another of meze / cold starters. Main courses included lamb, chicken, pork, pink roast beef, fish (both chip shop style and grilled) and several vegetarian selections such as stuffed peppers and curry. There was an interesting vegetable selection for all including such treats as 'Braised fennel with Pernod'. A table dedicated to Asian food seemed to be all, very good, Chinese food on this occasion. I had five plates overall, and nothing I didn't want to finish. High points: a meze of 'Judion beans and chorizo'; the roast beef; potatoes Anna.

Desserts are a high point too and in the interests of rounded coverage I tried several, a process aided by the sensible portion sizes: almond and blackberry tart, a chocolate mousse and 'rice pudding, with fruit compote and caramel' were standouts. Cherry clafoutis and bread and butter pudding were good too. Fruit was clean and plentiful but the taste of the strawberries I tried was muted. Sadly there was no room for cheese, but the selection certainly looked good.

At £28.50 a head this place is a serious bargain for the hungry diner and I plan on returning soon. Today there were tables free, but business was brisk and booking usually recommended.

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