Review
The Waterside Bistro

The Waterside Bistro is a pub and café that serves excellently cooked food at reasonable prices.

As we stepped into the extended and refurbished main dining area, we were welcomed by a smiling waitress who showed us to a table by the large fireplace. The decor is elegant with hues of blue, soft furnishings, brass light fittings and boating paraphernalia – we felt totally cocooned from the world whizzing by outside. You can peep through the sash windows and watch the bustle of people and cars go by.

We arrived early evening and brought our children. We ordered sausage and mash from the children’s menu for Toby, while Charlotte opted for pizza with an extra topping of pepperoni, both of which were thoroughly enjoyed.

Andrew and I were keen to sample the fresh, local produce and seafood specials. To start, I chose the exquisite crispy fried calamari, served with a creamy garlic aioli dip, while Andrew’s choice of mussels came with a fragrant Thai green curry sauce that offered a slight chilli kick to the tender seafood morsels.

I then chose sea bass from the specials board. It was simply cooked to show off the freshness and silky texture of the fillets. A side dish of broccoli and toasted almonds made the ideal accompaniment, both in flavour and texture. Andrew’s lamb tagine was a fusion of spices, beautifully presented and served with a bowl of perfectly cooked, fragrant rice. We enjoyed a Mâcon-Villages white wine with dinner.

The crème brûlée, served with Cointreau-soaked oranges and shortbread biscuits, rounded off the meal beautifully. Its fresh orange flavour and smooth texture contrasted well with the buttery crunch of the biscuits. The kids were happy too, with ice cream for one and warm chocolate-covered Belgian waffles for the other. Dinner was a real treat for all of us.