Nestled in a tiny alleyway hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Holburn you will find the treasure that is The Ship Tavern.
Feeling like I had stepped into a period drama scene my husband and I climbed the staircase inside the beautiful pub which lead us into the dining room.
Here we were greated by mahogany panelled walls, antique artwork and dim candlelight which made for a very welcoming atmosphere.
We were seated in a private booth which still allowed you to take in the beautiful surroundings.
The waiter kindly bought over a glass of wine whist my husband and I looked over the vast menu.
Traditional, home cooked pub food filled the menu but had a more elegant feel then your traditional ‘pub grub’.
I opted for the soft shell crab fritter with crab salad, caviar and chilli oil. My husband went for his favourite option of calamari which came with a spring onion mayonnaise.
The calamari was a more than generous portion which allowed me to tuck in too! The spring onion mayonaise was something different for me but complemented the dish really well.
My crab was presented beautifully and once I cracked through the fritter itself I had a wonderful surprise to discover the caviar and crab salad hidden beneath.
For mains I had the Banbury duck breast with confit of duck leg faggot, Anna potatoes, buttered spring cabbage, caramelised plum and red wine jus. My husband went down the more traditional route of steak and hand cut chips which were served with roasted vine tomatoes.
My dish was an explosion of flavours that all complimented each other wonderfully. The duck was perfectly cooked and the sweetness from the caramelised plum set it of wonderfully.
A steak and chip option is always a winner and when cooked well can be a simple yet splendid meal.
The steak was beautifully tender and the crispy chips were a great accompaniment.
Due to my husband being a nut allergy sufferer desert was a no no for him which is not unusual but I went ahead and ordered the petit fours.
I always leave room for dessert as this is my favourite part of any menu. For me petit fours are the perfect desert as it allows you to have a little bit of everything.
The different textures and flavours all worked really well together and more than satisfied my extremely sweet tooth!
If you are looking for sofisticated pub food with generous portions in a beautiful, historic setting than look no further than this stunning restaurant.
We went along to The Ship Tavern for the purpose of this review and they are all my own honest opinions.