The Milestone Restaurant - your opinions.

[ian123]

Well I went last night for a 5pm post-work pint and all the tables were reserved but on asking I got one! The price of (well-earned?) success!

 

I usually eat downstairs. My only experience upstairs was with a Portuguese visitor: a main of fish and one of venison + 2 glasses of wine for £60! Local folk not only want quality but VFM! Downstairs is VFM more than upstairs IMO.

[mickey mouse]

i've been there a few times it's great with good atmospher.

[JPFQ]

Been there a few times. Lunch was crap. Dinner was nice but service was too slow. worth a try but can't believe all the hype! best thing they have is lots of good wine!

[taxman]

I can't see what all the fuss is about really.

 

It's a shame I never went when they first started out and they had the fine dining upstairs with the experimental stuff and the gastropub downstairs with the more usual fare.

 

Now its all gastropub, an unadventurous menu and a strange concept that is neither a special fine dining experience nor a relaxing pub meal.

 

The downstairs bar area was dimly lit and loud with piped music and people stood around drinking. The starters were nice but £8 for 3 scallops really is extracting the urine, I enjoyed my leek, chicken and mushroom pie...but it was a pie, there was nothing original or interesting on the menu.

 

Both the pie and Rivelin's risotto suffered from the perennial restaurant problem of too much salt.

 

What is this obsession with putting salt in food? I hardly ever use salt in anything at home so it stands out a mile when people overdose food with it.

 

 

IT IS NOT NEEDED! STOP BEING LAZY, HERBS, SPICES AND GOOD INGREDIENTS ARE ALL YOU NEED!

 

Stand out dishes were the desserts. Someone on this thread earlier said they were a let down but we had the white coffee panna cota which was beautiful and the chocolate and hazelnut brownie with citrus ice cream which was lovely.

 

We were in and out within an hour, which to me seems a bit rushed. And I know it's a technique waiting staff are told to do to sell more wine but I don't appreciate my wine being topped up every time I've taken a couple of mouthfuls.

 

We've all watched TV shows about restaurants, chefs and fine dining and we know it's nothing about service and all to do about trying to sell more wine.

 

All in all ...... won't be rushing back.

 

Compare with The Blue Bicycle in York. Miles better atmosphere, more relaxing, more interesting menu, and a really memorable touch, the free individual loaf of bread and the whole roasted garlic bulb, free when we took our seat.

 

A little thing, but crucial and it set the tone for a great evening. Tonight's tone was set by a bunch of loud braying people at the bar, over loud music, dim lighting and 3 scallops for £8.

 

Am I missing something?

[bluemonday]

I enjoyed my leek, chicken and mushroom pie...but it was a pie, there was nothing original or interesting on the menu.

 

Was there really nothing more interesting on the menu than chicken pie? I went about a month ago and there were several quite interesting dishes, for example using different cuts of meat and mixing flavours up a bit.

[taxman]

Was there really nothing more interesting on the menu than chicken pie? I went about a month ago and there were several quite interesting dishes, for example using different cuts of meat and mixing flavours up a bit.

 

This was the menu

 

Nothing startling on there. I thought before we went that there may have been specials on the night but there weren't.

 

I have seen menus in the past with more interesting stuff on, I may well go again when the summer menu comes out.

 

They were doing an early bird menu which looked very good value but still a bit....meh.

[swissheavy]

Taxman... I've had similar experiences, so you're not alone. But the desserts have always been a let down for me really.

[Claret]

Fear not people. I went to the opening night of the wig and pen and was assured by chefs and waiters that the menu there will be more interesting. I hear ramsey told them to concentrate on one area at a time. Hence milestone just went for gastro pub and w and p will let them do the a la carte stuff. The sample menus I saw look better. Pigeon, sweetbreads, beef skirt and rabbit are on there. May be worth another chance.

[Smack Jack]

This was the menu

 

Nothing startling on there. I thought before we went that there may have been specials on the night but there weren't.

 

I have seen menus in the past with more interesting stuff on, I may well go again when the summer menu comes out.

 

They were doing an early bird menu which looked very good value but still a bit....meh.

 

It depends on your taste I think. I have long been a champion of the Miley with it being my local for a long time but the last couple of times I have been my OH who can be a bit fussy hasnt been able to pick a suitable meal. I like high quality food but detest the various adjectives added to 'steak and chips' to make it sound posh, and also the decreasing portion sizes. I also hate that the one time I did complain - well I asked for a piece of lamb to be cooked further I was informed it should be served this way - raw. I was paying for a meal for 4 so didnt relish being told I am some kind of cretin. I want it resembling cooked meat so cook it and dont tell me I am some kind of animal for asking for this! The young owner guy backed the waitress up too, saying simply 'our customers like it this way and it is supposed to be extremely rare'. This menu though a little verbose at least touches on being mainstream enough for me and the oh to grab a meal so I think I may venture back, as long as the portions havent decreased to Dam House size ones.......

[Venkman]

Went for the second time a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday. I inadvertently started a fight about being veggie last time I reviewed it but am glad it's not just me who found everything far too salty.

 

I'll happily try the Wig & Pen incarnation if situation arises but I think I'm done with The Milestone.