Orchard

Friday, April 06, 2012 - You'll rapidly notice that there's a lot more cooking going on than you might expect. The ingredients are listed as potato and parsley, but that makes it sound plainer than it is, with the potato tasting rich and creamy, and the wonderfully lavish parsley playing a leading role. A main course dish of savoy cabbage came wrapped around a savoury filling of milk-soaked bread and cheddar, with blue spuds on the side, a red wine reduction and a celeriac puree. This was a very happy plateful...The feel of Orchard is closer to a caff or sandwich bar than to a restaurant. But what a sandwich bar!

Thursday, March 08, 2012 - Orchard's more casual, cheaper, more everyday, and the food's less show-off than its big sister. The interior's been decorated in a homely style, from the mismatched crockery to the vintage recipe cards pinned to the walls...Despite the retro look, the quality of the cooking is far superior to the Crispy Pancake years. A 'mug of soup with a sarnie' had freshly-fried croutons and chive oil garnishing the leek and potato soup; the sandwich bread was wholemeal and well-textured, filled with sharp cheddar, chunky chutney, and the red shock and crunch of baby beetroot leaves. The puddings are even more impressive.