THE ULTIMATE GASTRO PUB MORE THAN DELIGHTS

From the outside Three’s A Crowd in North Street looks like it’s a small stylish bar with the twinkling lights in its large windows and tables outside but step through the large antique wooden doors and you feel you have entered a Narnia of gastro pub delights.

The downstairs area is light and airy with a wooden staircase at the back that leads to the upstairs restaurant. It’s a large and light place with big windows and although its furnishings are minimalistic they are stylish and the chairs so comfortable.

At the far end is the long open kitchen that makes you feel instantly that the food here is going to be really special. Although it’s a cold and blustery mid-week evening there’s a steady flow of diners from couples on a date night, small tables of people having an after work meal, friends catching up with all the gossip and I spied a few major players from the opera company at the nearby Grand Theatre. Three’s A Crowd fits anybody’s timetable and life style.

Whilst we studied the menu we decided to order a Three’s A Crowd cocktail and we were so glad we did along with some Marinated Nocella Olives

My partner loved the Pecan Pie which consisted of Banana Pecan Rum, Crème de Cacao, Maple Syrup, Apple and Lime whilst the From Jalisco really impressed me with Herradura Plate, Kings Ginger, Apricot and Fresh Lime.

The restaurant services modern Gastro Pub food like no other. My partner chose the Wild Mushroom and Tarragon Spring Roll with Black Garlic Ketchup. The rolls were crispy and packed with tender flavoursome mushrooms and the sauce complimented the dish very well.

My choice of Roasted King Prawns certainly delighted. It was a large portion and the prawns were tender and the lemon and butter emulsion tasty whilst the potato puff was a real treat.

For main course my partner opted for the Three’s a Crowd Fish and Chips with both mushy peas and tartare sauce. The fish was succulent and the batter had that home made taste with the chips exactly as they should be fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

My choice was the 12 Hour Pork Belly that came with Black Pudding Bon Bon, Buttered Parsnip Puree and Pickled Red Cabbage. This was the first time I had ever sampled Black Pudding Bon Bon and these little balls of black pudding with a coating were really delicious with the Buttered Parsnip Puree and Pickled Red Cabbage the perfect accompaniment to the pork.

I can confidently say that Three’s A Crowd serves the very best desserts in the area and they are all made by chef Sam’s mum!

Heaven on a plate from the Angel’s Kitchen described both our desserts.

My partner is still talking about the Blackberry and Apple Crumble. The fruit included whole blackberries whilst the topping was crispy and yummy served with Vannilla Bean Ice Cream.

The Dark Chocolate Tart for me was amazing. This was pure solid chocolate on a crispy pastry base. Yet the combination of the two made is not rich but overly delicious.

Three’s a Crowd is certainly one of the best gastro pubs in the city both for food and ambience. It’s the kind of place you want to return to again and again and I can assure you, you will.