Food > The Big Eat Out: or IN
The Rose Tavern
23/06/15
The gen
Norwich’s Golden Triangle is home to more pubs and more pretentious postgraduate students than any other part of this fine city. There are enough drinking holes within staggering distance to inspire the writing of a Dickensian morality tale on the perils of drinking excess craft beer served by men with curly moustaches. The Rose Tavern is a different proposition altogether, offering a comfortable down to earth alternative. Spend an evening sat ensconced in the corner of the large and warmly lit saloon bar and you may begin to understand its undeniable appeal.
The atmosphere
Holding your own against the swelling ranks of the modern menace of the gastro pub is no mean feat. The Rose Tavern maintains its personality without the need for faceless gentrification and is a friendly magnet for locals of all backgrounds, drawn by the food, the drink and the lively calendar of music, quizzes and sports. We arrived early in the evening and had the pleasure of watching a local folk band set up for their night’s performance while we enjoyed our food. Once the band fired up the night really began and with a host of fun and diverse acts each week it’s definitely worth a visit.
The main event
A blackboard full of main dishes were on offer but for our trip we decided to go for variety and order from the list of ‘nibble pots’ / tapas on the bar. We all know that tapas are small dishes made for sharing, right? Perhaps not. We ordered six items between us and made a mistake. A delicious mistake. Overwhelmed with food but with a stoical look of manly resolve and a pair of Primark maternity trousers (capris to show off my delicate ankles) I set to work on this noble task. The stars of the evening were the beer battered chorizo sausage and the salt and pepper squid. Piled higher than a game of Jenga, and with a side of tomato salsa, six spicy chorizo sausages coated in a soft batter begged to be eaten and dripped flavour. The squid bites packed a fiery punch coated liberally in salt and pepper that contrasted simply and beautifully with the succulent seafood beneath. Duck spring rolls completed my trio and highlighted the diversity offered by the small menu. Options for vegetarians are plenty but slightly less adventurous, including lovely Brie wedges (served, of course, with cranberry sauce) and garlic mushrooms in breadcrumbs. Simple but executed perfectly. The items on offer are presented in lovely powder pink and blue 60’s style dishes. Staggeringly affordable, each item is between £3.00 and £4.50 or 3 for £10 – no trip to the Rose Tavern would be complete without trying just a few! The bar offered a selection of lagers and four real ales on tap. Looking across at other diners we could see the trend for generous portion ‘control’ continuing! Our next visit – and there will be another – will have to be on their burger night. I can’t wait.
Pud
Pffft, no can do. My stomach is so full I’m worried it’ll condense to a black hole. Fetch me two Rennies and/or Dr Brian Cox. We’d love to see a selection of desserts as diverse as their savoury nibble pots though!
Overall
This is a traditional local done right. Keeping all the charm of the old fashioned pub on the corner while welcoming in the twenty first century with an interesting selection of foods and weekly live music and events is a tricky balancing act. It is rewarded for this with a clientele so diverse in ages and backgrounds that in turn help to make this place the warm and inviting spot that it is.
Venue – 7
Fodder – 7.5
Value - 8
Overall – 7.5