Medcalf

Medcalf is a wonderful bar and restaurant in Exmouth market. It’s design is cosy whilst not being out of the ordinary but where it shines is in its food. Simple British and French cookery, taking a lot of cues from St John. Everything from snack items such as an incomparable welsh rarebit (OK, it does compare with the one at St John and makes a good account of itself) or chips and gravy, stalwarts of bistro cookery such as Pot au Feu and a wonderful cheese plate. I would also rate its steak and chips as the best I have eaten, certainly in London. A wonderful Bavette steak, deliciously and perfectly rare that melts in the mouth with chips that don’t require such gastropub adjectival fripperies such ‘thick cut’ on the menu; crisp on the outside, potato on the inside, perfect in every way.

Very generous portions. Three courses defeats me. A wide range of beers and a mainly spanish wine list round things off. If I have one complaint it is that they don’t have a hand pump for their Bombardier bitter which comes out too creamy and at a lager appropriate coldness.

http://www.medcalfbar.co.uk/