REVIEW: The Tiger's Eye Restaurant, Gloucester
Meeting family in Gloucester for a meal we decided on Tiger’s Eye Restaurant at The Old Bell Inn in Southgate Street. We had heard good reports of their rather interesting Pan-Asian cuisine by critically acclaimed head chef, Rob Sinyard, and we were keen to sample it for ourselves.
On arrival we opted for a pre-meal drink in the historic bar, complete with wooden paneling and grand Jacobean fireplace. It really was rather impressive and a far cry from the street below – as if stepping back in time. The Tigers Eye Restaurant has a more contemporary feel and was very busy on the Saturday evening when we visited.
Our group chose Thai sweet chilli beef strips in a crisp filo basket (£5.95), Saba Tatsuta-age, soy marinated mackerel pieces, fried and served with crispy rocket and a shot of warm sake (£4.95), pan fried scallops on mini prawn toast with chilli jam and baby herb salad (£7.95) and cola braised Japanese style pork belly with soy sauce and poached pear, topped with coriander and roast chilli (£6.50). All dishes were beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyed with the help of a rather palatable bottle of rose wine.
For our main dish, three of our party opted for black rock grills with chips and salad. The two men opted for a mixed platter of meat including wagu beef, venison, zebra and kangaroo (£18.95). My sister chose a lamb rump, which had been rubbed with garlic and rosemary (£18.50). The beauty of the hot rocks is that you cook each mouthful to your individual taste, so in effect your food should always be cooked to perfection. The mixed meat platters provoked some interesting conversations but the general consensus of opinion was that they were all different, but all extremely enjoyable. I chose a fusion dish of blackened Cajun salmon, pea and wasabi puree, crab and potato cake drizzled with a lemon and pink peppercorn dressing (£13.95) It tasted as good as it looked and the puree was delicious.
After seeing a few desserts pass by our table we couldn’t resist the temptation. We chose white chocolate cheesecake with strawberries and vanilla and sugar nest and vanilla panacotta with apple and mango coulis and caramel cage. Again, beautifully presented and delectable desserts.
Well, would we go again?
Living in Cheltenham it would be well worth the short journey to Gloucester for another meal. The food is a little bit different and a little bit special but comes highly recommended by all of our party of four. We should also mention that the service throughout the whole of a busy evening could not be faulted.
We would strongly recommend that you book for Friday and Saturday evenings, but it’s an ideal place for a special midweek meal or lunch.
Explore Gloucestershire
1 July 2013
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