www.pryordurkin.com

Run by Gordon and Marie, the Harlequin Coffee and Tea House on Kings Parade in York is a fantastic place to have a break.   The professional service, the warm welcome and the smart clean surroundings are a great local secret and like today we regularly stop by for lunch or afternoon tea.  The food is always nicely presented and made up of locally sourced ingredients.  I particularly like the Salads, sandwiches and jacket potatoes.  As a treat we have also been known to try the Harlequin Scone with organic jam and clotted cream. It is nice treat that is difficult to resist despite our ever widening waistline

The place was very busy as we arrived today, but we must have timed it just right because we managed to get a table straight away.  Clearly popular with local people in York, it soon had a queue of people waiting to get in.  I opted for the roast vegetable soup and freshly made rye bread while Paul went for the home cooked ham with chutney salad sandwich.  Both were excellent as usual.  My soup had clearly been prepared with freshly roasted ingredients, was well seasoned and piping hot; just the way I like it on a old winters day. We finished off with the traditional Harlequin Afternoon Tea, which is made up of fresh hot Yorkshire Tea, two warm fruit scones, organic raspberry jam and clotted.  The queue of people waiting to get in had a great view of us two old dears tucking into this fayre; we couldn’t help but smile at how we might have looked to them.

Since we last visited, a chain coffee shop has opened up next door, but we were delighted to see that this had not put the locals off, who like us know when they are onto a good thing.  Lets keep the secret going and leave the coffee shop next door serving the tourists and screaming kids alike.

Rating 4 Stars.

They say things happen in threes.

Three weeks ago I broke my little toe.

Last weekend I put my back out, to the point I could hardly walk.

Therefore I should not have been surprised by this weekends third calamity.  Even with the pain still continuing in my little toe (I’m not one to moan Marg but I am still hobbling around) I have now burnt my hand on the scalding hot pan Paul had just taken out of the oven when cooking a beef and Guinness casserole slow cooked stew.

For the last three hours I have had my hand wrapped in a tea towel filled with ice cubes and covered in Savlon cream.

We wanted to get some fresh air and take in a little of the winter sun this weekend, so after getting up Sunday morning and watching Andy Murray lose the Australian Open Mens Final, we set out to Beverley near Hull.  Heading down the A1079 from our home, it took around 30 minutes to get to this little gem of a market town.  Parking up inside the market square (for free) we set about exploring the surrounding area.  After walking around a visiting Beverleys very own Minster, we were ready for a hot drink and light lunch.  Walking up Toll Gavel we came across Kavanagh’s Tea Room Coffee Shop and Restaurant, which from the outside looked a bit touristy but on closer inspection, appetizing enough to tempt us in.

Our order of tea, coffee, baked jacket potato with tuna and fresh soup of the day, was quickly taken by a tall friendly slightly bald chap.  As we waited I checked out the facilities and was disappointed to note that the only ground floor loo is unisex and very small.  A person with a disability would never be able to use it and it wasn’t exactly clean.  Anyway having washed my hands carefully and using my handkerchief to open the door (I never touch public surfaces with my skin if I can possibly avoid it) I returned to my table.

It was not long before our lunch was served up and as it went, it was perfectly fine.  A baked potato and tuna is a baked potato and tuna after all.  I sampled Paul’s cauliflower Soup and felt that it was poorly seasoned though.

Settling up the £16 bill we bade farewell and managed to avoid buying any of the tempting cakes on display, which we were told are home-made on the premises.  Perhaps next time, but I must say, the toilet facilities would probably put me off.

Pryordurkin rating 2 stars.

We had tried getting a table at this popular city centre pub a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening, but it was packed, so returned yesterday to have another go.  We found a table in the front bar area and settled down for a light lunchtime break with some traditional pub grub.  The waitress service was an added bonus as I hate queueing up at bar order points in these places.

I opted for a large diet Pepsi along with a Breaded Scampi and Chips main (approx £7) while Paul went for a bottle of beer and the Chicken and Leek Pie served up with Mashed Potato (which we then learnt is brought in – not cooked on the premises)

The Old White Swan dates back to medieval times and is a mish mash collection of old buildings now knocked together to form this pub.  Having walked past this pub several times in the past, we always thought it was a bit of a run down affair.  We based this on the usual collection of rough looking smokers who hang around the front door.  However having ventured in this time, we were pleased to find it is actually a very nice traditional York pub with bags of atmosphere and friendly service.  It just goes to show, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Anyway, our food and drinks quickly arrived and were perfectly adequate as pub food.  The food never tried to be anything other than hot, quickly served and reasonably cheap.  It was absolutely fine for what it was and we would both happily go back again.  I could easily see why many people while away a good few hours eating and drinking in this popular city centre site.

Pryordurkin rating 3 stars.

While staying at the Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel this week, I was looking for something a little different to the hotel’s own restaurant on Thursday evening.  With a colleague I decided to dine at Players Restaurant and Bar.  Famous for its surrounding footballer neighbours, I was pleased to find the place fairly quiet as we took our table at around 8.30pm.

The restaurant is quite chic in styling, rich burgundy colours giving the contemporary styling a nice warm depth of atmosphere.  The waitress who showed us to our table was friendly and throughout the meal we felt comfortable and welcome.

For starters, I opted for the Salt & Pepper Chicken Satay.  It was nice and well cooked but I probably would not order it again.  For my main, I went for the Gressingham Duck, which was nicely served up pink in the middle accompanied with seasonal vegetables.  Again it was nice, but I probably would not order a second time, because it was very rich and I struggled to finish it completely.

Overall I enjoyed this restaurant for its ambience, the friendly service and the reasonably nice food.  The total bill came to just over £70 so was good value given it included a reasonable bottle of wine.  It is a great alternative to the hotel’s main restaurant and I will certainly go back, only next time, trying different dishes.

Pryordurkin rating. 3 stars.

Along with six other colleagues I found myself on Monday evening gone, walking along the famous Manchester Curry Mile where we decided to pay Sanam Sweet House and Restaurant a visit.  We arrived at around 7.30 and after a little wait were shown to our table in the modern stylish Indian / Pakistani restaurant.  Opened in 1962, this restaurant has become an established institution over the last forty years and came highly recommended by a member of the group I was dining with that night.  The extensive menu took a little while to read, but with some advice from my colleagues I finally placed an order.

The service is professionally delivered by smartly dressed staff.  They quickly cleared the plates away in between each course, but the only downside was that they would happily take the old cutlery away but you had to ask for new cutlery with each course.

The food itself was certainly well prepared and given you can see most of the cooking being undertaken by smart chefs in the open plans kitchens, you knew it was fresh before you even tasted it.  The flavours were very well balanced and my chicken dopiaza was nicely spiced and while medium hot in strength, the taste of the food was not hidden by the heat.  I thoroughly enjoyed this Indian / Pakistani meal and every one of my colleagues was equally pleased with their dishes.  Between seven of us, the bill only came to £108, which was excellent value indeed.

A great restaurant which I would certainly be happy to visit again.

Pryordurkin 4 stars.

Sanam Sweet House & Restaurant
145-151, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme,
Manchester, M14 5AW

Tel: 0161 224 8824 / 1008
Fax: 0161 256 2935

e-mail: info@sanamsweethouse.com

We found ourselves continuing the ‘war museum’ weekend a couple of weeks ago, with a visit to Eden Camp, near Malton in North Yorkshire on Sunday 17th Jan.  We arrived as they were opening the gates for the day and quickly made our way around to the vast car park, before starting our walking journey through a number of world wars that were on offer in the 40+ prisoner of war huts that form the basis of this fantastic site. 

We started out in Hut 1 and followed the directions through the remaining 39 huts for the next few hours, stopping briefly at the old prison canteen for a spot of tea and cake. 

As you walked through each hut, you found a mixture of information provided either in written form, very often using letters and documents from the periods in question, or recreated scenes from various streets and areas in Britain during that time.  Despite us both having  a low boredom threshold, we actually found the time pass very quickly.  It was interesting as we strolled through each hut, to find we were taking in a little more information and understanding of what it must have been like to live through that period.  Paul was even inspired to buy a book from the on site store, that had further details on all the major World Wars to date.

In summary, this is a place that is well worth a visit on so many levels.  It’s historically interesting while at the same time, entertaining and amusing.  I especially like the ‘netty’ with the guy inside who tells you to hang on!  If you visit, you will know what I mean.

Pryordurkin rating 4 stars.

Just when I thought ITV could not dumb down any further, they prove me wrong.  I had the misfortune to stumble across Popstar to Operastar yesterday, because somehow, our Sky+ had recorded an episode.

What I saw, I could not believe and found to painful to watch.  I had switched off within ten minutes, which was just long enough to wonder, who these people were.  I had only vaguely heard of one of the so called popstars; a chap by the name of Darius who appeared on X-Factor a few years ago.  The rest of them were a complete mystery. The ten minutes was also long enough to see Darius murder what would otherwise be a classic operatic track.  The usual formulaic angles were all covered.  Phone in to vote, short video clip showing how difficult this week has been, before the actual performance and the stereotypical panel of ‘judges’.  What a load of crock.  I’d like ITV to refund 10 minutes of my life please.

Having spent the last week hobbling around like an old man because of a broken small toe (I stubbed it badly against the bed), I was looking forward to this weekend as it was slowly getting less painful and easier to walk.

Unfortunately, at around 3am, when I got out of bed to ’spend a penny’, I discovered I was very stiff.

I must have pulled a muscle in my lower back because as I made my way to the bathroom I could hardly walk without moaning ‘in a quiet manly way’ about the pain.

This morning was no better as I struggled down stairs, but a hot bath and a large white tablet later, although still painful, I can at least move.

I’m bored of this getting old thing…but least I have a good tan.

Updated:  I returned with some colleagues (their choice not mine) to Ask Pizza on Grafton Way in London last Monday.  My expectations were not high given my previous experience and so I entered expecting not to be disappointed.  How wrong I was. This time, as well as very poor quality food, paper napkins and paper tablecloths, the service was very poor as well.  At least last time I visited, the experience was made partly bearable by good service.  However that has gone and the waitress who seemed to want to spend most of her time sitting down with fellow staff at a table on the ground floor, begrudgingly served us food and drinks with little more than a grin.  Even when we came to leave, we had to disturb her conversation with fellow staff, to bring us our bill.

I won’t go back to this restaurant, even if my colleagues insist.  I’ll politely decline and say I’ll meet them when they have finished.  Instead I will go down the road to Ameretto Italian Restaurant where there is family run restaurants offers better quality authentic Italian good and great appreciative service.

Original Post 28th Sept 08.

Ask Pizza and Pasta on Grafton Way provided a quick dining experience this evening.  With some colleagues I arrived at around 7:40pm and we were out by 8:40pm having sat at a table on the lower ground and ate a traditional Italian meal.  I started with a Garlic Cheese Bread and finished with a Spaghetti Carbonaro wiping my face along the way, with the beautiful (I’m being sarcastic) paper napkins.  The quality of the food was what I expected from a chain restaurant.  Nothing special, just plain mass produced fayre.  The sauce on the carbonara was especially boring and lifeless.  The service however was very good and with our bottled water came ice cold fresh glasses and a smile.  Total cost for three people £49.

Rating. 1 Star