Harts – Nottingham

Located in Nottingham city centre, but away from all the hustle and bustle, Hart’s Hotel is a hidden gem.

The hotel is home to a 2-AA rosette restaurant which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and to celebrate this amazing milestone they have created a special six-course tasting menu full of fantastic seasonal produce.

Before dinner we were welcomed into the bar for a drink and Mr B was surprised when I opted away from my usual pre-dinner glass of champagne and ordered a cocktail without even having to look at the menu! That is because the night before Hart’s won an award for Nottingham Cocktail Week in the category ‘Best twist on a classic’.

The cocktail, named ‘Hart of a Lion’, was so delicious and refreshing. For this they make their own dandelion-infused Chase vodka and apricot consommé, finished with hit of lemon. It was easy to see why this cocktail won . . . I would definitely give it a 10/10!

Kicking off our tasting menu was a first course of ‘Chicken liver parfait, blackberries, hazelnuts’. I love parfait, but to be honest, I very rarely order it in a restaurant as I always think of it as quite a ‘retro’ starter, but this was anything but. I thought the presentation was great and the parfait was smooth, creamy and full of flavour. This was paired with a ‘Lustau, Amontillado Dry’, a very dry sherry for my pallet, but it cut through the richness of the parfait very well.

Next up was a stunning plate . . . my picture doesn’t do it justice, but it was beautiful. ‘Terrine of Mediterranean vegetables, saffron dressing’ . . . the layers were very impressive and the taste took me back to being on holiday in the Mediterranean. With all the fantastic fresh flavours of sweet peppers, salty aubergine and sweet courgettes with hits of fresh basil, it was summer on a plate.  After only recently discovering a love for Reisling, I was impressed with the paired wine, a 2015 Leitz Dragonstone.

The next dish was without doubt our favourite dish of the night! As soon as it was placed in front of you, you could smell the fantastic punchy Thai flavours. The dish was ‘Monkfish, Thai broth, pickled vegetables, lemongrass, ginger, coconut, coriander’. The ‘meaty’ Monkfish was cooked perfectly and the dish was so well-balanced you could taste the different levels of flavour which make amazing Thai food . . . spicy, salty, sour and sweet.

It was paired perfectly with a 2016 Hill Chardonnay, which held its own against the strong punchy flavours.

The next dish on the menu ticked all the boxes for me – ‘Girolle mushroom & smoked bacon, smoked Burrata cheese’ – all ingredients I love! When the dish was placed in front of me I was prepared to be disappointed as the presentation was a little underwhelming, however, it delivered in taste 100 per cent. The strong cheese, smoky bacon and the earthy mushrooms each delivered in flavour and texture and matched very well. For all the strong flavours this dish needed a bold wine and the 2015 Barbera d’Asti, Cipressi ‘Nizza’ paired very well.

The last of the savoury dishes was ‘Roast grouse, butternut squash, pickled elderberries’. Luckily for me this was the second grouse dish I’ve had this month and with the bird only recently coming into season, I was very pleased to see it on the menu! It was cooked perfectly and melted in the mouth, but what I could not stop talking about was the incredible bread sauce it came with. Served in its own copper pan, this sauce was like nothing I had tasted before and was the element for me that tied the dish together. Rich and hearty, I ate every morsel. The dish was paired with another brilliant wine which was in fact my favourite wine of the night, a ‘2010 Chateau Rouget Pomerol’.

Dessert was ‘Caramelised peach melba’. Mr B thought it was a brilliant dish . . . sweet and delicious!

Unfortunately, I don’t like peaches so I chose a dessert from the a la carte menu and as soon as I saw the soufflé,  it was a no-brainer! I adore soufflé and ordering one really is the best way to test the skill of the pastry chef! This raspberry soufflé was sitting high and proud inside the ramekin and my spoon slipped in like silk. The first taste of the light and airy dessert was like heaven! The sugary top, cloud-like soufflé, sweetness and sharpness of the raspberries and the creamy ice cream created a delicious dessert that I could eat again and again! Mr B and I both really enjoyed the well-paired dessert wine – a 2014 Monbazillac, Domaine L’Ancienne Cure, Jour de Fruits.

Feeling like we were going to have to be rolled out of the restaurant, we somehow managed to eat all the delicious homemade petit fours which accompanied our espresso. With a chocolate macaron, lemon fudge, salted cameral chocolate and homemade jelly sweet, it would have been rude to not try each one wouldn’t it?

We left Hart’s remarking on how brilliant the service was and how delicious and well thought out the tasting menu was, but we both left with one very big question . . . how an earth have we left it so long to eat at this incredible restaurant?

https://www.hartsnottingham.co.uk/

Standard Hill, Park Row, Nottingham NG1 6GN

0115 988 1900

My meal was complimentary but as always all opinions are my own and honest.

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22 Comments

  1. Mostlyfoodandtravel September 13, 2018 / 10:00 am

    This sounds like a lavish meal and the wine pairing looks like it worked. That cocktail sounds really good. I will have to keep an eye out on this place because the food looks amazing

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 1:27 pm

      It was honestly such a fantastic meal and the wine pairings matched the quality of the food perfectly.

  2. Bejal September 13, 2018 / 10:29 am

    I have actually been to Hart’s previously and thought is was such delicious food. I would have opted for the Souffle too. Think a return visit needs to be planned!

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 1:28 pm

      Oh that’s great to hear! The souffle was absolutely perfect!

  3. Em September 13, 2018 / 1:50 pm

    This looks and sounds fantastic! Yum x

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 10:13 pm

      It was such a brilliant menu!

  4. Elaine Birkin September 13, 2018 / 5:35 pm

    It s looks & sounds amazing, fantastic xx

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 10:14 pm

      Such a brilliant meal! The wine pairings were excellent too!

  5. Hannah Repton September 13, 2018 / 5:45 pm

    Mrs B, you always find the most lavish, stylish places to go. I live in Nottingham and have never heard of this place and I now want to go because the Girolle mushroom and smoked bacon and smoked burrata cheese looks Devine. Also your looking beautiful as always xx

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 10:15 pm

      It is such a hidden gem! You don’t realise it’s there and then when you discover it you can’t believe how fabulous it is! xxx

  6. Angie Silver September 13, 2018 / 6:13 pm

    What a delicious place and you look stunning in that dress.

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 10:16 pm

      Thank you so much! We are so lucky to have it in Nottingham, it says everything that is was the restaurants 20th anniversary!

  7. Claire Leech September 13, 2018 / 6:42 pm

    Fantastic review felt like I was there with you eating it excellent description of the taste and texture of the dishes with great pics. They all sound amazing left my mouth watering, would love to visit here can’t believe it’s right on our doorstep.

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 13, 2018 / 10:17 pm

      Thank you, that’s really kind to say. I can’t recommend it enough! It would be perfect for a special occasion or a treat!

  8. binita shah September 17, 2018 / 8:28 am

    Sounds epic and how gorgeous do you look!!!

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 18, 2018 / 5:01 pm

      It was a brilliant menu!

  9. Louise Riis September 17, 2018 / 7:23 pm

    You always get to eat the most amazing places, Laura!
    That souffle …. or the chicken liver parfait (I often order it – I know, I know – its a bit retro, but I just love it so much)
    You and your photos look gorgeous as always
    Louise x

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 18, 2018 / 5:03 pm

      It was fabulous, so lucky to have this on our doorstep!I was so impressed with the parfait and the souffle was divine! xxx

  10. Scarlett Roitman September 18, 2018 / 8:09 am

    I wish I had known about this when my daughter was at Nottingham U! The monkfish dish looks divine and love the sound of dandelion-infused vodka. Yum.

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      September 18, 2018 / 5:04 pm

      I can’t believe we have not been before! Can’t believe this gem is in Nottingham! Excellent food and service!

  11. Sarah September 22, 2018 / 7:23 pm

    Gorgeous food and the presentation is spot on. You’ve inspired me to try more courses like these hehe. xx

    • thetravelsofmrsb
      Author
      October 7, 2018 / 12:37 pm

      Arr that’s great to hear! It was such lovely food, we love a fine dining experience, really special xx

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