Claire’s Restaurant Radar
- Claire Champion
- Aug 25
- 5 min read
I’ve completed a new round-up of restaurants for your reading pleasure. These three eateries caught my attention over the summer months and deserve special mention. Dining out, as you know by now, is one of my great loves. Sharing is caring, especially when it comes to cuisine. So let me know in the comments where you’ve been eating out in your local area. Let’s celebrate fine food and enjoying the best restaurants and pubs in our locality.
The Phoenix Inn, Hartley Wintney
It was time to celebrate my Mum’s birthday, back in early June. For this special occasion, my sister, Kate, had booked us a table at The Phoenix Inn. This 18th century pub sits on the A30, at Hartley Wintney.
Unfortunately, the weather was not kind to us that day – it rained all the way from morning to the evening. Anyway, when Kate had driven us to The Phoenix at lunchtime, we went in and found ourselves a table. It was well situated by the back door, which lead out into the garden behind the pub. We thought this would be the best spot for both us and Bob, my sister’s German Pointer dog. He settled in as we gave our orders to the barman.
It's a varied and tasty-looking menu at The Phoenix Inn. We selected these choices:
Rose aka our Mum ordered Whitebait to start followed by Roast Chicken and seasonal vegetables. Her drink order was gin and tonic.
Kate opted for Padron Peppers and Flatbreads, then Beef Burger with chips and salad. She asked for a low-alcohol lager for her drink order.
I asked for Tomato and Garlic Soup, followed by Roast Chicken (as above). I ordered a medium glass of sweet rosé wine.
All the food served was nicely presented and the starters set a good tone for what was to come for the main course. The roast chicken was of top quality – well-cooked with the addition of crushed new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Both Mum and I agreed we loved the pea shoots that were included in the dish. Kate told us the burger was delicious too and was a very generous portion size.
It was quiet in the restaurant but relaxing and just the right atmosphere for our celebratory meal. The staff were attentive to our needs, and the landlord later asked us if we had enjoyed our food. We of course said we had loved it.
The Phoenix Inn provides a satisfying and pleasant range of meals, and I would suggest the pub for the efficient service and atmosphere too.
The Beefeater, Farnborough
In July, we visited Farnborough to see my Mum, as we do regularly. Afterwards we went for a meal with our friends, Katy and Doug. This was for a summer catch-up, and as we hadn’t been to The Beefeater for a while it was good to meet at a mutual location for us all. I had booked us a table for 12.45pm, and James and I arrived around 12.30pm to get settled. It wasn’t too long, and Katy and Doug joined us.
We ordered a drink, rosé wine for me and James, Katy had a Diet Coke and Doug had a lager. Our waitress took our order for lunch: James had the Roast Turkey with all the trimmings, and I picked the same. Katy chose the Halloumi and Mushroom Burger with Sweet Potato fries and salad. Doug selected the Chicken Melt with Bacon, Cheese, and Slaw. All top choices we would say!
Once the mains were served, we got stuck in. The consensus around the table was that the food was a very good standard and piping hot. The roast turkey was tasty and not over-cooked. Also, the vegetables were delicious along with the Yorkshire Pudding and stuffing. We enjoyed a particularly delicious meal rounded off with attentive service and unobtrusive background music.
I would recommend The Beefeater in Farnborough – the meals are well-cooked and there’s a varied menu. Also, I think the prices are set at a medium rate. For example, the Roast Turkey came in at a competitive cost of £15.29. The drinks too are about on par with most gastro pubs; it was £7 for a large glass of rosé wine. If you happen to be visiting Farnborough soon – give this restaurant a go!
Oliver’s Restaurant and Takeaway, Old Basing
Earlier this month, James and I went for a meal at Oliver’s Fish and Chips Restaurant in Old Basing. We had booked for lunch at 12.30pm, but when we arrived there at midday on the Saturday, the waiting staff let us have our table early.
Oliver’s was established in 1974 and originally had been a takeaway called The Big Fry. It has seen a couple of transformations and now is resplendent in green livery, with a welcoming vibe and fresh-looking wooden furniture and a simple dining room layout.
To say we were hungry when we got there is an understatement, so we ordered drinks and food straight away. We both had a large glass of House red wine, coming in at £6.75 per glass. For the food we both opted for Plaice, Chips and Garden Peas – priced at a reasonable £11.95 per meal. We considered this was not too bad on price, as we tasted the wine and soaked up the surroundings. There was background music, which was mainly pop, jazz and classic 1980s tunes. This suited the mood perfectly.
When we were served our meals by the helpful waitress, we tucked in and enjoyed the lightly battered fish with tasty chips and fresh-tasting peas. The plate was huge; there would’ve been no need to upscale to the larger offering. I nearly finished it all and just left a little bit of the batter. Wow you couldn’t fault the value for money.
While we were there, other diners came and went. Overall, it was quiet, but we guessed that was because the weather was warm. This was to our advantage and there was plenty of space around us.
For a premium fish and chips meal, I would recommend Oliver’s highly. They score well on service and pricing too. If you are in the vicinity of Old Basing/Hook head over to Oliver’s Restaurant and Takeaway for an excellent eating experience.
I hope you liked reading about my top tips for restaurants in Hampshire. Please find the links to their sites below:
Until next time, happy reading and dining.
Comments