Squire’s Restaurant, Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket
When you find a restaurant that can offer amazing food time after time, with attentive and friendly service in a gorgeous setting you have hit the jackpot. Squire’s Restaurant at Bedford Lodge Hotel is one of those places, I have visited many times now and never been disappointed, in fact I am convinced the food gets better and the service more and more seamless.
Squire’s Restaurant holds two coveted AA Rosettes, all ingredients are locally sourced, and suppliers are listed on the bottom of the menu. The menu is itself extensive, and most importantly to us- they have a permanent vegan menu which changes regularly, offering beautiful dishes and flavour combinations- both traditional and more inventive.
The restaurant is beautiful and inviting – the large cocktail bar is impressive without taking over the room. The tables are spaced out so you don’t ever feel crammed in. The restaurant extends down into a lower level with a warm angled red ceiling, with a mirrored window frame reflecting down on the diners. The restaurant feels modern and comfortable and creates an atmosphere you want to be a part of.
We were seated at a table with comfortable high backed, soft armchairs facing into the restaurant – I could have sat there all night! The service is friendly and well timed, you don’t feel rushed nor ignored.
We were immediately offered water and bread- a mustard white and a lightly seeded brown, with vegan butter. Our waiter also took the time to highlight which wine was vegan on our menu.
After we had made our food selections, we were offered our Amuse Bouche with compliments from the chef- silken tofu with a tomato and pomegranate salsa and tomato crisp. We both really enjoyed it, as a fresh and light dish to start our meal.
Vegan Menu
To Start
Pea & Mint Veloute
Fresh Garden Peas & Chives
Falafel & Hummus Flat Bread
Red Pepper Pesto, Mixed Leaf Salad
Main
Roast Garlic & Thyme Baby Carrots
Truffle Hasselback New Potatoes, Garden Pea Puree & Tenderstem Broccoli
Wild Mushroom & Rocket Risotto
Roasted Chestnut & Trumpet Mushrooms & Vegan Parmesan
To Finish
Devil’s Food Cake
Raspberry Crispy & Raspberry Sorbet
Nutty Harvest Cake
Granola & Fruit Sorbet
Starters
One of my favourite ways to start a meal is soup, so I was excited to try the pea and mint velouté and it was delicious. It was light and fresh, and the flavours were balanced beautifully- the mint certainly wasn’t overpowering the dish as I had feared it may. Looking at my empty bowl- I may have gone so far, as to say, it was the best velouté I’d ever had… and I’m going to stand by that in retrospect too!
Husband had the falafel and hummus flatbread to start, which he throughly enjoyed. While falafel and hummus can be a very ‘over done’ flavour combo – Squire’s have made it more impressive with the punchy flavour from the red pepper pesto and the mini pomegrante seed explosions!
Main course
For my main, I chose the sensational, roast garlic and thyme baby carrots with truffle hasselback new potatoes served on a bed of garden pea puree with tenderstem broccoli. I chose this dish because I wanted to see how the kitchen handled the common components like garlic, potato, carrot and I was so impressed. I knew it would be special and it was. The potatoes were beautiful, there is something about hasselback potatoes- guaranteed to impress! The dish was beautifully plated, and the flavours were just amazing, the garlic sung all the way through without dominating. I felt so inspired by vegetables, seeing them handled this way, creating such a delicious dish with some very well-known and well used vegetables.
Husband chose the wild mushroom and rocket risotto. The portion was very generous, and it smelt delicious. As is the danger with risotto, it started off with a rave review but as Husband worked his way through the dish it became harder work. I always prefer to see risotto served in slightly smaller portions with some other component, a crispy element or a side, which elevates the flavours and gives your palate a little more variety when eating.
Dessert
I really was spoilt for choice with the dessert menu, all the options sounded amazing! I opted for the nutty harvest cake, served with granola and fruit sorbet. The cake was gorgeous- it remined me of carrot cake, but the nutty texture with beautiful creamy icing gave it a unique taste which I ate up… literally. I would pay good money for the recipe- I loved it.
Husband had the devil’s food cake and his eyes lit up when the gorgeous cake hit the table. This dessert was heavenly. Rich dark chocolate cake with crispy raspberry and balanced with refreshing raspberry sorbet. If you order a devil’s food cake, this is what you picture, and this is what you hope for- every bite naughty and delicious.
As I have now come to expect, Squire’s Restaurant delivers in every respect. The food always surprises, and I am always so happy to see vegan food treated with such respect and presented so beautifully. The service is absolutely flawless, and the restaurant’s atmosphere and décor is so welcoming and comfortable, it remains one of my favourite places to enjoy a good meal and some quality time with loved ones.
Just perfect.
