The Parrot
FOOD + DRINK
THERE ARE MANY OLD BUILDINGS IN KENT – OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY HAS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY BEHIND IT AND PLENTY OF ARCHITECTURAL EVIDENCE OF THAT IS STILL STANDING IN OUR STREETS . FINDING A BUILDING THAT IS NOT ONLY AS WONDERFULLY ATMOSPHERIC AS ANYONE WOULD HOPE FOR , BUT THAT ALSO HAS A STORY TO TELL IS ALWAYS A BONUS . BUILT IN AROUND 1370 , THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES WHAT IS NOW THE PARROT PUB AND RESTAURANT IN CANTERBURY IS THE OLDEST IN THE CITY – AND IT ’ S BEEN SERVING PINTS TO THIRSTY GUESTS FOR THE LAST 300 YEARS . BY SARAH GREENE
Walking into The Parrot offers customers a glimpse of past glories – dark wooden beams , panelled walls , hanging hops and a large fireplace . It ’ s cosy and homely without being too cramped and offers the ideal space for couples looking for an intimate dinner for two , as well as groups who want a light lunch and a gossip .
There was something about the Cornish crab , roasted salmon and coconut cake that make my tastebuds tingle even before the food arrived ; the description jumped out at me , so I went with my gut ( literally ). This fishcake was huge , bursting with flavour ( not just from the fish – it was served with mint , lime , coriander and chilli sauce ) and , although the mash was creamy , it still managed a lovely lightness . My dining partner opted for the saltand-vinegar chicken wings served with a blue cheese dip . They lasted but minutes , eaten greedily with fingers as they should be and were delicious .
When a burger is described as being ‘ gourmet ’, I find it impossible to resist , and I ’ m delighted I picked the smokehouse burger from the tantalising list of options , which include a chicken club burger and something called ‘ The Stack ’ involving a phenomenal amount of beef . My burger was made with a beef steak , smoked pulled pork , smoked cheese and smoked sweetcure bacon , all smothered in a sweet and sticky barbeque sauce . The ingredients melded together to create a sensational burger absolutely warranting its gourmet tag . My fellow diner decided that the chargrilled Kentish beef sounded just the thing . A 28-day matured chargrilled 10oz ribeye steak served with rock-salted chunky chips , grilled thyme , beef tomato and watercress salad , and a jug of creamy peppercorn sauce , the dish goes above and beyond what a ‘ normal ’ steak tastes like , which we agreed must have something to do with the ability of the beautiful Kentish countryside to nourish excellent ingredients , and of course , a confident and skilled hand in the kitchen .
To finished , we chose the Bakewell tart and the chocolate brownie . And what a brownie … rich and gooey , dripping with sauce , melting ice cream , popcorn and strawberries , it was divine . With a creamy , tangy raspberry ripple ice cream as an accompaniment , the Bakewell tart offered my sweet tooth everything it desired – crisp pastry with a smooth , almond-flavoured filling and crunchy toasted almonds on the top . I relished every bite .
The building might be the oldest in the city , but when it comes to comforting and hugely satisfying dining , The Parrot couldn ’ t be more modern .
The Parrot 1-9 Church Lane St Radigans Canterbury CT1 2AG 01227 454170 www . parrotcanterbury . co . uk
parrotcanterbury
63