LAID BACK LUXURY , EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND SUPERIOR QUALITY DISHES AWAIT AT
THE BUTCHER ’ S BLOCK ,
Burham , Nr . Rochester
NESTLED IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE OF BURHAM , SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF ROLLING KENTISH COUNTRYSIDE AND JUST 5-MILES RESPECTIVELY FROM MAIDSTONE AND ROCHESTER , THE BUTCHER ’ S BLOCK IS RIGHTLY PROUD OF ITS LAID BACK , COUNTRY-STYLE PUB ETHOS AND EVIDENT COMMITMENT TO QUALITY – WHICH UNDERPINS EVERYTHING FROM ITS TOP NOTCH INGREDIENTS , BUTCHERY CUTS AND EXQUISITE DISHES , TO ITS ARTISAN DRINK OFFERINGS AND FAULTLESS CUSTOMER SERVICE . BY SAMANTHA READY
Named in honour of owner and manager Simon , who worked as a highly skilled butcher in nearby Bearsted for over three decades , The Butcher ’ s Block – a family affair run by Simon , wife Joanna , their children , and their four-legged security , Butch & Bailey – is the perfect extension of an understanding of superior quality meat and a family commitment to providing the best dining experience .
Boasting a clutch of Taste of Kent Awards ( the team deservedly won Kent Dining Pub / Bistro of the Year , and the Excellence Award for Customer Service last year !) and a fast growing reputation for an impeccable dining experience , it ' s fair to say that our expectations , and appetites , were running high as my guests and I descended for a final pre-lockdown 2.0 meal to remember .
Ascending the steps , we hadn ’ t even made it through the entrance way before being reminded just how passionate and committed the team here are , as head chef Ray Clear ( Meet the Chef , November ) appeared from his week ’ s holiday to work through the last nights of service , keen that all diners and staff had the best evenings possible .
Over the threshold , we immediately felt welcome and were cheerfully shown by Sally past the dog-friendly bar tables , mouths whetted by the aged and hung joints of premium beef , to a cosy table in the rear of the dining room .
Here we faced our only pitfall of the evening – just what to choose from the well conceived and tempting menu ! Obviously , in keeping with its name and provenance , the menu , which is locally-sourced and as fresh as you can get , is a meat lovers dream .
The à la carte and specials offer tempting appetisers and delicious starters – the fresh warm olive bread with salted butter and the crisp , salty halloumi fries with a kick of za ’ atar and smoked paprika mayo are not to be missed . The beautiful and divine pan roasted scallops with slow braised pork cheek and Kent apple and fennel shoot salad had envious looks across the table ; the duck croquette was large enough to share , had it not have been so tasty with its truffle oil mayo that its recipient refused to part with it ; and the pan fried pigeon breast with celeriac remoulade and mushroom consommé provided the theatrics as well as the taste – and all before the main events !
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