FOOD + DRINK
A new look for Ashford ’ s THE OLD MILL
BY JERRY BARRETT
Following its recent refurbishment , we were excited to be invited to dine at The Old Mill in Ashford . A charming historic Grade II listed building , we walked through the spacious alfresco seating area and upon entering The Old Mill , noticed instantly that the interior has been redecorated to feel welcoming and to the typically high standard expected of a Shepherd Neame venue . We were greeted by a friendly face , and Kelly showed us to our table .
The Old Mill is famous for its generous portions , so we were all eager to take a look at the menu and get stuck in . We ordered starters to share , in anticipation of the ample size of the dishes . The crispy Brie , two huge wedges of gooey cheese , crunchy and creamy as promised on the menu , complemented by sweet chilli jam , is an old favorite and just as delicious as ever . Alongside this , hand-cut crispy salt-and-pepper dusted squid is one of the first plates cleared with its accompanying dipping pot of spiced peanut and shrimp mayonnaise wiped clean ! Of course we couldn ’ t resist the chef ’ s special of three perfectly cooked seared scallops with beetroot puree and crispy pancetta as the ideal accompaniment .
After the plentiful helpings for starters , I started to panic . Would I be able to leave the table and still fit into my jeans ? Then the main courses arrived . My extreme cheese burger was exactly that : extreme ! Oh my goodness it was worth the calories though - melted cheddar over crispy fried onions on the juiciest burger ever with chips that were a blend of fluffy potato on the inside and cooked to crisp perfection on the outside . Another prized dish on the menu is the pressed pork belly ; my colleague , Jen , delightedly told me she orders it every time she comes here without fail , and this time was no different . I couldn ’ t help but sneak a taste and the pork literally melted apart as I put my fork into it , served with braised red cabbage , lemonand-chive mashed potato which I ’ m pleased to report was smooth and delicious , a mushroom sauce , and the star of the show - crispy crackling . Not to miss the Mexican flavours on offer , we also tried the beef barbacoa enchilada : spiced , smoked pulled beef which was tender combined with spiced rice , roasted corn , beans and peppers all wrapped up in a toasted flour tortilla ; filled to bursting point , it gave a real authentic Mexican taste .
If my jeans were straining after the starters , they were practically begging me to stop now , but to refuse a pudding is sacrilege . Initially , I was quite upset to hear the chocolate trio was unavailable , but the golden-baked vanilla cheesecake more than made up for it . Served with tangy fresh strawberries and coulis , it was simple but very effective , while banoffee pie , another irresistible old faithful , also lived up to its fame topped with a thick toffee and bananas and with a crumbly biscuit base slathered in whipped cream , it bought a satisfied smile to my companion ’ s face .
The Old Mill is a restaurant for everyone at a reasonable price point - just make sure you come hungry .
The Old Mill Mill Lane Ashford TN25 4DZ
oldmillashford oldmill . ashford
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