insideKENT Magazine Issue 43 - October 2015 | Page 53

a chair pushed back at the wrong moment crashing into one’s own. No
fear of that at The Grove Ferry; it is spacious yet, thanks to the wooden
flooring, the warm cherry colourings, and the traditional décor, it doesn’t
feel too big. It feels, if anything, like a cosy little village pub where the locals
might gather of an evening and where stories and friendships could be
made.

so that the entire feel was one of a friend’s dinner party where one could
enjoy everything that was going on. Other dishes we enjoyed were the fish
finger sandwich (with an adult element of tartar sauce and rocket), the juicy
beef burger in a brioche bun with relish, and good old bangers and mash!
By this time in proceedings we were all feeling rather full, so we decided
to go and visit the pigs whilst we waited for dessert. For entertainment
value these creatures cannot be beaten, and I think we will all have fond
– and funny – memories of Bilbo and his pals for many years to come…

Since we were a fairly large party, and since we all had varying tastes –
and because we wanted to try a wide range of delicacies from the menu
– we had a varied selection of dishes to enjoy. My personal choice was the
breaded whitebait. It was served in a tall glass dish which, joyfully, made
me think of ice cream (always a pleasure). The whitebait came with a
homemade tartar sauce which was zingy and delicious, full of sharp capers
and tangy gherkins with just the right amount of lemon that complemented
the fish beautifully. Other starters included a warm goats’ cheese and
beetroot mousse stack with red onion marmalade, a black pudding Scotch
egg with pickle chutney, a fragrant tomato soup with a warmed ciabatta
loaf, and a mouth-watering chicken Caesar salad with anchovies and shaved
parmesan.

And so to dessert. What a treat! Decadent triple chocolate brownies with
smooth vanilla ice cream; sticky toffee pudding with the most wonderful
caramel sauce; lemon posset with homemade shortbread and a limoncello
sorbet; a huge wedge of creamy cheesecake… The puds finished off
the meal in fine style, and, despite feeling full, we all managed to finish
everything off.
The Grove Ferry is a fantastic place to enjoy a good, fresh, locally sourced
and home-cooked meal in the company of friends. It’s a great place to
enjoy a drink – no matter what your favourite tipple may be. And it’s a
beautiful place to simply enjoy what Kent has to offer.

Starters over, and the atmosphere was just right for a good chat with
friends, and the staff, although attentive, were happy to leave us to do just
that without making us feel rushed. When we were ready, the main courses
were brought out, each one looking and smelling as good as we’d hoped.
Most popular with our group was the pulled hog burger, served with perfectly
cooked chips (sprinkled with spicy paprika for an added kick). The meat
was succulent and the sweet barbecue sauce that came with it added a
nice depth to the burger. It was all presented so wonderfully too – the chips
came in an enamel cup, and the plates – big plates – were mismatched

The Grove Ferry
Upstreet
Canterbury
CT3 4BP
01227 860302
www.thegroveferry.co.uk

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