Advantages: Always one close by, quick turn out, children are welcome and catered for. Disadvantages: Toilets can be quite disturbing, not all dishes taste as good they are described.
Harvester RestaurantsRestaurant Reviewed: Stag and Hounds
Winchester Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
(next to Comet and Home Base)
The Harvester chain of Restaurants have over 2000 outlets across the United Kingdom and owned and operated by Mitchells and Butlers, who claim to be the UK's leading operator of managed pubs, bars and restaurants. Harvester claim to offer healthy eating, drinking and entertainment in one reasonably priced outlet.
**** Parking and Getting a Table *****
As with most of the Harvester's I have visited, there is usually ample free parking at the rear of the establishment. However on Saturday evenings and Sunday lunch times these places are heaving with customers, so avoid the crowds, go early and if possible ring and reserve a table. The Stag and Hounds is no exception but fortunately ...
about three months before we wanted to go and even then it was a bit hit and miss to if I would get a table or not. The first couple of dates I suggested I was given a table time of 10pm which was way to late but eventually I got a table on a Monday night out of season. The restaurant has its own dedicated telephone reservation line and details of this and all his businesses can be found at http://www.rickstein.com/Restaurants-and-Shops.html.
Even though the restaurant is right by the harbour it doesn't have spectacular views over the water which is quite disappointing. It actually overlooks the car park. It's a shame because there are a few tables around the side of the restaurant with nice glass floor to ceiling windows that you can have a drinka t before your dinner and it would be lovely if you ahd a nice view of the boats etc, but oh ...
Advantages: Good show, interesting Disadvantages: Slightly worse than last year`s
The Restaurant is a TV programme shown on BBC 2 on Thursday nights! The show is a reality TV show and is similar to something like the Apprentice but a food version.
This show is obviously based on the concept and success of many other TV shows like the Apprentice, food shows like Masterchef and all the other shows like Dragon`s Den, X Factor e.t.c
The idea of the show is for world famous chef Raymond Blanc to find a couple to help him run a restaurant and the couples are gradually knocked out week by week until they have the winning couple. It is in its third season and seems to have got a bit worse. I still enjoy it but felt it used to be more exciting and interesting. There used to be two shows with one of them being a challenge but they seem to have got rid of this which is a shame!
Raymond has help from his two assistants e ...
