The Barbican Kitchen Brasserie, Plymouth

...kind of celebration to mark the occasion. I wasn't so sure…were they up to something….if my 40th was anything to go by…a massive banner was hung across the front of my house (when I was out) letting the whole world know! So with some trepidation I agreed that as the big day was on a Sunday we would have all lunch out somewhere. But where? I didn't mind too much, but as I have a four year old niece with extreme food allergies, I suggested that as ...
...booking.

FOOTNOTE The Tanner Brothers won the Restaurant of the year award 2007 for their other Plymouth Restaurant The Prysten House. A well deserved win.

So, two weeks prior to the big day The Barbican Kitchen was chosen as the "Venue" due the fact that some members of the family had previously been there and enjoyed it and that the rest of us had always fancied giving it a try . As the food is all freshly ... more

My 50th birthday was fast approaching and my family thought we should have some kind of celebration to mark the occasion. I wasn't so sure…were they up to something….if my 40th was anything to go by…a massive banner was hung across the front of my house (when I was out) letting the whole world know! So with some trepidation I agreed that as the big day was on a Sunday we would have all lunch out somewhere. But where? I didn't mind too much, but as I have a four year old niece with extreme food allergies, I suggested that as long as it was somewhere that would cater for her needs then I would be happy. Suggestions were made and my sister in law visited a couple of places to check them out before making a booking.

FOOTNOTE The Tanner Brothers won the Restaurant of the year award 2007 for their other Plymouth Restaurant The Prysten House. A well deserved win.

So, two weeks prior to the big day The Barbican Kitchen was chosen as the "Venue" due the fact that some members of the family had previously been there and enjoyed it and that the rest of us had always fancied giving it a try . As the food is all freshly cooked there, they would be able to do a pasta dish for my niece to fit in with her dietary requirements and in no way would this be a problem for them. The Brasserie is one of two eateries in Plymouth owned by the celebrity chef brothers James and Chris Tanner who are often seen on programmes like Ready Steady Cook on the BBC.

The Brasserie is situated on the upper floor (lift access available) of the Black Friars Gin Distillery building situated within the cobbled streets of the historic Barbican, Plymouth. This is the building where the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night before setting sail for America in 1620. Its is in fact one of Plymouth's oldest buildings, it was thought to have once been a Friary and later a Tudor Merchants House before it's conversion to a Gin Distillery in 1793. If you have ever heard of the famous "Plymouth Gin" then this is the building where it originated from. The distillery is still within the building and tours can be made around it .There is also a shop on the ground floor for purchases of the Gin and other related items. This part of the building is a tourist attraction in its own right and tours can be made and Gin tasted! http://www.ukattraction.com/a_print/print_entries_frames.php?&e=1308ODJ&a=0 .

Entering through the old doorway, you are left with the feeling when looking down that you are still in the street as the floor is what must have been at some time a bumpy and cobbled street. You are able to see from here straight into the Gin Distillery and its mechanical workings which are behind a very large glass window that stretches right across the width of the building. To your left is the Plymouth Gin shop in case you fancy buying a bottle of the famous stuff on the way out. Access to the Brasserie it up the stairs and straight through the double glass doors. It feels a bit special entering through them as they are so chic and contemporary in comparison to the history and architecture of the building. There is a lift from the cobbled ground floor for those who may find the stairs a challenge, and will take you to the Brasserie and an adjacent cocktail lounge (I didn't sample this so I can't make any comment except to say that I'm sure its lovely in there).

~~Our experience~~

As soon as we entered through those lovely glass doors we were greeted by a waiter and shown to our booked table for ten. We were made to feel very welcome, ordered drinks bread and olives to nibble on whilst we waited for our meals and soaked up the atmosphere of the old building. The tables were wooden and the seating was largely lovely pink leather chairs complimented by the large black napkins set out on the table. The waiting staffs were dressed in black trousers and black matching polo shirts with Barbican Kitchen printed in white across the back and we though they looked very smart.

We didn't bother with starters opting for the main course and dessert. The Sunday menu is not as extensive as the weekday one but nevertheless there was a choice of at least five starters, eight mains and desserts. I chose the roast beef and was given the choice of how I would like the meat, well done, medium etc and this came with four lovely roast potatoes and a very large Yorkshire pudding and a separate gravy boat. My daughters both chose the pasta in cheese sauce and I must admit they made the wrong choice and didn't really enjoy it. My mum chose Salmon which came with roast potatoes and looked very nice and others had the fish platter which consisted of three different portions of white fish balanced on top of a giant potato cake and the plate was drizzled with saffron sauce and it all looked lovely. My brother opted for good old sausage and mash and it must have been good as it soon seemed to disappear from the plate! There was also roast lamb and the trimmings that day too. We were also served separate dishes of glazed carrots and parsnips and cauliflower cheese and courgettes. All the meals were served on large square white plates, beautifully presented and the food was nice and hot. One thing to note here is that all the food is seasoned in the kitchen and therefore, the tables are not provided with salt and pepper pots! We waited just about half an hour for the main meal which apparently is normal as everything is freshly cooked. Mains were priced between £6.99 for the pasta and £8.99 for the roasts.

Now, for the desserts and once again a fair choice. A few of us opted for the ice cream and sorbet combination which was served on a large white plate with the ices served in a home made crispy biscuit basket which was delicious in itself and was surrounded by a delicate raspberry sauce and decorated with a marbled individual chocolate. I chose a combination of chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream and orange sorbet (which was really to die for!) but you could also choose strawberry ice cream and passion fruit sorbet which I'm told were also fantastic. Other options were sticky toffee pudding with crème anglaise (posh custard!), chocolate mousse with baileys milk shake (quite complicated looking), raspberry and clotted cream cheesecake and biscuits and cheese. All, so beautifully served it was almost a shame to eat them but eat them we did! There was tea and coffee available afterwards which we declined. Desserts were priced around the £5 mark each.

The drinks list has plenty of choice with bottled wines priced between £12.95 and £50 and between £3.50and £6.50 per glass. Spirits (Plymouth Gin recommended), soft drinks and beers also available.

The bill….about £200 for ten of us. This included one bottle of Red Wine and ten soft drinks.

Did we see James and Chris Tanner? No, but there is usually one of them in the kitchen I'm told.

Would I go there again? Yes, certainly it was a lovely experience and I am intending to go again one day, perhaps on a weekday when there is a bit more choice on the menu.

~~More info on the Brasserie~~

Open Monday-Saturday for lunch and evening meals and Sunday for lunches only. Bank holidays open evenings only.

Reservations 01752 604448 Information info@barbicankitchen.co.uk
Website http://www.barbicankitchen.com/ Sample menus are shown here along with a wine and drinks price list.

There didn't seem to be a Childs menu but there were quite a few children eating there and I noticed a child in a highchair. Probably best to ask in advance what they do just as we did.

If you are ever in Plymouth then give the Brasserie which situated in Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YESTERDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2008 THE BRASSERIE WAS DESTROYED BY A FIRE! Details www.thisisplymouth.co.uk. A very sad day, but no doubt it will be up and running soon. 

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