Yesterday was my dad's birthday, and for the evening we decided it would be a good idea to go out as a family to Table Table for our dinner. So after getting ready and changing into my Ark Clothing dress that I'd bought a couple of months ago, but hadn't got round to wearing, we made our way to the restaurant - at around 6:15.

The Exterior

When we got there it was around 6:30, and the six of us - My dad, my mom, my sister, my grandma, my grandad and me - made our way inside the restaurant to take our seats and wait for my auntie and uncle to arrive. The outside of the restaurant was very typical, but very nice looking. There were two, maybe three, benches outside for people to sit on in the nice weather if they decided to, and I pointed out to my mom that it looked like a restaurant you'd see abroad. I'm not actually sure why this is, because it looked like a usual, high-quality restaurant, but I think it might have been the cream-coloured stone bricks that the restaurant was built from. It made it have that holiday feel, and I liked it.

The Interior

Inside, through the two double doors was the porch-area, and another set of double doors that led you inside to the restaurant. It was a little warmer indoors than outside, considering the breeze was quite cool outside and it had picked up a little. Because I'm so small it's very hard for me to get warm, so maybe it was me that it effected more than usual, but I wish it had been warmer inside to match the darker, cozy decor. It was painted a deep red/orange colour, and it all matched really well with the lovely dark brown wood that was on the ceiling and floors. It looked very posh inside. To the left were several tables with comfortable looking seats, and to the right were more tables and the bar. The bar was quite large, and looked very nice with it's lit up lights that made the alcohol in the back stand out more. Obviously the bar was quite large seeing as Table Table is a Pub Restaurant, instead of just a restaurant. We stood by the doors for a while, expecting a host or waiter to come to us and show us to a seat, but after realising that we needed to find a waiter ourselves to let them know we'd like a seat, we walked over to the bar where a blonde waitress informed us that we could wander round and decide on a table for ourselves. I liked this, because sometimes when you are shown to a table, you aren't always happy with where you're sat and would prefer somewhere else. But this way you could decide where you'd like to sit and know that you were the one that chose to sit there if you didn't like it - there's no one to blame!

Seating

So, the six of us looked around the restaurant, that was oddly quiet for the evening, and eventually decided on a lovely booth that was pretty secluded, but not too lonely, and took our seats. Although it appeared to be quiet, I think it is simply because of how huge the restaurant was. Trust me, the amount of tables is enormous! But despite this, there's a great amount of space between the tables, and are several secluded, larger tables for family or social gatherings. I remember from a previous evening at this restaurant over a year ago, we even got a table that was practically in its own room! I loved this, because we were still able to see other parts of the restaurant, so it wasn't too secluded, but it did make the meal seem more intimate. However, my dad really didn't like that. So when the waiter suggested that table yesterday evening, he declined.

Our waiter, Cemal, informed us in his Italian accent that we could either order our drinks from our table or at the bar. Once we all decided on our drinks, mine being a water, my dad made his way to the bar from our booth to order our drinks. After a while of waiting, he eventually arrived back with them, my auntie and uncle arriving with him too. After taking a few sips of our drinks and talking, the waiter arrived back at our table and asked us if we were ready to order. I already knew what I was having due to my eating problems. I always stick with the same thing at restaurants. A jacket potato with beans and no margarine. And everyone else was pretty sure they'd decided what they wanted. So we ordered - which was a little more difficult than usual, considering he had a very strong Italian accent and sometimes it was hard to know whether he had understood everything we had said, but it wasn't a big hassle.

While we waited for our food to arrive, I grew colder and colder. The main reason due to the fact that there was a huge air conditioning vent on the ceiling above, and it was turned on pretty high! So after a few while of shuffling uncomfortably in my seat, I asked my mom if she could ask a waiter if it was possible to turn the air conditioning down. Even my dad was feeling too cold, and he's really hot blooded! The waiter told us that he could switch the temperature to heat, but it would take around 10 minutes. We said that was fine. Anything to feel warmer again.

It was a while until our food arrived, but not too long. As a family we usually go to the same restaurant that is a little father away, but quite close by, and there the food arrives extremely quickly. So we had to put into consideration that not all restaurants would deliver your food the same. We thought maybe it was taking longer for our food to arrive because they were starting from fresh food instead of re-heating already made dishes. If this was the case, then I'm fine with the extra wait. Although like I said, the restaurant didn't seem very busy.

Food

Eventually our food arrived on two wheeled-carts. Two Matured Rump Steaks served with watercress, roasted vine cherry tomatoes and chunky chips for my dad and uncle, Mediterranean Vegetable Lasagne for my auntie, Hand Battered Cod and Chips for my grandad, Breaded Wholetail Scampi and Chips served with garden peas for my grandma, Four Cheese Macaroni served with a seeded loaf for my mom, Chicken Makhani Curry served with basmati rice, naan bread and a side of sweet potato & chickpea curry for my sister and my side order of Jacket potato with beans and no margarine. Also as a side order, my dad ordered Garlic & Herb Breaded Mushrooms. On the menu, my mom's Four Cheese Macaroni was on the '2 Dine Out For £10' category, that was only avaliable Monday - Friday, 12 noon - 6:30pm. This was still avaliable after 6:30pm, but was a different price.

My jacket potato was cooked perfectly. The last time I ate out, my jacket potato was hard around the edges and in the middle, so was, as you can guess not edible. But this was cooked for just the right amount of time with the right amount of beans to serve with it. However my side order also came with coleslaw and salad with dressing - which wasn't on the menu beside Jacket Potato and also wasn't ordered. Although this is good if you would like to have this with your meal, I didn't and found it quite distressing due to my eating problems. I also think this is quite bad if you have an allergy to eggs, as the mayonaise in coleslaw is made from eggs. But maybe this is an unreasonable complaint because it was seperate from the Jacket Potato. My mom gladly accepted the extras, so it was okay anyway! My dad said the portion sizes were smaller than where we usually eat out, but of a much higher quality - but my mom and me find that the portion sizes were alot bigger than any other restaurant. For my grandma, there was too much food and she did have to leave some. But that's alot better than not having enough food, so I don't see a problem there.

I didn't eat dessert, but the rest of the table - except my uncle and grandad, who tend to steal the leftovers - did. My dad, auntie and grandma ordered their Eton Mess, which on the menu is described as 'Fresh strawberries, crumbled meringue and whipped double cream all folded in together with a sharp blackcurrant coulis.' When it arrived it was served with a mint leaf ontop. It was presented really well, and my dad added even more cream to his. My grandma was disappointed as when it was served, it didn't come with the 'sharp blackcurrant coulis', like described, as this was what made her want it, but she still enjoyed it. However they did comment that there was perhaps a little too much double cream and not enough meringue. My sister ordered the 'British Ice Cream at its Best!' strawberry & clotted cream ice cream. On the menu it does say to 'enjoy three scoops', however she only wanted one. When it arrived, she was surprised to see she recieved three scoops, but she managed to eat it after giving one scoop to my mom. She did point out that she wished there could've been more strawberry flavour, because the vanilla flavoured clotted cream seemed a little more overpowering, but I think she really enjoyed it. Lastly my mom's dessert. She ordered the Lemon Tart, which was described as 'A delicious light and tangy lemon filling in a sweet short crust pastry tart served with double cream', although she ordered it without the double cream. It was presented very well, on a square plate with a neatly cut piece of Lemon Tart. She had a scoop of my sister's strawberry & clotted cream ice cream with it, and said the two tastes together were delicious. Afterward she commented that it was the most perfect dessert she'd ever had. She really did enjoy it that much.

The Verdict

Overall, the total cost of the evening was £88.98. I think this is a good price considering there were eight of us dining out, the portion-size and quality of the food. I would definately recommend dining at Table Table, and we're definately going to again sometime soon when we want a family meal together.

© emmyjepson