Roast dinner: £10.95
Avg drinks prices: Draught cider £3.90; orange juice £1.95
The Earth and Stars always caught my eye because of the awesome notice boards on the walls outside. Cutesy anecdotes from the point of view of the bored board itself, they're small things that always made me chuckle. It's obviously advertising that works (on some) as when I was at a loose end one Sunday, I decided I was going to give it a go.
It's not the cheapest of pubs - it certainly pays for its excellent location (the pub is on a corner just off Queen's Road; close to the station and The North Laine). The beers are slightly pricier than average and the food is priced to reflect the central area. However, on entering I found it to be choc-full of people who evidently appreciate what it has to offer. All types of people, too - couples; groups of young adults; older people - they're all here. I think it has something to do with the staff - patient, friendly, unassuming - and the general atmosphere of the place. In the winter, it has a cosy feel to it as it's quite small, but in the spring and summer months the place is bright and airy. The artwork on the walls is unique and the decor isn't too flashy. There's plenty to read adorning the walls and even the chalkboards have an attitude.
The choice is quite limited - the standard beef, chicken or lamb - with a veggie option I didn't catch (sorry). Just the one veggie option, though, which I thought was a bit mean, but hey - it's a small place. I opted for beef, my friend Chris for the chicken. There's a myth that The Earth and Stars is an organic pub, but that's not been the case for a while. I was disappointed, as I love organic beef, plus for nigh on £11 I expected something special. However, it was still local and you can't argue with that. There were some absolutely awesome aromas coming from the kitchen - I was quite excited from the off, despite the meal and drink costing me a whopping £16. I watched as plate after plate came out of the kitchen piled high with goodies, and when mine came (after only a fifteen minue wait), I wasn't disappointed.
It was a mountain. An actual food mountain. Yes, it costs £11, but you get a lot for that money. Potatoes nudged for space alongside carrots, cabbage, parsnips and swede; gravy threatened to spill off the edge at the slightest nudge of the table. The yorkie sat tentatively on top, as if it knew it was about to fall. The beef was completely hidden at the base of the plate. However, I found this appealing - it was like an adventure to find the prize amongst the melee.
The spuds were lovely - a little dry, perhaps, but the ample amount of gravy made up for that, and at least you get more than two. The parsnips were proper parsnips (no parsnip crisps here - hurrah!), roasted to perfection - burned at the edges and soft in the centre. However, they juxtaposed the carrots, which in turn were actually quite boring and would have benefited from a little more seasoning. The cabbage was slightly salty and could have done with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or apple - the gravy provides enough salt in itself and I didn't need any more. After a while I found it to be too thirst-inducing to eat and so after a couple of mouthfuls I left it. But the beef.
Oh, the beef.
Great big wads of roughly-carved, pink-in-the-centre beef.
It melted on the tongue, even if it was slightly fatty. Crisp at the edges and smooth in the centre, it complemented the rest of the food perfectly, especially the homemade yorkie (which itself was not at all small - more monstrous!). The chicken, however, was not so good. Chris looked insanely jealous of my beef, and in a turnaround from my experience at The Farm Tavern, it seemed I had chosen the best roast on offer. He summed it up in one sentence thus: "this chicken is all about the skin. The meat - not so good." He proclaimed it to be rather dry - like the potatoes - and that he was lucky they didn't scrimp on the gravy. A real sad twist to the story, because had the chicken been good, this place would have definitely scored higher.
In the end, I was beaten by the mountain - it was far too huge for me to finish. Definitely one for the big eaters. I was disappointed - I have a frugal mind and I'm all about eating what you've paid for - especially when it costs as pretty a penny as this one did. I just couldn't, though, so I pushed my plate away and tried not to think of starving children in Africa. I can't help but recommend this one idea - maybe next time, charge a little less and put a little less on the plate.
6/10
46 Windsor Street, Brighton BN1 1RJ
Tel: 01273 722879
Credit/debit cards accepted (over £10)
Booking recommended
http://www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/earth-and-stars
Avg drinks prices: Draught cider £3.90; orange juice £1.95
The Earth and Stars always caught my eye because of the awesome notice boards on the walls outside. Cutesy anecdotes from the point of view of the bored board itself, they're small things that always made me chuckle. It's obviously advertising that works (on some) as when I was at a loose end one Sunday, I decided I was going to give it a go.
It's not the cheapest of pubs - it certainly pays for its excellent location (the pub is on a corner just off Queen's Road; close to the station and The North Laine). The beers are slightly pricier than average and the food is priced to reflect the central area. However, on entering I found it to be choc-full of people who evidently appreciate what it has to offer. All types of people, too - couples; groups of young adults; older people - they're all here. I think it has something to do with the staff - patient, friendly, unassuming - and the general atmosphere of the place. In the winter, it has a cosy feel to it as it's quite small, but in the spring and summer months the place is bright and airy. The artwork on the walls is unique and the decor isn't too flashy. There's plenty to read adorning the walls and even the chalkboards have an attitude.
The choice is quite limited - the standard beef, chicken or lamb - with a veggie option I didn't catch (sorry). Just the one veggie option, though, which I thought was a bit mean, but hey - it's a small place. I opted for beef, my friend Chris for the chicken. There's a myth that The Earth and Stars is an organic pub, but that's not been the case for a while. I was disappointed, as I love organic beef, plus for nigh on £11 I expected something special. However, it was still local and you can't argue with that. There were some absolutely awesome aromas coming from the kitchen - I was quite excited from the off, despite the meal and drink costing me a whopping £16. I watched as plate after plate came out of the kitchen piled high with goodies, and when mine came (after only a fifteen minue wait), I wasn't disappointed.
It was a mountain. An actual food mountain. Yes, it costs £11, but you get a lot for that money. Potatoes nudged for space alongside carrots, cabbage, parsnips and swede; gravy threatened to spill off the edge at the slightest nudge of the table. The yorkie sat tentatively on top, as if it knew it was about to fall. The beef was completely hidden at the base of the plate. However, I found this appealing - it was like an adventure to find the prize amongst the melee.
The spuds were lovely - a little dry, perhaps, but the ample amount of gravy made up for that, and at least you get more than two. The parsnips were proper parsnips (no parsnip crisps here - hurrah!), roasted to perfection - burned at the edges and soft in the centre. However, they juxtaposed the carrots, which in turn were actually quite boring and would have benefited from a little more seasoning. The cabbage was slightly salty and could have done with a sprinkle of cinnamon, or apple - the gravy provides enough salt in itself and I didn't need any more. After a while I found it to be too thirst-inducing to eat and so after a couple of mouthfuls I left it. But the beef.
Oh, the beef.
Great big wads of roughly-carved, pink-in-the-centre beef.
It melted on the tongue, even if it was slightly fatty. Crisp at the edges and smooth in the centre, it complemented the rest of the food perfectly, especially the homemade yorkie (which itself was not at all small - more monstrous!). The chicken, however, was not so good. Chris looked insanely jealous of my beef, and in a turnaround from my experience at The Farm Tavern, it seemed I had chosen the best roast on offer. He summed it up in one sentence thus: "this chicken is all about the skin. The meat - not so good." He proclaimed it to be rather dry - like the potatoes - and that he was lucky they didn't scrimp on the gravy. A real sad twist to the story, because had the chicken been good, this place would have definitely scored higher.
In the end, I was beaten by the mountain - it was far too huge for me to finish. Definitely one for the big eaters. I was disappointed - I have a frugal mind and I'm all about eating what you've paid for - especially when it costs as pretty a penny as this one did. I just couldn't, though, so I pushed my plate away and tried not to think of starving children in Africa. I can't help but recommend this one idea - maybe next time, charge a little less and put a little less on the plate.
6/10
46 Windsor Street, Brighton BN1 1RJ
Tel: 01273 722879
Credit/debit cards accepted (over £10)
Booking recommended
http://www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/earth-and-stars
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteWe love your posts here! And we'd would love to team up with you and combine your blog with our website Roast Hunter - http://roasthhunter.co.uk
Feel free to drop me an email if you're interested: adam@roasthunter.co.uk
Thanks!