Going out for Sunday lunch has always been a big tradition with my family and my passion for eating out developed when I was growing up. My parents would always be on the look out for new places to go and try and we'd travel long distances in the North East if we heard of a particularly good place to go.
Therefore, whenever my parents come down to visit me, I always try to take them somewhere that they will enjoy and can tell their friends about when they go home.
On previous visits I've taken them to the Ivy and the Gherkin, but this was the first time they'd been down for Sunday lunch, so after some advice via Twitter I plumped for Corrigan's in Mayfair.
The set menu was a reasonably priced £27 for 3 courses, with a £10 supplement for the beef. They also had a slightly annoying £2 cover charge and I couldn't understand why they just didn't make the price £29.
The room was large and busy with a good vibe. They had some unusual feather covered light shades and carvings of deer and game on the walls and it made for a nice setting. We were seated right at the back of the room and the three of us were squeezed round a table that probably was only meant for two. It wasn't a huge problem, but the table did become cramped when our mains were served.
The menu had a choice of six options for each course (though no vegetarian option!) and I went for the country terrine and the beef. My parents both had rabbit to start, followed by black bream for mam and lamb for dad.
The country terrine was a perfectly good terrine, although I found the accompanying orange marmalade a little bit tart and slightly overpowering. A reasonable start though.
Both parents enjoyed the rabbit. The meat was tender and cooked beautifully pink and the deep fried breadcrumbs provided a good crunch and contrast to the rabbit and egg. There was also a little bit of blue cheese on top, which just added a bit of extra flavour.
There was no messing with my roast beef main. Just two thick, rare, slices of rib of beef, served with an excellent yorkshire pud and a tasty, thick gravy (though some people may have found it a bit greasy, I thought it was just right) and horseradish cream. A classic dish, well executed.
All the mains were served with really crunchy roast potatoes with a pillowy soft centre. Dad complained they hadn't been turned and so one side was more well done than the other, but I suppose it is a matter of personal preference. Vegetables were buttered carrots and green beens.
Dad really enjoyed the lamb, which came with a pepper salsa. Again it was just a lovely piece of meat, well cooked and simply presented and dad scoffed up every bit.
Mam was equally pleased with her black bream (no photo - sorry) and pronounced it a 'lovely, delicate piece of fish'.
Onto desserts and first up, mam went for a chocolate delice with hazelnut ice cream. After the previous day's ice cream, I thought she may have been 'chocolated' out, but no, she wolfed down every bit and declared it excellent.
I went for sticky toffee pudding and it was slightly disappointing. I found it a bit stodgy and lacking in fruit. I would have preferred a flatter, squarer piece that soaked up the toffee sauce a bit better, as the centre was a little dry. I would've also liked the option of custard or ice cream to accompany it.
The picture doesn't really do justice to the last dessert. It was eggy bread with poached pears and chocolate sauce. The waiter brought out a cauldron of chocolate sauce and my dad insisted on three scoops, which totally smothered the rest of the dessert. It was worth it though as he savoured every mouthful and loved the poached pears and chocolate. I don't think i've seen him enjoy a dessert as much.
Whilst we were having dessert Richard Corrigan came out from the kitchen and said hello to a few diners and sat with one table. He seemed a very friendly, affable guy and the restaurant seemed to reflect this ethos.
Overall, i'd rate it as a very good set menu lunch. Excellent ingredients, well cooked and served in an unpretentious way. I would definitely return next time I want to impress someone with a reasonable value Sunday lunch. You can see why the place has received a number of plaudits and though there's still room for improvement, overall I left full and impressed.