Byron, oh Byron

Okay, so it's been a while since I posted anything at all, and while I'd like to jazz life up by typing something clever and/or thought provoking, a girl's gotta eat.  So I've eaten, and thought I would share.  (My experience.  Not my food.)

For those of you who haven't noticed, Byron outlets have been popping up all over the place - most notably in London but also in a few other hotspots, from Leeds all the way down to Kent.  Each restaurant (though I've only been to er, four so far) has a slightly different vibe, but they share a kind of rugged, eclectic, retro feel, often encapsulated in quirky counters, naked brickwork and fantastic wallpaper.

Byron do burgers. Wonderful burgers.  Burgers with delicious, perfectly-cooked beef and real, fresh toppings, encased in the perfect burger bun.  There's nothing frivolous or elaborate on the plate when you get it - they don't even come with sides - but that's fine, because there's no point putting lipstick on a pig (or piece of cow) when that pig is beautiful, perfectly-proportioned and gosh-darned delicious just the way it is.  This works both ways; the sides at Byron aren't just for cosmetic value - the skinny fries are a perfect partner if you need your potato complement, and the onion rings might be the finest onion rings I've ever had the pleasure of devouring.  Yes, you might initially feel a bit ripped off at the thought of only getting a burger - but you wanted a burger, right?  Otherwise you wouldn't be here.  The portions are actually just right for you to have a meaty bun to yourself and still share a side with your dining-partner - you altruistic thing, you!

Never feel like a cheapskate again;
"we'll just have the er, 'good white' please"

As ever, the service aspect is just as important as the food itself (in my opinion, anyway), and Byron's staff are consistently good.  No matter what time of day, or how busy the restaurant has been when I've walked in, the team have pitched it just right.  They're warm, efficient and seem genuinely interested in ensuring you enjoy your meal.  Never hovering, never annoying, never false.  It's rare to find a chain that can offer this kind of consistency, so Byron; I metaphorically salute you.

Okay, so this one's actually pulled pork.
I'll snag a photo of the beef next time.

There's not a lot else to say - all Byron does is everything it should; great burgers and a flawless service in a relaxed but tasteful atmosphere.  Having eaten there a bunch of times and been repeatedly impressed, it's one of the few places I would go back to with 100% confidence.  I know there are others out there that could satisfy my needs, and while I'm at this learning curve in my life there's no doubt I'll experiment elsewhere - maybe with some MeatLiquor or even Five Guys - but I'm not sure I'll ever want to really move on from Byron - my first "proper burger" love.

Last things to mention:

• look out for Byron at festivals - my first taste was a messy but delicious delight from a retro-style trailer with a giant cow on the top at Bestival in 2012
• A bonus feature in each restaurant is a number of miniature cows, hidden away in corners and on light fittings - easily missed - watching you eat their delicious comrades.
• check out the specials - often topical (this month's is the "Ronaldo") they're usually something a bit off-beat and only available for a limited time

Yes, the main course was perfectly filling.
No, we didn't regret ordering the brownie.

Wildwood

Unbeknownst to me (probably due to the insulating nature of Lancaster), Wildwood restaurants have been popping up all over the place.  In celebration of recent tides of fortune, the fella took me out for dinner last night, and we ended up in the Ely branch of the chain.

For those who haven't yet encountered Wildwood, expect warmly modern restaurants (clean designs with lots of stone and wood) with a friendly, semi-formal atmosphere.  Think of a more comfortable Pizza Express, a less "themed" Angus Steakhouse and a slightly classier version of your local Grill, mash them altogether and you might be close.  The menu covers a modest range of pizzas, pastas, salads and grill items, a handful of complementary starters and desserts, and an extensive range of wines, beers and soft drinks.  Prices are around £8-15 for a main, £3-6 for starters and desserts, and £2-6 for drinks.

Ely Wildwood

After some deliberation we decided to share a "Meat" pizza (no messing around with the Italian names here) and a pasta with peri-peri chicken in a creamy sauce.  Service was perfectly paced - quick enough to stop you eating your dinner companion (Frankie and Benny's, I'm looking at you), but not so quick that you questioned whether the food was even prepared in-house.  The pasta arrived, quite conventionally, in a wide dish.  The pizza arrived on what can only be described as a bread board, and even that wasn't quite big enough - we had, admittedly, ordered it in size "giganti", but, to paraphrase my partner, not size "ridic".

peri-peri chicken pasta with spinach and cherry tomatoes

apologies for the blur, but you can see how giganti "giganti" really is

Both meals were absolutely delicious.  I'm still recovering from a cold, so the spicy pasta was a flavourful delight to my taste-buds, and the pizza, in all it's meatball-peperoni-ham-salami glory, was equally as gorgeous.  The dishes were gladly shared, and tasted fresh and wholesome.  Out of sheer greed (and because nearly everything on the dessert menu seemed irresistible), we also shared a Chocolate Sundae (which won in a coin toss against the Eton Mess), complete with Maltesers, Oreo biscuit, chocolate sauce and Bailey's.

Chocolatey Sundae-y Bailey-ful Loveliness

Overall, our visit to Wildwood was a welcome treat, and the service and atmosphere - let alone the meals - far surpassed my expectations.  I'm still watching my pennies a little too closely to be rushing back, but it's definitely going to be a restaurant of choice again.  Well done Wildwood.

Los Tres Joes, Lancaster

Revision period is always a risky time in terms of falling of the "healthy" wagon: although turning down a night out is manageable if your schedule is rigid enough, avoiding the boredom munchies is nigh on impossible... so here is my new coping method: planned feasts.  Preferably of the Mexican food variety (what else?!).

So, last Sunday, as a reward for a fairly healthy week, I was at Los Tres Joes, Lancaster - it's near Waterstones, underneath the Crows Nest hotel - and my gosh did we have a feast:

Nachos.  They don't exactly photograph well...

(Obviously)

Burrito (Sam had an enchilada) - apologies for the phone-quality pictures

Sangria? Oh, go on then.

For a light(er) bite, I still recommend GoBurrito, but if you want to enjoy a slower meal or have a larger party, then Los Tres Joes is brilliant.  The portions were massive, our waitress was lovely and the prices are reasonable (and include a 10% discount if you whip out your student card).  The menu isn't especially varied, but there are still options for those less inclined towards cheese-topped salsa-y goodness (ya little weirdos)!

I've got to stop here, I'm getting hungry.  Go forth, and enjoy!

Hazelmere Cafe, Grange

Firstly, a quick apology for the last post, which was somewhat lacklustre!  In short, this week went from bad to worse.  I won't whinge on, because it's OVER AT LAST, but suffice to say it's been pretty rotten, and I needed a hand pulling myself out of a desperate desire to wallow in my self-pity.

Thankfully, help was here in the form of Sam, who whisked me off on Thursday for a night in the Lake District, purely to get out of town.  After a lovely stay at the Westmorlands Hotel, on Friday we went into Grange-over-Sands for a little mooch around the shops and some brunch.

We stopped by the Hazelmere Cafe, after previously being intrigued by their huge selection of teas, and decided to push the boat out and order a taster tray (as well as a sultana scone with jam and cream) - photos below for evidence.

tea, scones, tea and the shop front - low quality courtesy of my tablet

I won't lie, it was a bit strange - I wasn't sure if I felt like a loser or a hipster - but the quality of the service and the general quaintness (or weirdness) of  the whole endeavour definitely cheered me up.  So if you ever get bored in the South Lakes, I definitely recommend a visit - it won't matter if you're not a tea connoisseur; we were very open about our "tea virginity" and the staff were kindly instructive. Other than their beverages, the Hazelmere had a delightful selection in their bakery, and the shop had a lot of local produce on offer, which is one of my favourite things about the Lake District.

Memo from GoBurrito, Lancaster

I’ll put my cards on the table now: I LOVE Tex-Mex food – tacos, nachos, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas… you get the picture.  It’s versatile, it tastes amazing, and quite simply there is no excuse not to like it.  I’ll end the sermon for now, but the current trend of little burrito-bars bursting into town centres means that, if you haven’t already, you should jump on the bandwagon and try some Tex-Mex soon.

Anyway, as most towns now host one or more of these dining paradises, I've been making it my business to try them as I see them.  Having now sampled a handful from Southampton to Edinburgh (and one or two abroad), I'm here to say: none has yet surpassed Lancaster’s GoBurrito.  Suitable for Tex-Mex virgins and veterans alike, GoBurrito has a solid menu, competent staff and a big personality, all packed into one modest little unit.

Now, with burrito bars, the most important part for me is the quality of the food – I like to know that if my favourite filling isn't available then my second choice will taste just as good.  GoBurrito totally nails this, and although the shredded beef has been a bit over-cooked once or twice, the meat in general is never fatty, and flavoured to perfection.  All the toppings and sauces taste pretty good too, and it definitely helps that you can see the ingredients being prepared and cooked fresh in the kitchen and kept hot in the bar as you order.

The menu is, of course, another big priority.  I'm a fan of chicken in Tex-Mex dishes, but in GoBurrito they offer a good meat and veggie chili - though I'm too carnivorous to try the latter just yet - the beef that I already mentioned, pulled pork and chorizo, as well as a vegetable medley.  On top of your main filling, you also get the choice of soured cream, cheese, lettuce, salsas (mild, spicy or both) and for a little extra there’s jalapeños and guacamole too!  Portions are in small, medium (best) and large, but if you’re not too sure on the foil-wrapped delight of a burrito parcel, then everything can be put onto nachos instead, and surely there’s nobody in the world that doesn't like a nacho?!

chili nachos -the burritos are too good to not devour immediately, so no picture of them at the moment, sorry!

The format is pretty standard; like Subway - pick your filling, pick your topping et voilà – but better, as the staff seem to genuinely enjoy their job, and whether the shop is packed or quiet, there’s always a friendly, upbeat atmosphere.  If you’re curious, you can find GoBurrito on Lower Church Street in Lancaster, opposite the taxi rank, and they have a blog, facebook page and a well-kept twitter page (@goburrito).  If that’s a little bit far from you, I’m really sorry! But I can guarantee this won’t be the only Tex-Mex on my memo, and I unhesitatingly urge you to go find your local outlet (and let me know about it)!

Finally, I realise that I've gushed a lot here, but in case there was any confusion: if we’re headed to a heaven, mine serves Tex-Mex.