Each time we return to Will's neighborhood, we always look for new and exciting dining spots and several years back we discovered The Muse just minutes from our hotel and it always is a winner. This year we had the same server as last year and Emily remembered us, knew we liked to take a break between courses, and seemed to anticipate our every need.
One of the signature starters here is the yummy Seafood Pancake with salmon, cod and prawn in a rich thermidor sauce. Two of us had that, one went for the Smoked Salmon Classic with Lemon-dill creme fraiche, bread crisps and a rocket-cornichon salad, while I chose the superb Pea & Tarragon Soup with small bits of potato, broad beans, pea fricasee, peas, pea tendrils and chive oil. Our Xavier Roger 2021 Marsanne-Viognier was the same wine we adored last year.
Our second wine was a Borgo deli Trulli 2020 Primitivo from Puglia that was also a fine find and paired with our very varied main courses. They arrived a tad too fast and Emily apologized profusely saying the kitchen did not heed her request.
The mains were indeed as varied as possible with a Mediterranean Vegetable Risotto that can be a starter or main, Pan Fried Stone Bass with Olive Tapenade, Tomato Pesto(left off per the guests' request), Roasted Fennel & Olive Salad and sauteed New Potatoes. The Jerk Marinated Cod had a nice spice to it and came with Creamed roasted Sweet Corn, Confit Potatoes, Charred Spring Onion & tender stem Broccoli. My Garlic & Rosemary Char-grilled Chicken came with a tasty Bearnaise Sauce, Pomme Frites(Bearnaise good for them too) and a large tasty Rocket, Shallot & Parmesan Salad. It was nice, but a tad on the simple side and could have used a bit more spice.
Desserts here are yummy, but we decided to split two cheese plates and some chocolate truffles. The cheeses were a wonderful Yorkshire Blue(as it always is), a none too ripe Brie de Meaux(that was not runny at all) and a fabulous Wookey Hall Cheddar. There were some nice dessert wines to choose like a very sweet Red Muscadel from South Africa and a Muscat de Frontignan Chateau Peyrade from France.
We left promising Emily to return next year!
