Food Review

Eating Out Column

Every week we try out the culinary delights on offer in and around the Forest and let you know what we think.

As tearooms go, The Old Dairy at Harts Barn must rank as one of the best in the Dean with its emphasis on local produce.

ASTONISHING! That’s the verdict of one customer who had just finished a Gloucester Ploughman’s, but he could quite easily have been talking about the service or the atmosphere here.
Run by sisters Joanne and Zoe Bradbury, it provides a menu of which 95 per cent is made from local produce. The service provided by the pair and other members of staff is swift and warm, and caters for both meat-eaters and vegetarians.
The cottage-like atmosphere has been nailed to a tee – right down to the exposed stone walls and ceiling beams. The outside seating area gives off the air of a well-maintained back garden, providing customers with a quaint sense of homeliness.
The club sandwich we tried is huge – made of layers of fresh-tasting tomatoes and lettuce, home-cured bacon and a large cut of succulent chicken. The bread is lightly toasted on top but slightly burnt on the bottom, making it a little difficult to finish off the last of the meal.
From the specials board, the courgette and cream cheese tart contains a quiche filling made from locally-sourced Gloucester cheese and is served with a salad and coleslaw, making it a more filling meal than expected.
For dessert, an enormous mixed berry ice cream sundae featuring junks of strawberry and the combination of cherry, blackberry and raspberry ice cream was truly mouthwatering.
While the gooseberry bread and butter pudding was just as delicious. The bittersweet fruit contrasted nicely with a dollop of clotted cream. Perfect!
This sister act will run and run.