RESTAURANT REVIEW: Quality Chop House

When you're my age the opportunities to be taken out for a parental dinner are few and far between, unless it's your birthday. Steve's parents took us out for dinner as a birthday treat a few weekends ago, having been a local residence for many years but never managing to visit, Steve suggested The Quality Chop House in Exmouth Market.

Gracing the streets of Farringdon since 1869 The Quality Chop House is a quality dinning room, butchers, and wine bar so I was excited to see what the menu had to offer.

I'm not fussy but I'm not a huge fan of terrine or blue cheese which meant there was only one starter that took my fancy, the brisket. The meat was incredibly intense in flavour, I could smell the plate coming long before it was placed in front of me. I don't think I've ever experienced anything so meaty before but hats off to the chef as this tasted sublime. The beef melted in the mouth and the potatoes were perfectly al dente. 

The chicken livers and the rabbit rillettes special were also ordered and I've been told both were lovely.

I was torn between the stuffed chicken leg and wood pigeon special and due to the seasonality, I went for the latter. The pigeon was lovely, cooked perfect rare with a crispy skin this was a lovely piece of meat, however I grew tiresome pretty quickly as I tried to carve it. I don't have a problem with meat on the bone but sometimes I just can't be bothered to faff around with it. That being said, the hassle involved with trying to eat this meal was certainly worth it.

The pollock with brown butter was lovely and fresh and came with a little pan of extremely creamy mash potato.

Look how wonderfully rare that roast beef looks. The ploughman's was another great dish.

The star of the show was definitely the minced beef and dripping. Intense rich, meat flavours made this an incredibly delicious and indulgent dish.

The potato confit were heavenly and some of the best I've had to date, completely crispy on the outside and perfectly soft inside. Wonderful.

Again, only one thing stood out for me on the dessert menu, the brownie ice cream. What may sound like a boring option was a delightful ice cream filled with small, chewy pieces of brownie without being overpowering chocolatey. The shortbread biscuit was crumbly and buttery, perfect.

Vanilla ice cream, nice.

Steve went for the lemon curd, a light and refreshing end to an otherwise heavy meal, perfect.

The rhubarb and frangipane tart may not be too my liking but  Steve's dad enjoyed it very much.

The Quality Chop House is a very nice restaurant with a really old school English vibe. The dark interior has an old fashioned feel but not dated. It worth mentioning the terribly uncomfortable seats in the dinning room but because this property is listed I don't think they can be changed, the wine bar has more comfortably seats so don't be put off. I'd definitely return one day as the menu is far from ordinary, showcasing inventive ways meat and game can be cooked. If you're local and you've never been I recommend booking a table now.

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