Le Junction

1 Reviews on “Le Junction”

• Maria Kuehn

  Nothing gives me more pleasure than checking out a new eatery, not least because this particular restaurant come trendy bar is ten minutes walk away from home and most importantly, it was the start of a five week break from a most punishing work schedule of co-running a caf and teaching.Le Junction, a high ceilinged, spacious and buzzy place was awash with thirty something peeps. A lively, noisy atmosphere made it seem as though the clientele were terribly grateful to have found a watering hole with a bit of class, a lovely outside area in which to soak up the sun and have a bite to eat. Feeling terribly relaxed and looking forward to being on the other side, as it were, my mood was further lightened by the arrival of a complimentary bellini of prosecco and midori, lovingly made by Antonio, a cocktail waiter of immense charm and whose natural stage is a restaurant – flitting from table to table, dispensing vivid coloured cocktails and a flirtatious smile – the kind that only Italians can deliver with such ease and aplomb.Onto the food. The menu is reassuringly small and the prices I couldn’t judge until I had eaten. There is also a pizza menu which, from the few people who had sampled the pizzas was not going to disappoint. My pal Zina liked the look of the Wiltshire ham, celeriac remoulade, dressed watercress and pancetta (4.95) with a pizza to follow. I fancied the rib eye steak with a peppercorn sauce, fondant potatoes and Portobello mushrooms (14).So the star of the show, without a shadow of a doubt was the ham. Generous slices of delicious pork were served with a quite perfect celeriac remoulade – delicate and coated (pls note – NOT smothered) in a lovely dressing, lifted by the watercress and pancetta. What a great start. My steak, I am terribly happy to report, was exactly as I asked for it to be cooked. Rare – not blue, not medium rare. The sauce was mild and didn’t interfere with the steak – I have to say I am not a fan of whole peppercorns; I prefer them to be crushed into the sauce. However, that’s a personal thing and the rest of the plate complimented the steak very well. Gorgeous, meaty mushrooms and a melt in the mouth fondant potato.Now I’m not a pizza fan so I left it to the experts to tell me whether it was up to scratch, which indeed it was. Very thin and crisp base, topped simply with a very good tomato base and the usual gubbins.Here is where I have to have a jolly big gripe. Get the sodding bar and your wines sorted. Real ale drinkers are all still waiting, the wine list is not up to scratch (although the Sauvignon Blanc was passable) and where in God’s name does it say that one can serve room temperature wine in a bucket of ice? That is sloppy and unforgivable.The service was splendid, I have to add. The waitresses were efficient and had that rare look of actually enjoying their job.Le Junction is a good place to hang out. The food alone will ensure I am a regular visitor. Just next time I come in, please God they have the chaos at the bar sorted and the bloody white wine chilled. A prix fixe menu would also be a bonus. Looking forward to it already. mindingbellieswell.blogspot.com

  July 19, 2015, 8:46 pm

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