We loved our trip to the Perch Inn in Binsey, Oxford back in March and we were thrilled to be invited back for their bloggers launch of the new Spring menu. (It’s official we are now full on ‘bloggers’).
Unlike the last time we visited the weather was actually dry which allowed us to enjoy the patch of countryside that surrounds the Perch. Oddly, Monday’s (as well as the Sunday roast rush) are the Inn’s busiest nights and the restaurant certainly filled up as the night went on. For a change, Tom and I were also joined by new blogger pal, Ellen, from Eat With Ellen. Based in Rugby, Ellen has been eating her way through most the West Midlands (check out her blog for some great eating suggestions) so I was really pleased that she could join in on our tasty feast.
It’s clear that Damian, the gregarious Sheffield landlord, has really fallen for The Perch Inn and it’s surroundings. It’s definitely dedicated love when someone goes to the effort of curing their own locally sourced corned beef. And I think that enthusiasm is reflected in most of the menu choices – Tom had the night’s special, a pork and black pudding rissole with red cabbage, mustard creamed leeks and horse radish chutney.
@Jess_Friend Apologies…Black Pudding isn’t local but is one of the best! From Stornaway…..Our Scottish Head Chef is somewhat biased.
— The Perch (@ThePerchInn) April 13, 2016
So I pretty well knew before we got to the Perch that this was not going to work well with the whole ‘Slimming World’ ethos (more on that another time) and we’d already decided we were in for the whole hog! The Spring menu certainly reflects the time of year – and clearly quails eggs are the in thing.
For starters, I had the wild rabbit, chicken and smoked bacon terrine with grape and apple chutney and granary toast. Tom went for the Perch’s classic fish plate with juniper cured salmon, dill cured herring, crayfish cocktail, crab pate, home made bread and caper berries. (It’s amazing that Tom needed any more dinner after that!)
And Ellen had the classic Butcher’s Board with the home corned beef. Like last time, my starter was my favourite part – it was tasty, not too filling and the freshly baked bread roll was like eating a buttery cloud. I would be happy with a plate of bread rolls next time.
With our mains Tom had the very hearty pork and black pudding rissole – which is kind of like a cross between a meatball and a croquette. Ellen’s grilled sea trout fillet looked beautifully presented and my Wye Valley asparagus, jersey royal salad, quails eggs and Caerphilly was a well built salad and certainly optimised everything spring like. (Plus Slimming World would approve…)
I would definitely say that starters and mains are the Perch’s strength. Last time we visited I had the exotic chocolate and chilli creation which was good but so sweet. And that’s definitely the overriding trend – between us we had the Queen of Puddings (the Inn’s best seller, selling out everything else two to one), rhubarb and white chocolate Eton mess and the chocolate orange mousse.
Hands down the mousse was the finest dessert but Tom polished off that Queen of Puddings (a sponge base with plum jam and soft fluffy meringue baked in the oven) and enjoyed a sugar rush which lasted all the way home until a monumental crash.
Before slipping off, we took a brief look round the Perch’s Big Top, a permanent marquee which lit up in the evening would make quite a special wedding reception. We will definitely be heading back in the Summer to check it out and the pub is also hosting an all day mini-festival in July- All Tamara’s Parties.
Disclaimer Tom and I were invited down to the Perch to try out their new menu, you can find it for yourselves right here: the-perch.co.uk/#menus
I have never tasted wild rabbit…..how was it? The pictures are making me hungry and I would definitely visit The Perch if I were ever close by. Looks like a place where you can sit, talk, and enjoy a fantastic meal plus dessert. 🙂
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The food is great – but those desserts are sooo sweet! I had a sugar rush for ages 🙂
Hi!
This place looks like a hidden gem for amazing food. Thank you for posting this; I have taken it down for my next trip.
Oh god! I am at work right now once I spotted your great post. It think you guys must have enjoyed this treat. The pictures look so yummy that I am getting badly hungry.
I see smoked salmon. Mouth watering yum! Gulp it down with a pint of beer, and you find a happy, content Sanket. Very tempting menu, I must say 🙂
So nice! Never been but, now I want! x
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Great food. That’s a lot of food. Looks like a wide variety in their menu. I have actually never been to the UK. Loved the sign post with the Church on one side and the Perch on the other !
Wow looks really good! Next time I’m in the UK I’ll have to try it out. How did you get invited to try it out.. that is really awesome!
I have only visited Manchester and I loved I loved it! I have dreamt to travel all around England since then. I am saving this restaurant to my travel folder, as I didn’t have good food experiences during my journey!
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Wow, that’s a LOT of food! However, I’m a firm believer in really enjoying what you have, so no reason not to dig in, right? You can always go back to slimming food the next day. 😉
Yum, everything looked so delicious! Oxford is such a lovely place, and a fitting restaurant.
Looks like a wonderful location and scrumptious meal! Personally I’d love to try the mousse!
I am so so so so jealous! the food looks amazing and superb! Would love to try it!
WOW! You certainly have an eye for food photography! I love how you included a tweet and photo grid in this post! As for Oxford, it looks so nice and quaint! How cool that you were able to attend the blogger launch of their spring menu!
The food looks super yum! Funny to see a reference to Slimming World- I’m American but do social marketing remote work for the NHS sometimes and Slimming World has come up a lot!
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Slimming world is a whole new thing for me and I could definitely write a whole blog just on that topic alone!
I see that you have spent wonderful time at Perth. All of the dishes looks great and I would like to try them too. Maybe beside wild rabbit, they are too cute for me to eat them 🙂
I see you had got wonderful time at Perch. All the spring menu looks really delicious and I would like to try it, maybe beside wild rabbit… they are too cute for me to eat them 🙂
Love that the beef is locally sourced and the menu sounds amazing! Would definitely have to visit with friends to try one of everything!
The place looks so cozy and the food looks soooo delicious! Mousse looks yummy! Thanks for making me hungry today! Haahha