Burgers at The Shakespeare in Redland

Although we have a pub right on our doorstep it's not really everything I could want in a pub. So when I heard the Shakespeare on Lower Redland Road had been given a snazzy new makeover and encouraging noises about it were surfacing, I was compelled to check it out. We headed over on a Wednesday evening and decided to take advantage of their new menu. A good number of pub classics with an emphasis on burgers, and I like love burgers.

I decided to opt for their special, beef with chorizo and red leicester with sweet potato chips. Whilst Rich went for beef topped with smoked applewood, smoked bacon and barbecue sauce, plus some chips which were given a shake of rosemary salt. Homemade dips such as lemon mayonnaise and spicy relish are available for 50p each. Prices for the burgers hover just under the £10 mark, which considering the size of them is fairly reasonable.

Apart from the sheer thickness of my burger I just want to alert you, dear readers, to the fact that it had a whole chorizo sauage in the centre. None of those thin weak ass chorizo slices from a packet that one could get from any supermarket but a juicy, smokey whole sausage. Red Leicester has never been high on my cheese favourites list but this had melted beautifully over the generous meat patty. I wasn't sure what to expect from the burgers here, pub burgers are often generic but acceptable. This was a whole different ball game.

Soft brioche bun, well seasoned meat and toppings that went very well together all made for a great burger.  The sweet potato fries were a bit of a let down but the rosemary salted standard chips were much better. So basically if they can add that chorizo burger to the regular's list I will be even happier.  If you haven't already checked out the refit of the Shakespeare in Redland, please do it's rather good. To find out more visit their website.

Pre Cinema Munchings at Giggling Squid

My birthday present from the lovely Kym was dinner or lunch at wherever I fancied. This is the best kind of present because I get to eat, which is my favourite thing to do, and I get to spend time with a good friend.  A browse of places we had yet to feast occurred and Giggling Squid was decided upon. Occupying the venue which was previously vacated by a Strada, Giggling Squid is a mini chain of just over a dozen restaurants all based in the South boasting rustic and local Thai dishes.  Lunchtimes have several set menu options allowing you to have a big dish all to yourself or to sample a couple of dishes if you can't just choose one. Kym and I decided to go for a tapas set each, dishes included; salt & pepper squid, sleeping honey duck, chicken massaman curry and beef salad. The tapas sets hover around the £11-12 mark which for lunch isn't too bad. 

With some very tasty Thai spiced prawn crackers to start us off we got stuck into the mains as soon as we were able. The good stuff first. Kym's honey duck was the stand out dish, very much recommended, closely followed by the chicken massaman and the beef salad. Pretty good portion sizes considering they were smaller dishes and the flavours were very delicious and warming. I was a touch disappointed by the squid as the batter was too thick for my tastes so it masked the squid a little. However I really liked the idea of having lots of small dishes for lunch because then you get to sample more of the menu, which is perfect for someone as curious as me. 

I have heard that the evening menu is a bit more pricey than normally expected to pay for Thai food but everyone I have spoken to who has been there has been fairly impressed on the whole. I would definitely make a return trip on a lunch time but whether it is enough to coax me away from more reasonably priced Thai restaurants in the evening, the jury is still out. To find out more about Giggling Squid check out their website.