The Mucky Badger

Location & Photo

Marton Road
Long Itchington,
Southam,
Warwickshire CV47
01926 633 233

Review

When you’re driving through the lovely Warwickshire countryside, possibly the last thing you expect to see is a Chinese restaurant. Unless, of course, you’re looking for that particular place.

The Water Margin has been a long time favourite of both my companion and mine. We spent New Year’s eve there in 2009 and whenever stuck on making a decision about what we’re to eat of an evening, the Water Margin is often our first choice.

Their menu is extensive and reasonably priced; the decor simple and clean. The staff always pleasant; The food? Well the food is more than delicious.

Having failed to have our Chinese food desire fulfilled at the Emperor’s restaurant (see previous review) we decided that the following night we would go to the Water Margin and compare.

Price wise, for about the same as we’d spent in the Emperor’s, we managed to get a substantial feast to share. The Water Margin’s set banquets do have a wide variation but when catering for two people the selections on the set meals are a little uninspiring. Don’t get me wrong though, they are delicious but my critical mind looks for a little bit more in the way of options. Indeed, had we been a group of three or four then the set meals for larger parties do come with much more choice. I guess the trick is to bring your chums to this one.

Anyway, we opted for:

• Prawn toast (6)
• Salt and pepper spare ribs – deliciously succulent and large, most of the Chinese restaurants I have been to in Warwickshire tend to have those tiny little riblets that consist mostly of gristle.
• Salt and Pepper Chicken wings in Honey – Again, another winner for both of us
• Chicken in Peking Sauce – A sweet and tangy sauce with fair sized chicken pieces
• Pork in Black Bean Sauce – A fantastic salty feast
• Yueng Chow Fried Rice – Much more than the mouthful  at the Emperor’s

The whole selection came to just under £35 which was a similar price to that paid at the Emperor’s but this time we left feeling full. In fact, I could not finish and my companion Zoe, had to finish what was left over despite my appeal for a doggy bag.

The staff were thoughtful and pleasant; the surroundings, again pleasant; the food first rate. Now if the Emperor’s portions were this size I’d have been pleased but when you find smaller relatively off the beaten track restaurants that do comparatively excellent food but with much more portion wise, you wonder why you left the more expensive place feeling hungry.

Conclusion

If you are in the Leamington Spa area I can thoroughly recommend the Water Margin to fulfil your Chinese food fix. If you’re feeling daring why not nip in on a Sunday afternoon when you can have an all you can eat buffet or just pop in on an evening. They also do take away but as the Warwickshire base is a bit far out our take away meal would be cold by the time we’d got it home. Besides, its such an ace place, you’ll definitely want to go back with your chums.

Score – 87% – A Forbidden Palace of a restaurant worthy of a title such as Emperor. Well worth the visit.

3 Responses to “Restaurant Review #3 – The Water Margin, Long Itchington, nr Leamington Spa, Warwickshire”