The Mucky Badger

Posts Tagged ‘chinese’

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.

Location and Photos

Bath Place,
Leamington Spa.
Warwickshire.
CV31 3BP.
Tel: 01926 313030 

Review

Tucked away in a quiet unsuspecting part of Leamington Spa I’d not been to before, hides the Emperor’s Restaurant. I’m a big fan of Chinese food and I rarely find a menu without something I like.

As with all international cuisine restaurants, I try to go for the specials or for a dish I’ve not seen before as I believe that is the best way to see the incumbent chef’s talents. Often this works out well and I leave impressed other times I leave thinking “And that was supposed to be special?”

My companion and I decided to take a break from our usual Chinese of choice and venture to unknown territory after reading some rave reviews of the Emperor on Google. We eventually found it and were pleased to also discover another pay and display car park near by that we had no idea about.

On entering, the first thing that we noticed was how well decorated it was. Subdued lighting, a small bar area and a friendly greeting welcomed us. We hadn’t booked as often we decide to go for something to eat on the spur of the moment and, as it was early, we thought we would be likely to get a table. We were ok for a table except we were asked to make sure we had finished by 8.30pm. This was fine as 2 hours dining was more than ample.

We were shown to some seats. At first I thought “Oh no! They really are expecting a coach load” as we seemed to have been seated at a precarious round table with not much elbow room. But we were given a basket of prawn crackers to munch while we perused the menu.

The menu was extensive and slightly expensive too. However we carried on hoping that the prices reflected the good reviews and the plethora of awards adorning the the wall. We opted for a mixed starter, two main courses and some yung chow fried rice. I can’t recall if this was one of the set menus or not but that is what we got.

Before long we were shown into the equally beautifully decorated main part of the restaurant and seated at a proper table. Our first course arrived and was quickly munched. As with most Chinese restaurants I’ve been to in Warwickshire they are a bit stingey on the dipping sauce but I’ve had enough practice at rationing what we get so was able to stretch it further.

The mains arrived. Considering the price of the meals the portions were a bit on the measly side. I’m sorry but Nouvelle Cuisine went the way of the dodo in the mid nineties. None the less, the meals were delicious and we had room for desert, mine consisted of banoffee pie while my companion went for the lemon sorbet.

Conclusion

A delightful little place and a hidden gem in Leamington Spa. In all the meal was delicious but the small portions let the place down. If you’re going to charge upwards of £16 per person you’ve got to provide more than just a light snack. I’m sorry to be so harsh. The staff were wonderful, the surroundings immaculate but all this is nothing if the portions leave me wanting more.

Scoring 68% – Bigger portions please! Even the Plough at Eathorpe does more for less.