It can’t be denied that a trip to the pub is a much loved past time, the Suncliff Hotel has perfected this great British tradition with the Overcliff Pub; taking everything we love about a pub experience and placing it in a stunning location on the East Overcliff Drive. You can enjoy proper pub food and drink whilst soaking in the stunning sea views in the laid-back friendly atmosphere.
So needless to say we took it upon ourselves to test it out for our readers!
We visited just as Christmas had come to the Suncliff Hotel, with trees and festive flourishes all over adding a seasonal charm to the modern and classy style interior. Settling down we perused their new menu, which is packed full of classic hearty dishes.
With a mischievous smile, dirty fries were suggested as a start to our feast, a mountain of fries topped with meatballs, onion rings, pickles, spring onions, cheese and BBQ sauce, it was safe to say we were calling this a cheat day and throwing the diet out the window. Not wanting to leave out our token vegetarian we also ordered the meatless version, which was topped with breaded mushrooms, onion rings, pickles, spring onions, cheese and tomato relish. They were as delicious as they sound and worth every calorie! Keeping to the same theme we also ordered the tear & share; a baked Camembert with rosemary and sunflower seed nested within a bread ring, the cheese was deliciously soft and gooey perfect for dipping, a great dish for the whole table to enjoy. And finally we couldn’t resist the sweet potato falafel with feta and salad sitting on top of a flat bread. The falafel was soft and full of flavour with the contrasting crunch of the salad and saltiness of the feta it made for a light and tasty starter.
You may think we were full at this point but we powered on through, eagerly anticipating our mains. First up, is it even a food review if Gary doesn’t test out the burger? Purely for research purposes of course! So naturally his eyes lit up at the sight of the 8oz burger topped with relish and Monterrey jack cheese along with a generous side of chips (as if we hadn’t had enough) and onion rings. The burger was thick and juicy, cooked perfectly it did not disappoint. The Overcliff crispy seafood selection was a favourite on the table; battered catch, filo prawns, salt and pepper squid, crab cake, breaded cod goujons and whole tail scampi served with chips and peas. If you are a seafood fan then this is just the dish for you, with such a wide selection on the plate to tantalise the taste buds it will leave those cravings satisfied. The char grilled 8oz sirloin steak, was ordered medium rare and declared to be cooked perfectly, served with a tomato, flat mushroom, onion rings and chips, this was another classic done very well. Finally, having never tried polenta before and fancying something different, we ordered the grilled polenta and parmesan cake, served with rich tomato relish and salad. The cake was golden and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle, if you love cheese this is the dish for you, combined with the crisp fresh salad it was absolutely mouth watering.
If you are a fan of pub classics then head on over to the Overcliff Pub to relax and enjoy some delicious food. You may, like us, have to be rolled out the door when you are finished but there is always tomorrow to head to hit the diet, today is the day to treat yourself!
BOOKINGS
T. 01202 298350
W. www.suncliff.oceana-collection.com
A. East Overcliff Dr, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3AG
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