This was our fourth visit to The Tivoli since its refurbishment and as usual it was well patronised and lively. In its previous life 'The Tiv' was a live band/concert venue serving ordinary pub beers and pub food. Now the front bar is popular for its inventive cocktail menu, good range of 'on tap' beers, trendy decor and enthusiastic and welcoming staff.
It also has great food though the menu and wine list are a bit hard to read in the dining area because the lighting is so subdued. This night we dined with another couple and decided to skip entrees and go straight to the mains. I chose the ocean trout special which was served pan fried on top of a lightly mashed vegetable medley, with fresh asparagus spear and mussels in a light broth. It also had the trout skin served as a garnish crackling style, which was quite different and delicious. In fact the whole dish tasted fantastic, except for the mussels which I considered a tad over cooked and for the fact that the food arrived lukewarm as were the other mains served to my dining companions.
One other main that deserves a mention because of its hearty taste and flavour was the Angus Beef Pie which was devoured with alacrity, the only downfall according to the eater being that it could have been complemented with some colourful vegetables.
Following the mains and a very smooth bottle of Radford and Roenfeldt Grenache we agreed to share a couple of desserts and chose a Chocolate Marquise and a Goats Cheese Cheesecake. Of the two the cheesecake was declared the favourite because of its attractive presentation and combination of smooth and piquant taste. The chocolate marquise on the other hand lacked the wow factor in its presentation, but nevertheless tasted good.
Unfortunately, the evening was spoiled somewhat by the terrible end service with a long and inexcusable delay in getting our bill, despite asking for it twice. Eventually, when it arrived it had been muddled with another table and we were charged for food that hadn't been ordered. This was sorted satisfactorily and with sincere apologies, but overall we think that more attention needs to be given to this part of the service as it has the potential to tip the balance of your overall impression of the evening from a positive to a negative.
One other main that deserves a mention because of its hearty taste and flavour was the Angus Beef Pie which was devoured with alacrity, the only downfall according to the eater being that it could have been complemented with some colourful vegetables.
Following the mains and a very smooth bottle of Radford and Roenfeldt Grenache we agreed to share a couple of desserts and chose a Chocolate Marquise and a Goats Cheese Cheesecake. Of the two the cheesecake was declared the favourite because of its attractive presentation and combination of smooth and piquant taste. The chocolate marquise on the other hand lacked the wow factor in its presentation, but nevertheless tasted good.
Unfortunately, the evening was spoiled somewhat by the terrible end service with a long and inexcusable delay in getting our bill, despite asking for it twice. Eventually, when it arrived it had been muddled with another table and we were charged for food that hadn't been ordered. This was sorted satisfactorily and with sincere apologies, but overall we think that more attention needs to be given to this part of the service as it has the potential to tip the balance of your overall impression of the evening from a positive to a negative.
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