La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano
10 Lichfield St,
Rugeley
WS15 2EH
Sue and I have always enjoyed Italian food as have Bev and Dave, indeed Dave says it is his favourite cuisine so we were all happy when we learned about La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano, less than 400 metres from our moorings.
We visited on the Tuesday evening, the restaurant was empty when we arrived just on 6.00 pm but very soon had a good number of tables occupied, I can’t remember what the others had I started with Antipasto di Pesce, fish, seafood, mozzarella, asparagus and sun dried tomato platter. This was followed by Vittelo al Porcini, veal escalope in a creamy porcini and field mushroom sauce, with a hint of Marsala wine, on a bed of wilted spinach to which I added a side if asparagus e limone, fresh asparagus dressed with lemon and oil. Desert, served in a large brandy balloon was a mix of cream, ice Cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate chunks. The meal was extraordinary, the flavours were extraordinary as was the size of my veal escalope. It comprised two pieces of meat around 50mm diameter and around 3mm thick each, and one had a large hole in it – not what you would expect for a dish that cost £21.45, however everyone else had what they expected so I held my tongue and enjoyed what I did have which was an excellent vegetarian dish. I should point out that the starter and desert were absolutely stunning.
Everyone had enjoyed the previous nights meal so much (I had not mentioned my lack of meat) that we went back the following night specifically for pizzas. We all skipped starters and went straight to mains all choosing a differently topped pizza. Bev and Dave had a great idea and had shared their two. The pizzas were very good indeed as were the deserts that followed.
We enjoyed our meals at La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano and would certainly return if in the area again, but I will order pizza not veal.
Tesco Superstore
Power Station Rd,
Rugeley
WS15 2HS
We bought a few last minute bits and bobs in Tesco before we left Rugeley and decided to have breakfast in while there. It was a new experience for Sue and me as until recently Morrison was always the supermarket breakfast of choice. We were very pleasantly surprised, the food, although “catering quality” was not the lowest quality and cooked very well, indeed the hash browns were the best I can remember having, golden and crisp outside, soft and fluffy inside.
The staff were pleasant and helpful.
Michaels Fish Bar
18 The Grn,
Handsacre,
Rugeley
WS15 4DT
This was a take-away only establishment but just a couple of hundred metres from the boats so we were able to buy and get back to the boasts with it still hot and fresh.
What a treat it was, the batter was thin and crispy and the huge portion of cod beautifully cooked, we are not great lovers of cod but this was good – very good. The chips had just one fault – the portion size was not just large it was humungous. One portion would have been sufficient for all four of us.
Local fish and chip lovers are very fortunate to have Michael’s Fish Bar nearby.
Ego Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar
New Minster House,
Bird St,
Lichfield
WS13 6PR
The Wine House
27 Bird St,
Lichfield
WS13 6PW
We visited this establishment specifically because Bev and Dave had lunched there a few days before our visit and Dave had been “blown away” by the crab sandwiches and although Sue and I don’t generally partake of lunch preferring to save our hunger till dinner time, but we both love crab and thought a fresh crab sarnie would be a real treat.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the staff very helpful in putting our mountain of shopping in a locked cupboard for safe keeping while we ate. The sandwiches took a while to arrive which we thought was strange in a restaurant with just two other tables occupied, but when they did arrive, well, to say we were disappointed was the understatement of the year. The thick white bread was stale and dry, the crab was brown meat only and tasteless, with no seasoning, just a bit of rocket shoved inside as a garnish and just as well ‘cos it was the only thing with any flavour at all.
After Daves’ experience earlier in the week we like to think that this was some sort of error, chef on holiday for example, but we will never find out as I for one will never darken their door again.
The Plough
Huddlesford Ln,
Whittington,
Lichfield
WS13 8PY
Dave and I had popped into the pub earlier in the afternoon to book a table and while enjoying a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord saw two fish and chip dinners being delivered to a table near us. They looked great so that evening Bev Dave and I opted for the fish and chips while Sue ordered steak and ale pie. We were, none of us, disappointed the meals were large and delicious. Our fish was very well cooked with light crispy batter covering flakey fish accompanied by a pot of tartar sauce and another of mushy peas as well as a good portion of chips, I’m not a great lover of mushy peas but these had a hint of mint and were very good.
Definitely, if in the area, a place to revisit.
Ego at The Cedar Tree,
The Cedar Tree,
Avenue Rd,
Nuneaton
CV11 4LX
Having had such a good meal at Ego Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar in Litchfield we were delighted to learn of one in Nuneaton and decided that we would go there for our “end of trip” dinner.
We were not disappointed, We all chose different mains to those we had enjoyed in Litchfield and they were every bit as good. Where this site scored for me was the front of house staff, they were attentive without being obtrusive, a credit to the establishment, That is not to say the staff at Litchfield branch were bad, they weren’t but didn’t seem to enjoy their jobs as much as the Nuneaton crew.
As this restaurant is less than four miles from home we will most definitely be going again.