The LivingLife delivery boys were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Orchard restaurant at Fairfield Park is just a stone’s throw away from Arlesey. After a long day delivering magazines, a quick walk along West Drive (cycle path) took us to the restaurant and we headed on in to eat and drink.
We were warmly welcomed by the manager, Joy, and shown to our seats. We could have sat in the outside dining area, but we opted to take advantage of the excellent air conditioning inside, which made us very comfortable during one the hottest of summer days!
The restaurant is surrounded by Victorian architecture, located within the beautiful backdrop of Fairfield Hall. Inside, it has a fresh contemporary feel to it, including a mezzanine floor above and a laid-back bar area downstairs.
For dinner, John ordered ‘The Steak’ – an 8oz sirloin steak with triple cooked fries, mushrooms, cherry vine tomatoes and rocket garnish, with a choice of peppercorn sauce, blue cheese glaze, chilli/garlic butter and opted for the peppercorn sauce.
Andrew ordered ‘The Pasta’ – king prawn linguine with chilli, garlic, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.
The food was faultless. Perfectly cooked steak, exactly as it was ordered; the slight chew, the tenderness, the juiciness…just right and complimented well with the peppercorn sauce and crunchy chips. Andrew’s pasta dish was equally good, succulent prawns with just the right amount of chilli kick; a simple dish but cooked to perfection.
For pudding, we had a chocolate truffle cake and a baked cheesecake both with vanilla ice cream. We finished off our meal with cappuccino coffees and this gave us the opportunity to chat with the owner Steve, who runs the restaurant with his wife Harriet.
Steve explained that Thursday night is the tapas & bar menu with tempting 2-for-1 offers on cocktails. Friday & Saturday is the à la carte menu (please ensure you book your table in advance on these nights).
It’s also refreshing to hear that the menu changes weekly, with the chef deciding by Wednesday what will be on the menu.
The Orchard at Fairfield Park is a fantastic restaurant, offering something for everyone.
