Anthurium, Harston: 13 Dec 08

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There must be something wrong with the Feng Shui in Harston because we’ve got another restaurant just opened where it was previously Truc Vert and before that Crayfish. Both were restaurants I returned to but neither survived. What are the prospects for Anthurium?

It was a strangely motivated journey. Number one son drove my car when I was away on holiday and liked it so much decided to get one of his own. So he went onto the internet and found himself the best deal on a one year old Skoda Octavia and on Saturday afternoon we went off to buy it. I did a deal with him so that I could pay with a recently acquired credit card which is giving me 5% cash back for 3 months so that netted us a nice £350. Anyway I’m now a proud member of the Pease Way Skoda drivers club which numbers 2!

The Anthurium was on the way and we gave it a go. It does a set lunch at £10 for 2 courses and boasts a decent wine list with several wines by the glass. On Saturday the restaurant wasn’t taking credit cards so we were cash limited and could only afford one course each. We both had the sea bream: small but perfectly formed. Really, delicious.

But why call it Anthurium? My research tells me that’s a flower but it hardly rolls off the tongue does it? The new owners have the same layout as the previous ones but have used some rather splendid red and black fabrics, place mats and wall hangings. There’s still a stone floor and the tables are a tad cramped. I think that’s the problem. It’s not a place for a quiet, private meal but if they reduce the places the economics don’t work out.

Comments

15 responses to “Anthurium, Harston: 13 Dec 08”

Sebastian Jones

16 Dec 08

After reading your post about Anthurium i think your a little harsh. the owner and head chef of the building just happens to be an amazing chef who has a great knollage in flavour, and has worked with some of the best chefs in london.

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amanda

17 Dec 08

Have you ever thought of visiting The Queens Head in Harston? Very good pub serving good food and specials. The atmosphere is friendly and not too cramped!

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1. jdavidjenkins
  
  19 Dec 08
  
  never had a meal there but if that’s a recommendation I’ll give it a try.
  
  Reply
Louise

4 Jan 09

I have eaten at Anthurium twice and The Queens Head once. They are very different. Anthurium now has their card machine set up so that is sorted (the first time I went it wasn’t). As for the tables being cramped they have removed some and it really does make a difference. Their food is fabulous and stunning. I also had the 2 courses for £10 and the sunday lunch which was 2 courses for £12.95 – Sirloin of Beef was amazing.
As for the Queens Head – it does pub food, I had lasagne which was fine but you cant compare the 2.
Anthurium is a restaurant and The Queens Head is a pub – they both have friendly staff!!

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JANE

7 Jan 09

So the place has the same lay out as before,to change this they would surely have had to knock the building around….maybe they did not want to.

The same stone floor, why change something which is perfectly decent!!!

Yes Anthurium is a flower and whilst eating there i took the time to find out why they chose this name….It is the owners favourite flower and the arrangements are stunning!!!!

As for the food what can i say, mouth wateringly stunning, fantastic combination of flavours and beautifully presented. To me damn good food at reasonable prices.

All in all i think it is a wonderful place not only for food but decor and freindly staff.

Being local i have also eaten at the Queens Head and they serve the best pub grub around here. As Louise says Anthurium is a restaurant and the Queens Head a pub, i would reccomned both for food and staff.

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Helen

13 Jan 09

I have also eaten at Anthurium a couple of times now and the food, wine list and service is all absolutely superb. I had roast pork on sunday and it was the best I have tasted for a very long time, perfectly cooked and everything (including the bread) is all freshly made on site that day.

They have a guest book on the bar if you wish to leave any comments which I did, and it was a glowing recommendation. I also noticed that someone had commented that they thought it “beat the pants off Hotel Du Vin”.

As louise has commented above Anthurium is an affordable fine dining restaurant and the Queens Head is a pub, very different markets for food standards but I would recommend the Anthurium to anyone who appreciates good quality english food.

I also enquired about the name of the restaurant. And yes as David mentions above it is a flower, but it’s the Chef’s favourite flower. The chef’s wife who jointly owns the restaurant is also a florist with over 15 years experience which is why they decided on the name Anthurium as it’s personal to them… and it’s the personal touches that make the restaurant appealing for me.

I will definitely be dining there again soon!!!

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Tamsin

14 Jan 09

Hi David

I put a search in to google for Anthurium and found you! I have had dinner here and absolutely loved it. The portions felt a bit small (for me) but for the price, the quality is something else… I guess that’s why they write ‘affordable luxury’ on their business cards. The goats cheese ice cream was a very nice surprise and I’m going back next with some friends to try it again.

See you in the office soon no doubt!

Tamsin

PS. I used to have one of the original skoda’s – not quite the same as they are today though!

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David

16 Jan 09

Drove past Anthurium today at lunchtime and was pleased to see it had re-opened and was busy…I am looking for somewhere really nice for a 40th birthday dinner party. Anybody any views between this place, Hotel du Vin and Alimentum?

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brett

6 Apr 09

I myself have eaten at the previous named Restaurant TRUC VERT and now again since changed to Anthurium and found the food absolutley amazing, Lee the Owner and Chef was extremly accomadating and popped out to say Hi as we were from the local area. The food was well priced, actually very underpriced for the quality of food stasndard of service. I would whole heartedly recommend this Restaurant to anyone looking for top quaility food cooked to perfection in a warm friendly enviroment….

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ben

6 May 09

hi ther i really recomend alimentum as i used to work ther when david williams was the head chef it was really good then and i imagine it is still good.i am eatingat anthurium 2moro

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Julian Havard

28 Aug 09

We ate at Anthurium last night a big table of 10 people.

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, presentation and variety.

You can tell that the head chef cares about his food at that certainly shows in what you receive on your plate.

I was concerned that the restaurant may lack atmosphere and although we were creating our own as we were a large group when we left almost all the tables were in use which was nice to see.

Only tiny criticism is I am a big eater and the portions may have been slightly too small.

I would highly recommend a visit, mainly because I have never recommended a restaurant online and so it MUST be good for me to be putting the effort to do this!

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amanda

30 Oct 09

its now closed again going to be a pub again

Reply
1. jdavidjenkins
  
  30 Oct 09
  
  I think it’s got bad feng shui!
  
  Reply
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