Guildford’s freshest offering to the thriving restaurant scene opened its doors at the end of November 2013, replacing the previous incumbent on Sydenham Road, Bar Centro. Britten’s has an ideal location near the famous cobbled High Street and the monumental Castle and is amongst great company; just down the road is the equally new Italian restaurant Como and the popular Chapel Street where you will find a wide selection of top eateries.
Britten’s is the realisation of a dream for head chef Daniel Britten, who was a contestant on BBC’s MasterChef in 2008 and has since worked under the tutelage of various top head chefs. And so this new restaurant sits in central Guildford with the aim of perfecting modern British cuisine with quality, seasonal, fresh produce whilst expressing Daniel’s passion and creativity. So how did it shape up when we were invited in for lunch one afternoon…
The first thing you notice about Britten’s is its confidence in simplicity, both on the menu and in its approach. You won’t see any over-bearing shrubbery or exuberant Picasso artwork on the walls; neither are there any audacious water features or pretentious art-deco furnishings. No, Britten’s simply uses its high standard of food and service alongside its demure and tasteful décor to set the tone and atmosphere.
The luncheon menu itself is brand new and follows the trend, offering a choice of five small plates at £7 each, five large plates at £13 each and four desserts at £5 each- all very reasonably priced for the quality provided. Some may say that leaves a lack of choice, but this is not the case when you want everything on the menu!
The starters arrived on warm, rustic slate plates, adding a touch of class to the beautifully arranged dishes of Blue Cheese Croquettes with Herbs and Pineapple Chutney and Pan Fried Scallops accompanied by Morcilla (Black Pudding) with an Apple Sauce garnish. Pleasantly surprised by the prompt arrival and portion size, the food was devoured with smiles all round. Classic combinations cooked to perfection.
For main there was a choice of Beer Battered Fish & Chips, a 5oz Surrey Farm Rump Steak, Creamy Chestnut Mushrooms on Toast, The Britten’s Burger or Pan Fried Sea Bream. A luxurious selection with something for every palate. The recommended Britten’s Burger on a toasted Brioche Bun, with cheese, pickle, bacon and tomato was an impressive college of colour and fresh flavour, whereas the locally sourced steak was beautifully pink and accompanied by a light, but appetizing Béarnaise Sauce to finish. Washed down with some Windsor & Eton craft beer, it made for a sumptuous lunch time treat.
There was no room left for dessert, but if we had ventured that one course further then there would have been a tough decision between the Baked Cheesecake with Poached Rhubarb, Pistachios and Wild Strawberry Ice Cream, Spiced Bread & Butter Pudding with Bourbon Custard and Vanilla Ice Cream and the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream. A selection of Cheese, Celery, Chutney & Crackers was the fourth option with a more continental feel.
Britten’s is the kind of restaurant that will be very successful in Guildford for a prolonged period of time if it continues to keep up the high standards it has set. With real quality and careful attention going into each plate, this is the perfect place to go for a real experience of fine dining without a ludicrous price tag.
James Martin