The Bite Magazine - Summer 2012 - Issue 5

We decided on four ‘many plates’ dishes to share and had honey and wholegrain mustard chipolatas, warm sausage and onion roll, Cornish squid with lemon mayonnaise and Welsh rarebit. Each dish was full of flavour and we purposely went for a real variation as it’s good to mix it up a bit. Each dish was original however creative at the same time and perfectly seasoned too. For the mains, we had the gorgeously gooey Stinking Bishop macaroni and cheese which was exactly what it says on the tin! It was lovely and mushy in the middle and crunchy on top with the cheese melting in your mouth. We also consumed ‘The Fish Pie’ which was beautifully presented in a little dish. By all means it was very tasty and full of textures and flavour but I do have one criticism, it definitely wasn’t big enough! Dessert was a must and there were six gems to choose from.They all sounded divine on the menu, however I had my eye on a particular one - the elderflower and honey Crème brûlée. It was heavenly indeed and every mouthful was a sweet and smooth heavenly delight. We also had the white chocolate panna cotta with English strawberries. I couldn’t leave the pub without sampling that and so glad I did; it was beautiful and creamy without being too sweet.The hint of white chocolate left a mouth-watering taste lingering in your mouth which is always a good thing. An exceptional wine list is served at The Surprise as well as real ales, bottled beers, liqueurs and spirits. With a warm ambience and quirky design, The Surprise features floral upholstered sofas, amusing quotes chalked out on mini boards, artwork and a snug fireplace that reflects a homely feel. I also love the French country decor along with wacky paintings and wall art. The combination of gentle tones and randomly scattered pillows makes it feel very laid back and comfortable. I would especially recommend The Surprise for a lazy Sunday lunch as it has a calming yet buzzy atmosphere with a laid back attitude. On the other hand if you want to stop by for the tapas style dining or for some satisfying home cooked oldies and a glass or two of lovely wine, then The Surprise would be a perfect choice. THE SURPRISE 6 Christchurch Terrace • London SW3 4AJ • Tel: 020 7351 6954 www.geronimo-inns.co.uk/ thesurprise Geronimo Inns continues to promote the concept of the pub as a centrepiece of the local community and has grown to 33 in total, with its direction still very much under the stewardship of Rupert and Jo Clevely. www.geronimo-inns.co.uk bite food