If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass or two on the Champagne lawn at Doncaster Races, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed, if not spent time, inside The Old Weighing Room.After a sympathetic yet extensive refurbishment, The Old Weighing Room has retained its architectural design staples. Feature windows from the 1920’s and and dizzying high ceilings serve to create a classically elegantly bar area. Luxurious fittings have been carefully chosen and unique seating areas are set throughout. Each cluster giving just the right level of privacy, and equally, atmosphere.
The dining room itself is sublime, to me it says on trend London bistro; a sophisticated palette of greys, and I have high expectation of the food here just five minutes from Doncaster town centre. Chef Robinson was recruited to run the kitchen having previously worked for the Jamie Oliver Foundation as a training chef for No.15 restaurant in Cornwall -another clue that we’re in for a treat.
The menu is exciting and pleasantly ‘foodie’ enough to attract diners from much further afield. It celebrates British modern cuisine using freshly sourced, local ingredients with some classic signature dishes and a Great British Sunday lunch.
The waiting staff were animated in their descriptions of their own recommendations that we went with -and didn’t regret a single choice. Of the four of us dining, every one of us has sworn an absolute declaration to return as we stabbed forks into each other’s plates. My particular favourite was the tuna which was flashed to perfection as I requested.
The portions were ample too! This style of dining can sometimes raise the odd eyebrow as the food is set down on the table -that is until the plate is finished and the diner realises it was exactly the right proportion. There was however, just enough room for dessert which has only a one word description ‘exceptional’. We all ordered different options to try and ended up raving about the chocolate brownie so much that we were brought an extra one for ‘sharing’ -that’s service!
After dinner we opted to have a drink outside on the terrace which quite peaceful with the view of the course sans the crowd. Enjoying the sunset over the racecourse was a beautiful prelude to to the evening and a feeling that you really could be anywhere. That’s the charm of The Weighing Room; it tries so hard to be something that little bit different that the end result is an effortless perfection equal to any city restaurants I’ve had the pleasure of eating in.
It’s easy to see why this project celebrates a level of success; the setting, the food and passion and enthusiasm of the staff being infectious. We all left feeling glad we knew about this gem of the local food scene.
Our Menu
To Start
Yorkshire smoked duck breast, crisp prosciutto, fig salad with rhubarb & ginger dressing Brandade of Whitby smoked haddock, crispy poached egg, white wine & mussel sauce
The Main
Seared blue fin tuna steak with salsa verde, chunky chips and herb salad 28 day aged 10oz grilled Yorkshire rib eye with bone marrow butter, triple cooked chips, roast garlic & watercress salad
Dessert
Glazed lemon tart with creme fraiche and strawberry salsa Warm chocolate brownie with butterscotch sauce and clotted cream
To Finish
Iced cappuccino parfait cup with biscotti
Book your table to avoid disappointment!
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