Swan with Two Nicks, New Street, Worcester.
11:14am Friday 9th May 2008
MOST pubs seem to have jumped on the food wagon. Whether it's try-harders labelling themselves as gastro-pubs or more down-to-earth venues offering baskets of scampi and chips, drinkers needn't go hungry.
The Swan With Two Nicks in New Street, Worcester, falls into the latter category, serving basic pub grub which you order from the bar.
The menu is quite small, but so is the pub itself, so you'd hardly expect a three-course dinner.
Choices are traditional English favourites such as meat pies and roasts. There is also soup or sandwiches for those wanting a lighter bite.
We ordered a side salad and garlic bread platter as a starter.
The salad was a basic tomato, cucumber and lettuce affair, nicely presented, while the garlic bread was a little bland.
The menu had talked it up more than it should have - the cheesy garlic bread had a smidgen of cheddar on top while the tomato version had just a slice of cold tomato.
The main course took an age to arrive and, when it finally did, my steak was large but tough and became impossible to cut as it cooled.
The chips were chunky, very crunchy, and greasy - quite satisfying but the kind you can almost feel clogging up your arteries.
My guest chose ocean pie, which was watery rather than creamy. However, the pub redeemed itself when it came to dessert. Despite the fact there were no puddings mentioned on the menu, after asking at the bar I was told there was a hot chocolate fudge cake on offer.
This was warm, rich and utterly delicious. The bar staff were friendly and the surroundings comfortable and the Swan With Two Nicks should never get rid of that cake.
HOW IT RATEDThe Swan With Two Nicks, 28 New Street, Worcester.
Telephone: 01905 28190
Food ** Value for money *** Ambience *** Service *