This week I visited
Rocca a restaurant in St Andrews over looking the world famous golf course and sea view. We arrived early around 7pm, unfortunately for us we hadnt booked all the window tables had been reserved. This wasnt actually a problem as no one was in the restaurant and we were sat at a very cosy round booth for two.
The staff were very friendly and incredibly helpful, they offered us a drink from the bar first, while we reviewed the wine menu. We were also at this point advised of the specials- chilli oil oysters. Once we had decided on the wine, our waiter brought the bottles to the table and filled each glass, this was really lovely, a nice change. We had not ordered a bottle as I wanted white and my boyfriend red.
A bread basket and olives were brought out almost straight after we were given our menus at which point we were asked if we would care for some balsamic and olive oil, it was good to be offered the option, there was already better on the table.
We went ahead and ordered, we both decided on the quartet of quail, I decided on the braised beef and my boyfriend went for the Roasted Roulade of Cornfed Chicken.
Once our order was taken we were asked if we were finished with our bread or if we would like some more, a nice touch I thought.
The starter was exceptional - a mouth watering plate of game consume, boiled quails egg, breast of quail on a bead of celeriac and a balontine of quail - it was very very good indeed, the presentation was excellent and the flavours were wonderful. It was at this point we asked our waiter about the chef - only 25 and heading up the restaurant sending out dishes of someone many more years than he.
The main courses did not disappoint. My beef was so tender it simply fell apart. The waiter advised that we might like to order some sides, so on his recommendation we did - green beans with shallots and roast potatoes. I was pleased we did as my dish came with only purée and a few peas.
The chicken came with pork belly, sweetcorn puree, parmiggiano potato gnocchi and a maderia sauce - this was also very well presented, very elegant and the gnocchi was delicious.
After all this we were full to the brim, the waiter (a different waiter) asked us if we would like to see the dessert menu, I had a look but could not manage a thing more. My boyfriend decided to have a whisky, this started a little banter with the waiter which we always like.
Then it was on to the bill, this is the only tiny down point of the evening - the card machine lost signal and I was advised that my card hard been declined. As you can imagine my hart missed a beat, I asked them to try again as it must have been their machine. It was.
All in all it was an excellent evening with wonderful service, food and surroundings.
