MacSorley's

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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.

Largely know for its regular live music and as a bustling bar, MacSorley’s is not where you would expect to find snails or partridge served with chocolate however, it is such unusual ingredients and pairings that characterise the half high-street pub and half fine-dining menu. Their headline starter is a theatrical affair where diners are invited to open a kilner jar allowing a waft of hickory smoke to escape, the aroma working with the slivers of smoked salmon, juicy prawns and whisky dressing inside to conjure up an afternoon by the fire in a seaside inn. Rabbit and bacon pie has tender pieces of meat and a velvety sauce, but the panko-crusted frogs legs while novel, don’t quite belong. Slices of venison loin are tender in the middle, while the accompanying salsify is perfectly cooked and a spicy minced venison lollipop gives the dish an imaginative lift. The restaurant area situated on the mezzanine does appear intimate and welcoming but the atmosphere can be slightly compromised by the live bands and the bustle of the bar downstairs.

• High point: Unusual pairings and theatrical presentation
• Low point: Incongruity of the setting and the menu

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