40 B4 40-Egan’s

No. 19: Egan’s, Lymington
 

click image to enlarge

Having never visited Egan’s in Lymington before, we and our friends, C&T, decided this would be ideal for a Friday lunch.

 

Egan’s is the highest rated Lymington restaurant on trip advisor and has been owned by the Chef John Egan and his wife Debbie since opening in 1999.  The welcome was warm welcome in a building which was once a police station, however the separate bar and dining rooms had more of a feeling of a house.

 

The restaurant was obviously popular, as most tables were taken and our first glimpses of the food was encouraging. 

 

The menus arrived, and our drinks order was taken.  As we dribbled over the day’s offerings, we were pretty impressed that there were eight choices for both the starters and main courses, and at £15.95 for 2 courses, and £17.95 for 3 courses the value was excellent.

 

Of the eight starter options my wife was struggling to choose from four she would have really liked.  Eventually we each plumped for: Smoked salmon & avocado terrine with crostini and quails egg, Pan-fried tiger prawns in garlic butter with mixed Italian leaves, Chicken livers & bacon with red wine jus.  Trish had passed on a starter as she already had her eye on a pudding.

 

Soon we were offered a selection of home-made breads, Date & walnut, Sun-blushed tomato and another one I can’t remember  Generously, as many slices as you wanted were offered, and it would have been rude not to try them all, along with the delicious real butter that is now banned from most domestic home fridges.

 

Having polished off our starters in double quick time, and grabbed a taste of Colin’s excellent liver & bacon, we chatted as we awaited the main courses.  Trisha was gamely eating with her one un-broken hand, and as always the conversation was in fine form.

 

The main courses did not disappoint.  Indeed, the creative presentation made mouth’s water even before tasting.  An air of complete satisfaction ensconced the table as we each enjoyed our choices of; Plaice fillets with soft herb & parmesan crust, leek & cheddar mash, Minute steak with rosti potato, button mushrooms and peppercorn sauce, Roast chump of lamb with pea mash, honey baked parsnip, redcurrant & rosemary jus, and Sea bass fillet with smoked haddock champ, lobster & chive sauce.

 

To round off the perfect lunch a sweet was of course in order.  Colin has his traditional Cheese and biscuits, Trish went for the Selection of ice creams & sorbet in a brandy snap basket, which she had set her eye on in the first sight of the menu, my wife of course abstained, and I was deliberating over Bread & butter pudding with clotted cream & crème Anglaise, or Chocolate tart with white chocolate mousse.  The waiter, seeing my painful indecision suggested I had both.  So I did, and it was a fine decision for the taste buds, if not the strain on the scales.

 

As Colin was the day’s driver, our alcohol consumption was significantly tamer than usual, but this did not deter from the dining pleasure.  In fact, it is nice to remember the meal a bit clearer than normal.

 

In a nice way, this was a bit like fine dining in the late nineties with a modern menu.  The dining rooms had a quaint style, the service was traditional and the superb ingredient were masterfully cooked.  One to come back to certainly.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Egan's
24 Gosport Street, Lymington, SO41 9BE | 01590 676165
www.eganslymington.co.uk

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.