Where?
Mosaic @ The Old Rectory,
Llanddowror.
Atmosphere?
A really warm welcome as
soon as you walk through the door. The background music is relaxing. It
has a very luxurious feel, with chandeliers and a chez-longue in the
bar, but yet still manages to feel homely. The clientele was a mixture
of couples and groups of friends.
Menu?
A wide
range of starters, mains and desserts. The menus change every month.
What did we have?
We skipped the
starters, to save room for dessert. My friend went for the free-range
organic chicken breast stuffed with mushroom tapenade drizzled in lemon
tarragon sauce served with creamy mash and seasonal vegetables. The
chicken melted in the mouth and the mash was definitely creamy. My
friend said that if she was at home she would have licked the plate
clean, which says it all really! I went for the king prawn and
honey-smoked salmon tagliatelle with a bite of chilli and vodka.
Delicious juicy prawns, the pasta was cooked superbly and there was a
pleasant kick from the chilli. For dessert, it was a tougher choice. In
the end we went for the gooseberry and treacle crunch with vanilla cream
custard and the passion pavlova. Both were beautifully presented, and
tasted as good as they looked.
Service?
Service was attentive but
not overbearing. The waitresses were very pleasant.
Disability access?
Everything is on
the ground floor and there is plenty of space to move around. The
toilets are also large enough to accommodate a wheelchair easily.
Parking?
There is parking available
in the grounds of the restaurant and also room to park on the road
outside.
The verdict?
Spectacular food and a
warm welcome in a stunning setting — what more could you want?
The bill?
Chicken breast £12.95,
King prawn tagliatelle £11.95, pavlova £5.95, gooseberry tart £4.95, two
glasses of wine £3.50. Total of £42.80.
Would you recommend it to a friend?
I already have, and we're planning a return visit in the coming weeks
for the Old Rectory high tea - A pot of tea or cafetiere of coffee with
a home-baked scone or Welsh cake, preserve and clotted cream, a
selection of miniature cakes and sandwiches with a choice of fillings:
smoked salmon and cream cheese, cucumber with lemon mayonnaise, local
ham, or Welsh cheese. £9.95 for one or £18.95 for two.
© Carmarthen Journal July 2009
