For a proper Sunday roast at a family friendly place, head for the Manor Arms

BY PALOMA LACY

Sunday dining conjures up an image of one dish, the great Sunday roast.

It’s also the day when I’m least nervous to take an almost four year old, who, like her peers is, at times unpredictable, to a restaurant.

We headed for an old favourite, so described because it was our go-to pub pre-kids, and not because visits are regular these days.

If only but the Manor Arms swung open its doors in the just the same welcoming way it always had.

As if there were further proof needed of its family-friendly credentials, the function room attached to the main restaurants was hosting a baby shower and the rest of the place was filled with little guests as far as the eye could see.

It was a quiet day, and our host kindly seated our party of three at a table for eight, allowing us to create a play area for Little Miss, which she loved and if we’re honest, so did her parents.

The members of staff just get it and the delightful girl serving us couldn’t have been friendlier and more accommodating.

Give families what they need and a reason to stay. The Manor Arms is a family place through and through.

The menu is small, apparently paired down since my last visit some three or so years ago but I was after a roast so no problem there.

So happy was I, even before ordering, as I sipped on a glass of wine and perused the menu, I decided to venture out of my culinary comfort zone.

I plumped for roast pork, with crackling, which I wouldn’t normally do because I can think of few things less appealing than skin that’s failed to reach its crackling point.

I was presented with a veritable sheet of glass, popped and gnarled in all the right places.

Crispy and crunchy enough to enjoy, with a juicy under bite to save even the most fragile set of teeth.

This for me was a perfect 10. Served with beef dripping roast potatoes, creamed leeks, peas, maple-roasted carrots, spring greens, crushed celeriac, rainbow chard, Yorkshire pudding and gravy completed this one plate dish.

It was nice to see such a splendid array of vegetables, which justified the £18 spend.

This might sound a lot but food prices have risen and it’s in line with local competitors.

My husband ordered the pork as well and we split the two dishes between the three of us.

We didn’t need the extras but added a portion of cauliflower cheese – strong on the Cheddar sauce and full of flavour, and a Yorkshire pudding and extra gravy.

The gravy was most welcome but we ended up taking the extra pudding home.

For the record, I don’t actually require potatoes roasted in beef or any other animal fat for that matter as I don’t think the taste warrants the extra calories.

Oil is good enough for me.

There was no need for starters but the menu yielded a nice selection – roasted cauliflower soup, chestnut gremolata, toasted sourdough and baked Cornish camembert, with pistachios, walnuts and cranberries, among them.

 

Manor Arms, 13 Mitcham Lane, SW16 6LQ