The Spread Eagle, Wednesfield
Let's face it, we all have days when we just can't be bothered to cook, writes Catherine Dalton.
Let's face it, we all have days when we just can't be bothered to cook, writes Catherine Dalton.
Bad day at work, short on time or just can't be doing with the washing up – sometimes the best and easiest option is a quick stop off at a good pub for a bite.
The lack of pre-planning and occasion means the local pub is often the first target on those days when even thinking of what to cook seems like too much effort.
At the Spread Eagle on a sunny week night, it seemed there were a few others who had exactly the same idea and had headed to the Broad Lane South pub.
Tucked in along one of the longest residential streets in Wednesfield, the Spread Eagle is a popular pub for diners and drinkers.
At the merest hint of sunshine, drinkers flock to the pub's beer garden at the front of the white painted building. It also has ample parking, a small children's play area and an enclosed smoking shelter.
Inside, it is large and airy, with all the trimmings of a traditional pub/restaurant, including patterned carpets, green painted walls and dark wooden furniture.
A long wooden, well-lit bar dominates the centre of the pub, manned by friendly staff who chat with regulars about England's penalty defeat at the hands of the Italians and talk about who is going to win the tournament.
Although food can be eaten anywhere in the pub, a dining area is at the right of the pub with a raised platform at the back containing around half a dozen tables, with many more down on the lower part.
A middle-aged couple were enjoying a meal up on the raised platform, talking loudly about their recent holiday and plans for a trip to Blackpool. At a circular table closer to the kitchen door, a group of four teenagers were eating together, gossiping animatedly.
Meanwhile, a family-of-four was sitting at a table in the middle of the dining section, not appearing to be celebrating any special occasion but just enjoying a meal out, while a group of women who seemed to be work colleagues were sat at one of the longer tables. With a steady flow of customers, the pub had a relaxed and welcoming feel about it.
The menu is vast and varied offering a wide choice of meals, many your traditional pub fayre and others a little bit more unexpected such as seafood paella, schezuan Quorn pepperpot and beef in red wine.
The choice of starters was fairly good – on the menu at least. The potted salmon (£3.55) was something a bit different and seemed to stand out from the more run-of-the-mill soup of the day (£2.30), golden breaded mushrooms (£3.15) and Ultimate Combo sharing platter (£6.88). But unfortunately, the polite lady behind the bar said, it was not available that day.
Prawn cocktail (£3.35) seemed like a good enough second choice and that was ordered and paid for before the message came back that too was off the menu due to the fact "we don't have any prawns".
Hmm, once is fairly forgivable but twice?
The breaded mushrooms were the third choice and were a nice enough start. There were eight mushrooms, nice and hot, and served with a garlic mayonnaise, while the nachos came with a pot of salsa and sour cream along with a good dollop of cheese.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be quite a wait for the main courses, with the dishes taking more than half an hour.
Sitting close to the kitchen door, this meant 30 agonising minutes of watching plates come out and looking on as they were delivered elsewhere.
The BBQ ranch burger (£5.85) – a beefburger with bacon and cheese on the top – looked a little dejected sitting on a plain white plate surrounded by chips and without any salad or garnish. But it tasted good.
The seafood paella (£6.10), served with a salad, was colourful and well-flavoured.
While there was a mound of paella rice, you had to go fishing for the seafood bit with just one prawn and two mussels buried underneath. Overall though it tasted good and would be worth a try again.
There wasn't room for dessert, although the menu did look appealing, with offerings such as mega chocolate fudge sundae for two (£5.55) and lemon tart (£2.95).
The meal was everything you would expect from good pub grub – fairly quick, tasty and with a good choice on the menu.
It was also very affordable, helping to ease the guilt of an unexpected week night meal out.
And best of all? No washing up afterwards.
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