A taste of...
The Still Room Bar + Kitchen 5 Oroua St, Eastbourne.
We’d heard… That it had finally found its niche. Having changed hands several times in the past few years, Eastbourne locals Rob and Rowan McLeod have hit the sweet spot, turning the village watering hole into a great gathering place and gastropub. It’s classy and convivial without being pretentious.
We ordered… Keeping its menu fun and focused on sharing platters, we ordered steamed buns with sticky Asian beef ($14), pear and parmesan salad ($12), blue cheese and mushroom arancini balls ($15), and pork belly in craft IPA and honey marinade ($16). On a previous occasion we enjoyed warmed mozzarella bean dip with crunchy tortillas ($14) and Thai fish cakes ($12).
On the Mains Platter you’ll find beef salad with Asian greens, roasted peanuts, caramelised pumpkin and kaffir lime dressing ($26), Grilled haloumi cheese on toasted five-grain, roquette and balsamic reduction ($23), pulled pork burger ($23) and soft-shell chicken tacos ($19).
A must-have accompaniment to any of the dishes is parmesan and rosemary polenta chips ($12). The meal was washed down with drinks from the good selection wine and craft beers on tap.
It’s part of Visa Wellington On a Plate this month, so ask after their specials.
The service… Just the way it should be… friendly, personable and efficient. And staff are equally nice to children, with colouring activities, and they’re happy to tailor dishes to keep fussy little ones happy.
The vibe… Having transformed an ordinary pub into a den of welcoming warmth, it’s great for many occasions, be it a tipple after work, a decent dinner at affordable prices or getting mates together to watch a game of rugby. The Still Room consists of the sun-drenched porch at the front, the main pub, and the gasheated, covered outside area at the back with a fireplace.
If you go… Think back to the TV hit Cheers. The Still Room is far classier than Sam Malone’s much-loved pub in Boston, but everybody will know your name after a visit or two. Precisely what Eastbourne has been waiting for. For non-locals, it’s the perfect feeding station during a day out to the bays.
Rating out of 5: 4.5– Eric Janssen