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What makes the Earth &
Stars so disappointing as a place to eat out, is that
it would be so easy for the owners to make this somewhere
*really special*. Designed as an eco-friendly pub, with
its own solar panels, a recycling policy and a purveyor
of organic produce only, this should have been heaving
with customers on a sunday lunchtime in December. Instead,
there were only a handful of occupied tables, and although
it started filling up later, this was only further evidence
to me that this is a pub first and foremost, and a food
venue second. Not that that's a bad thing, but I can't
help thinking that this is a crying shame in terms of
missed opportunity. In Brighton, an organic hippy pub
selling really good food should be as popular as Infinity
Foods or Waikikamookau.
And the shame of it is, the food really IS good. On
sundays, they only serve roasts. There's no starters
or puddings available, and only one vegetarian option
- another disappointing aspect. The spinach and mushroom
pie was served with one solitary yorkshire pudding,
some scrummy roast and boiled potatoes, exceedingly
tasty fresh petit pois, carrots, red cabbage, and some
delicious gravy. Rhandolph got the same veg, with pork,
although he could have had beef, lamb or chicken.
There is also no wine list - and organic wine option
comes in two kinds, red or white. Not such a hot selection
for a pub that prides itself on offering organic booze.
The three-sided bar only has draft booze on one side
- two lagers, two beers, one absolutely vile 'vintage'
cider, and some other stuff that costs up to £3.50
a pint.
The bar staff were friendly enough but considering
they weren't overloaded with customers, it was a surprise
that it took them an hour to clear the plates after
we'd finished. We weren't offered any condiments with
our meal and had to search to find a meagre offering
of mint or horseradish sauce. Not even a single mustard
on offer, which again, when you think of the huge range
of organic condiments, is disappointing.
The decor is quite modern, with rustic style tables
and benches, and an 'olde worlde' map painted on the
walls. The toilets were classic pub loos, the paint
a nasty off-white colour.
My summary would be - 'could do better'.
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