Riverbank Restaurant - Stafford College

[Admin]

Hello Stafford forum!

And hello to you, Flibbertigibbet!

 

[flossietoo]

Hello Stafford forum!

First post!!
I too have worked at the college for the past 2 years and have still to set foot in the Earls restaurant! After reading how good it is I just might attempt to get a booking in say June next year?

Hello Fibbertigibbet. You may have worked at the College for two years without sampling its excellent restaurant but you have an avatar. Which is more than I have!

 

[flossietoo]

Hello Stafford forum!

First post!!
I too have worked at the college for the past 2 years and have still to set foot in the Earls restaurant! After reading how good it is I just might attempt to get a booking in say June next year?

Welcome. Perhaps the Forum should block book it one day?.

Good idea, Gramaisc. If we could find an evening with sufficient availability we could all get in there sharpish and spend a pleasant evening wondering who is who!

 

[Gramaisc]

Hello Stafford forum!

First post!!
I too have worked at the college for the past 2 years and have still to set foot in the Earls restaurant! After reading how good it is I just might attempt to get a booking in say June next year?

Welcome. Perhaps the Forum should block book it one day?.

Good idea, Gramaisc. If we could fine an evening with sufficient availability we could all get in there sharpish and spend a pleasant evening wondering who is who!

It's definitely worth investigating what the availability is. Would they take a block booking?

And, I don't know how much you drink, but I usually know who I am.

 

[tek-monkey]

Just a heads up, the new menus are now available:

http://www.staffordcoll.ac.uk/restaurants.html

No idea on spaces available, you'll have to call. More info on the different eating facilities in the college here.

 

[speak65]

Yeeaaahhhh booked in at last - looking forward to it.
In fact I booked 2 separate nights and am on the reserve list for the burns night meal too!

 

[tek-monkey]

I'll be there on the Tuesday for Burn's night

Noticed the Bistro is also doing a burns night menu, albeit slightly different. Both look good.

 

[speak65]

I might check out the bistro as it's close to OH's birthday so would be good to do

 

[flossietoo]

We went to the last Burns Night. Much theatre - they processed the haggis through the restaurant followed by all the young chefs and it was then ceremonially stabbed after being properly addressed (I think it is so important to maintain standards of politeness - always address something before you stab it). I had a veggie alternative, which was not stabbed. Great fun - I wish I'd taken my camera.

 

[tek-monkey]

Excellent meal! Was 6 courses though, I was struggling by the third. Everything was cooked brilliantly, the only course I abstained from was the blue cheese but I can't stand the stuff (gave it a try anyway, but nope I still hate it!). Will post a better review when I feel less fat

 

[lisseylee]

I've mentioned Earls Restaurant (the one at the top floor of the College) before but after another amazing meal there this week and in the light of all the comments about the poor eating-out situation in Stafford, I thought it deserved its own thread. Our meal was (for the meat-lovers): some kind of oyster thing served in its shell followed by salmon and langoustine ravioli with warm remoulade (no idea) and lobster sauce. Then they both chose pan-fried cannon of lamb with slow-poached breast, dauphionoise potatio, ratatouille and reforme sauce. They could have had pheasant or something called 'Cotriade D'armor, which I think was a fish stew. After that came tiny cups filled with mini lemon meringue pies and finally pudding - tiramisu with (obviously fresh-made) biscotti or pear & apple tatin. Three of the five courses were on the menu, the oysters and the lemon meringue were an "amuse bouche" and a pre-pudding.

The two veggies had an introductory thing of french onion soup, followed by pear, stilton and caremlised walnut salad with raspberry viniagrette. The veggie main course option was leek & stilton eccles cakes with ratatoille and dauphinoise potato but that that had run out so the chef made us something stunningly-wonderful in filo pastry. After that we too had the lemon meringue pots, then pudding.

Coffee comes with home made chocolate fudge. All this cost £15 per head. It is cooked and served by the students who are polite, anxious to please and totally excellent. The downsides are that you have to be ready to sit down at 7pm, the restaurant room itself is a bit devoid of atmosphere and if you are on the young side then you should be prepared to be outnumbered by the rest of the diners, who seem not to be. Finally, you need to be both determined and patient to get a table. It's open on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, term-time only and people book up months ahead - contact them now and you might possibly get something in the spring or summer term.

Incidentally, Earls is also open at lunchtime, Tuesday - Friday. Three courses for £8. I'm never free at lunchtime so I don't know how easy it is to get a table then.

can we have contact details please - we have heard about it but not been yet -

 

[Gramaisc]

can we have contact details please - we have heard about it but not been yet -

We had another wonderful meal at Earls this week - they had a 'guest chef' event featuring Richard Cullen. It was, without a doubt, the best food we've eaten in Stafford. In fact, in the summer we ate at one of those celebrity chef restaurants where the meal cost a fortune and wasn't anywhere near as good as Earls. They are booking through to June now and I gather there are only a few tables left. The booking number is 01785 275481. As per my comment above, though, be aware it is only open on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and it's an early start at 7pm. Also the food is served, as well as cooked, by students. They are a totally charming group of young people but probably not as confident as an old-hand waiter. So if you have one of those friends who tends to enjoy making life difficult for waiting staff, tell him or her that you couldn't get a table!

Just a heads up, the new menus are now available:

http://www.staffordcoll.ac.uk/restaurants.html

No idea on spaces available, you'll have to call. More info on the different eating facilities in the college here.

 

[tek-monkey]

Its worth a call, but they are very busy. I think they are already pretty much full til then end of the college year, but try anyway as there is always the odd cancellation.

 

[flossietoo]

We booked through to the summer some time last September. I do know, though, that my husband has got to be away for work on one of the dates we've booked, so I'll probably have to cancel. I suspect they may have a few cancellations for similar reasons, just because people book so far in advance. Incidentally, Tek, I have just got in from tonight's Burns supper at Earls and I know what you mean. I am so full I'm going to have to have a little lie down. Fabulous food and lovely, lovely student waiters who looked after us beautifully.

 

[speak65]

We booked through to the summer some time last September. I do know, though, that my husband has got to be away for work on one of the dates we've booked, so I'll probably have to cancel. I suspect they may have a few cancellations for similar reasons, just because people book so far in advance. Incidentally, Tek, I have just got in from tonight's Burns supper at Earls and I know what you mean. I am so full I'm going to have to have a little lie down. Fabulous food and lovely, lovely student waiters who looked after us beautifully.

I was there tonight too and a great meal was had!

 

[flossietoo]

We booked through to the summer some time last September. I do know, though, that my husband has got to be away for work on one of the dates we've booked, so I'll probably have to cancel. I suspect they may have a few cancellations for similar reasons, just because people book so far in advance. Incidentally, Tek, I have just got in from tonight's Burns supper at Earls and I know what you mean. I am so full I'm going to have to have a little lie down. Fabulous food and lovely, lovely student waiters who looked after us beautifully.

I was there tonight too and a great meal was had!

Were you? We'll have to get some special badges to alert us to the fact that there is a fellow forumite in the area! Until then, perhaps we should just roll one trouser leg..oh no..wait...someone's already doing that. Did you manage all six courses? I think it will be a considerable while until I can face food again. Or, indeed, fasten my trousers.

 

[fatfrog]

Having looked at the link and the reviews that have been posted I have just booked into the Earls. 1st May was the first available date. I did not know it was there and so a big thank you to the Forum. Can't wait

 

[My Name is URL]

Every time I call I get "the person at extension 31XX is currently unavailable"

Do you have to call on a certain day / at a certain time?

 

[tek-monkey]

Damn you! I was offered 1st of May but hadn't got a reply from the other half, bah! I can confirm that the only dates they have left are in May, and are very limited (if even still available).

 

[fatfrog]

some contact numbers for you
Jane Gibbons on 01785 275481, 01785 275463 or 01785 223800

I got through on the first number in the fernoon. good luck

Sorry if I took your date tec-monkey...maybe tey hav some more places left? good luck to you too

Every time I call I get "the person at extension 31XX is currently unavailable"

Do you have to call on a certain day / at a certain time?