To Share or Not to Share!

Food Review:The Arden Hotel, Stratford – Upon – Avon

I spent a wonderful weekend in Stratford Upon Avon at the fashionable Arden Hotel opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre on Waterside. The Waterside Brasserie, recently re-branded No 44 on the Waterside has introduced a stylish new look and menu creating a truly unique dining experience in the relaxed atmosphere of The Arden Hotel.

Arden – the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare’s As You Like It

The new new food offering is called ‘To share or not to share’ with an obvious reference to the spoken words of Shakespeare`s Hamlet.

The concept is simple, if there are two Diners, they are encouraged to choose between five or six small dishes to share. If there are more diners in the group, a greater number of small dishes can be chosen, perhaps amongst a group of family and friends!
Have you ever been out for a meal and find it difficult to choose from the many tempting options on the menu or find that your dining partner appears to have chosen something you may have enjoyed? 

Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers.

Romeo & Juliet

No more looking at a friend’s dish and thinking you should have ordered what they did; menu envy is now a thing of the past!
The ‘shareables’ offering makes it possible for diners to eat & taste a range of dishes. The inspiration for the new menu comes from wanting to make dining more adventurous and social.

The ‘shareables’ encourage guests to explore the varied menu with friends, sharing 5-6 small plates between two guests. Once the food is cooked the dish is served directly to the table whether you have finished the first dish or not, as described on the menu!

My wife and I chose six small dishes, Chilli fries, Crispy Duck Salad, Fresh Pasta, Beef Bavettes, Grilled Aubergine and best of all Braised sticky lamb belly, tamarind & roast pumpkin.

All of the food was freshly prepared and perfectly cooked and presented to table as soon as it was cooked, but I did worry a little about some of the dishes going cold, as they queued up on our table.

By the time we were ready to eat our final dish, the Beef bavette, I was pleased to note the food was still warm and tasted beautiful, alongside the accompanying onion marmalade potato wedges and red wine sauce.
I thought the concept would work much better with four or more diners or present two of the small plates together at the start of the meal for a smaller group!

At The Arden diners can still choose ‘ Not to share’ and order their meals in the traditional way, each meal arriving when all of the diners are ready for the next course.

I thought it was a great way for diners to try and taste small dishes of food they might not otherwise choose to order, when only one dish was on offer!
The new food offering creates a really laid back and relaxed atmosphere allowing guests to graze on delicious food whilst hanging out, kicking back and having a few drinks. 
It’s dining without the formalities.

Washed down with a fine bottle of red La Colonia Argentinian Malbec Finca 2018 and two delicious Desserts made for a wonderful evening meal in the stylish surroundings of The Arden.
When you are next in Stratford Upon Avon, why not check out The Arden Hotel, No 44 Waterside Brasserie for a brand new dining experience.

I simply loved it!

The Arden Hotel 
No 44 on the Waterside, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6BA

t: 01789 298682
f: 01789 206989
e: info@theardenhotelstratford.com

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of the Eden Hotel Collection. The views and comments expressed are as usual my own.