36 on the Quay in Emsworth, Hampshire is an ideal place to go if you’re celebrating a special occasion, needing to getaway for a short break or just want to experience some fantastic food. A couple of weeks ago I was looking for a place that ticked all of those boxes and found this little gem via Groupon. For those of you who know me or read my blog regularly, you’ll know I have a toddler – little K. As much as I love my time with him, I also try to make the most of my time without him! Quite often this will involve decorating, gardening, DIY and cleaning so it’s nice to have a special treat now and again to remind myself that I deserve some down-time too. So we booked a six-course taster menu experience and an overnight stay with breakfast!
So at the start of the Easter weekend, my partner and I headed down to Emsworth to 36 on the Quay after work. Luckily we didn’t hit any bank holiday weekend traffic and made it down before it got dark. 36 on the Quay is right on the quayside overlooking the picturesque Emsworth harbour. But as we arrived only an hour before our table booking, there was no time to explore and so we headed over to the hotel entrance to check-in to our room.
We stayed in the Saffron suite which is in the newer part of the building. Each room and cottage is decorated differently and our suite was very fresh and classically modern in style. The living area is open-plan with a breakfast table and a kitchenette, which was very handy for our pre-dinner prosecco.
The bathroom is also modern, fresh and spotlessly clean with a rain head shower and an art-deco mirror. The statuette in the bathroom adds a touch of personality and makes a statement in this otherwise functional space.
We headed down to the restaurant area at 9pm which was our reservation time and we were seated straight away. The restaurant was already 80% full and there was a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The bar lounge and restaurant area are decorated in soft neutral tones which offsets beautifully against the bold and colourful local artwork displayed on the walls. And although 36 on the Quay has won many awards over the years (there are two display cases in the lounge to prove it), it’s far from pretentious.
I’m far from a food blogger, but I am passionate about food and 36 on the Quay is a haven for foodies. Chef Ramon Farthing’s menu is bold and exciting with pairings of food that I’d never have thought of… but it worked! Taster menus are designed to take you on a journey and allow you to try new foods and combinations and this menu certainly did just that…
After ordering some wine (Rioja Reserva 2010 Viña Pomal – delicious), we didn’t have to wait long for our tasting experience to begin. When I usually blog about stylish places, I write about the interior design, the architecture and the landscaping. But although 36 on the Quay is a charming building which is decorated beautifully, the style is in the food. And I’ll let the pictures do the talking…
Wow right? Not only did the food look amazing, but the contrasting tastes and textures were delicious. Our continental breakfast was of the highest standard too with fresh orange juice, natural yogurt, muesli and pastries. After breakfast we headed off to explore the coast around Emsworth and I managed to take some more photos of the restaurant in daylight as well as the surrounding harbour.
I would certainly recommend 36 on the Quay for dinner or a short break and I hope to return myself one day. The staff that we met were all very professional, friendly and hospitable and gave us some good tips for our walk. This place truly is a little gem by the sea.
Natalia xo
