The Marchmont Arms, Hemel Hempstead

Husband treated me to Sunday lunch yesterday, it was SO good, I just had to tell you all about it.

We went to the Marchmont Arms in Hemel Hempstead.

The Marchmont Arms Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AT
Tel: 01442 254 320
http://www.themarchmontarms.co.uk/home/

The Marchmonth Arms - photo taken from their website

We hadn’t booked in advance, and we got there about 2.45pm, and it was fully booked! Gutted, the food looked incredible! We were told we could have a table in just over an hour, so we grabbed it! We had another errand to run, so we went off did that and came back, grabbed a drink in the bar and waited for our table. I had a glass of the house red, and it was delicious, really easy to drink, fruity and dangerous (it went down a bit too well)

Delicious house red and a Peroni

We were seated at 4pm, and we asked for our drinks order and given our menus.

Wine Selfie!

I've put copy of the menu here:
Have any of our roasts with a starter or dessert for 3.00 Just look out for the FP
Served until 7pm

To Share
Mediterranean mezze, baba ghanoush, dukkah aubergines, tzatziki, hummus & flat bread 11.95
Antipasti board, cured meats, Dolcelatte, stuffed bell peppers, grilled artichokes & rustic bread 14.50
Box baked Camembert, rustic bread, grape & onion jam 10.95
Garlic pizzette, rocket, parmesan & garlic butter 6.95
Artisan rustic breads, whole-roasted garlic & olives 4.95

Starters
Spiced lamb koftas, tzatziki & sweet chilli jam 6.95 FP
Seared pigeon breast, sweet potato rosti, buttered British greens & red wine jus 7.75
Soup of the day & rustic bread 4.95 FP
Asparagus & poached egg, hollandaise 6.25
Salt & pepper squid, garlic aïoli 5.25 FP
Roasted mushrooms, cream & Pinot Grigio sauce, crusty bread 5.25 FP
King prawn cocktail, Chase Bloody Mary sauce & rustic bread 7.25
Arancini risotto balls, mozzarella, tomato salsa & green chilli mayo 4.95
Scallops see our Chef’s daily specials 9.95

Sunday Roasts
All of our roasts are served with duck fat roasties, today’s seasonal veg & gravy.
Roast rib of beef & Yorkshire puddings 13.95
Roast pork loin, sage stuffing, roasted apple & crackling 11.95
Spit roast chicken, apricot stuffing & bread sauce 12.95
Roast lamb rump & apricot stuffing 16.95
Roasted mushroom, feta & onion tart, asparagus & pea shoot salad 9.95
A trio of roasts, beef, chicken & pork with extra trimmings 15.95
A whole roast spit chicken for two, Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets, asparagus, bread sauce & stuffing 25.95

Mains
Pan fried sea bass fillets, dauphinoise potato, asparagus, sauce vierge 17.95
28 day dry aged Casterbridge ribeye steak & hand cut triple cooked chips 19.95 add béarnaise, peppercorn, red wine sauce 1.50 / ½ lobster tail 7.00
Ale battered haddock, frites, minted pea purée, homemade tartare sauce 11.95
King prawn, crab & chorizo linguine, tomato, garlic & chilli sml 8.95 / lrg 12.95
Gnocchi, roasted butternut squash & spinach, ricotta, sage & pumpkin seeds 9.95
British rib of beef & Rioja pie, mashed potato 13.95
Duck salad, mooli, sesame seeds, carrot, cucumber, plum & hoisin sauce sml 7.95 / lrg 11.95
Wholefood salad, green beans, orange, grapefruit, asparagus, beetroot, pumpkin & sesame seeds, pomegranate, hazelnut dukkah sml 7.50 / lrg 10.50 add salmon 4.00 / goat’s cheese 3.00 / chicken 3.00 Homemade West Country beef burger, gherkin, mustard mayo, Emmental cheese, relish & frites 10.95 add bacon, chorizo, mushroom or Dolcelatte 1.50 / pulled pork 3.50 / ½ lobster tail 7.00
Grilled North Atlantic salmon, buttered new potatoes, feta, peas, fresh mint & edamame bean salad 13.50 Margherita pizza, cherry tomatoes & basil 7.95
Carne pizza, chorizo, pepperoni, pulled chicken, luganega sausage 12.95
Or create your own, just ask your server for our list of toppings

Desserts Mixed berry Eton mess & a Chambord drizzle 5.75
Vanilla & chocolate gelato, home baked cookies 5.50
Earl grey crème brûlée & home baked butter biscuits 5.50 FP
Sticky toffee pudding & vanilla gelato 5.50
French lemon curd & almond sponge, vanilla gelato 5.50 FP
Chocolate brownie & vanilla gelato 5.95
Frozen yoghurt & fresh berries 4.95 FP
Apple & blackcurrant shortbread crumble, vanilla custard 5.50 FP
Baked vanilla cheesecake & a red berry compote 5.95
Cheese board, Sussex Blue, Tornegus, award-winning Cornish Brie, homemade red onion jam & biscuits 7.25

Dining Room - photo taken from their website

The drinks arrived promptly, and we ordered at the same time. We ordered starters and mains (we were starving by this point!) There are a few special starters that cost £3 each when you order a Sunday lunch, so that is what we did. We both ordered the Roasted mushrooms, cream & Pinot Grigio sauce, crusty bread for start, then I had the Spit roast chicken, apricot stuffing & bread sauce and husband had Roast lamb rump & apricot stuffing. It was amazing!

The mushroom starter is out of this world, the sauce is just delicious, I need the recipe (I wonder if they would give it to me?!) and for my main I got a leg, a breast, 3 roast potatoes, a pig in blanket, a Yorkshire pudding and we had some vegetables to share - cabbage and roasted carrot and swede. The gravy was incredible, Jamie said to me that I wouldn’t finish it, but it did - it would be a waste if I didn’t eat it all! We didn’t order pudding as we were too stuffed, I only wish I had room!

The service was quick and friendly and felt personal. They asked us if we were ready for our mains when they collected the empty starter dishes from us. We didn’t feel rushed at all, and there was a real buzz in the air and the food spectacular!

So, if you are ever in the Hemel Hempstead area, I can't recommend The Marchmont Arms enough. I can't wait for my next visit!

Jx