Located in a picture-perfect destination, The Old Weighing Room is one of the latest dining venues to open in Doncaster.
Set facing the grounds of South Yorkshire town’s iconic racecourse, the intimate venue serves quality British cuisine, featuring a selection of fine Yorkshire ingredients.
It doesn’t have to be a race day for you to visit and savour the unique and traditional surroundings of the racecourse, The Old Weighing Room opens its doors from Thursday to Sunday every week.
We visited for the Sunday lunch sitting available between 12pm – 6pm.
We were seated in the elegant bar area to enjoy our drinks and browse the menus. There’s also seating on an outdoor terrace overlooking the racecourse – we heard a rumour food will be served outdoors during summer 2015.
Our waiter soon arrived back to escort us to our table in the tastefully decorated restaurant which accommodates up to 70 covers. Despite a transformation from its former purpose at the racecourse, décor at The Old Weighing Room remains in-keeping with the grounds, retaining many of its original features.
A complimentary freshly baked bread roll was served on arrival while we awaited our first course orders.
Attention to detail is paramount at The Old Weighing Room. The tables are dressed with white linen cloths and each dish is artistically arranged on plate.
Chef Robinson was recruited to run the kitchen at The Old Weighing Room in line with its opening last April, having previously worked for the Jamie Oliver Foundation as a training chef for No.15 restaurant in Cornwall.
The seasonal menu has a varied selection – to start, choose from treacle cured salmon, pressed pork and rabbit terrine, honey roast parsnip soup, wild mushrooms on toast, or the crayfish cocktail.
We opted for the terrine served with fig, apple and crackling salad and the crayfish served with Marie Rose sauce and brown bread and butter. Both larger portions than expected bosting a good balance of flavours.
For main course choose between the roast sirloin of beef, Wharfedae lamb hotpot, supreme of chicken chasseur, pheasant and duck pithivier, parmesan crusted cod or roasted vegetable cobbler. My chicken chausseur – confit leg served with champ mash and baby leeks was near perfect, while my partners beef accompanied with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and red wine jus was a favourite with most diners in the restaurant.
To finish – if you’ve got the room – choose from a pear and almond tart, iced lemon brulee, trio of chocolate or Yorkshire cheese board. The tart was served with a pear sorbet and clove custard – an impressive combination of textures and flavours; while the trio of chocolates – a Valrhona chocolate brownie, rich chocolate cheesecake and white chocolate brulee – looked and tasted like an award winning dish.
We’ll be back in the summer to sample the menu once again, hopefully in al-fresco-style.
The Old Weighing Room // Doncaster Racecourse, Leger Way, Doncaster, DN2 6BB // 01302 304 250 // info@theoldweighingroom.co.uk.
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