Dundee – LENNOX EATS

Lennox Eats Local Dundee Series | Episode 2

May 11, 2024June 23, 2024Leave a comment

3 Session Street, Dundee

Opened in 2018, by the team behind Innes & Gunn, 3 Session Street is a locally owned award winning cocktail lounge serving artisan cocktails, beers and wine. They have also, much to my delight, recently launched their brand new menu, consisting of hearty but more elegant plates to pair perfectly with your drink of choice. We were invited to come along and try out their first ever Spring Menu.

Let’s talk about the menu – it’s not too big, and not too small (just call me Goldie Locks) but for me, that’s a big insight into how the food will be. If it’s too big, you’re likely not getting super fresh food. If it’s too small, you’re almost being told what you’re eating without getting to actually choose. Well, 3 Session Street is the proverbial Baby Bear – they’ve got it just right. Still showcasing their pizzas and burgers, there’s options for everyone. But they also have more classic plates like pork belly, steaks, arancini, mussels and pan seared chicken.

Starting off strong I had their Life’s a Peach cocktail. A lovely little mix of Cognac, Maraschino liqueur, peach schnapps, passion fruit puree and lemon juice, topped with Prosecco. Really fruity and delicious.

Dominic tried their rum based cocktail “28 Days Later”, made with rum, cinnamon syrup and pineapple juice, torched at the table and left flaming for a smoky addition. I can see why this cocktail bar is award winning!

Onto starters and my love of mussels, but dietary intolerance to them strikes again – gutted to not have the scrumptious sounding starter, I went for the arancini. Really impressed with how crunchy yet light the outside coating was, and how light and fluffy the risotto inside was. The sauce below was lovely with strong tomato sweetness, balanced with a little hum of heat.

For my main, I had their pan-seared chicken, a slightly healthier option from their mains. The chicken itself was fantastic, an impressive colour on the outside with soft and juicy meat inside, not overcooked at all! The peppercorn sauce was really nice, not too thick but has a lovely creamy consistency. Served with new potatoes and steamed veggies, this might seem like the sides are a bit basic, but to be honest it was ideal – nothing too fancy and nothing coated in oil or butter. I loved it!

Dominic had the steak and ale pie, with seasoned fries and the same veggies my dish came with. The steak was bloody amazing, so much flavour and gravy with cooked down carrots giving it sweetness throughout. For those of you who get on your high horse about “a pie should be cooked as one” then the pastry which is cooked separately and placed on top might not be to your liking, but that gives a nice crunch to the dish and some flakiness to soak up that amazing gravy beneath.

📷 Starters – Arancini and Beetroot Terrine

Also a major shout out for their seasoned fries – these are exceptional, so much salty crunch on the outside (without being burnt!!) with a fluffy centre, absolutely piping hot, I wanted a huge bowl of these to myself. So add these on a side when you visit – you won’t regret it!

Desserts were nice and simple – I had strawberry covered strawberries which were a lovely, healthier end to a hearty meal, while Dominic had their lime panna cotta balanced nicely with fresh berries and a sweet little tuile on top.

We’ve actually previously been for cocktails and pizzas, and were blown away with how good they were. I’ve also done two different cocktail classes with them which were both so much fun! They even do cocktail tea parties – so this is the perfect place to celebrate!

The Verdict

Service 5/5
Drinks 5/5
Food 4/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Value for Money 4/5

Overall Rating 22/25

Lennox Eats Local Dundee Series | Episode 3

May 7, 2024July 2, 2024Leave a comment

Oshibori, Nethergate

Oshibori has been part of Dundee’s food scene since it opened as our first ever Japanese restaurant back in 2014. Known for its authentic food and aesthetic, this is one of the few places in Dundee that do sushi and ramen.

Browsing through the menu I was initially going to order my usual Prosecco – that’s right, I’m that girl who loves cheap bubbly; I don’t care that you judge me for it! However, when I saw their cocktail menu and the Japanese twist, I went against the norm and asked for their recommendation based on my love of fruity and long cocktails. Out came the Midori Koko, a beautiful mix of kin shiro shochu, midori, malibu and pineapple juice. This will set you back just £8.50. It’s tropical, light and felt like the ideal pairing for sushi.

For starters, we battled over what to order because everything sounds so good! We were on the cusp of ordering the soft shell crab tempura – but spoiler alert, someone decided to go for a soft shell crab main taking that option off the cards…I type bitterly.

So, instead, we shared their beef Yakitori, chicken gyoza, and had a hearty little bowl of miso soup each. The Yakitori was absolute perfection, generous cubes of steak cooked rare, smothered in an incredible sticky sauce. I’m not ashamed to admit (although I probably should be) I even lapped some of that sauce up with my fingers when we were finished with the actual steak! Fabulous.

The gyoza were also delicious, crispy on the outside with savoury chicken and a little crunch of fresh spring onion on the inside, served with an Asian spiced mayonnaise. Everything you want in a dumpling.

Onto the mains and surprise, surprise, Dominic went for the Crabdon rice bowl; a giant bowl filled with crispy soft shell crabs – I reckon around two or three palm sized crabs – done in a spiced tempura, served with rice, a sweet and salty sauce, and a plethora of little vegetables. Obviously I had to try some (since he tore away my chance of having a smaller version of this for my starter). Well, after three large bites Dominic had to tear the rest out of my chopsticks before I devoured the whole crab. The flavours in the tempura were superb, very rich and salty with a pinch of spice, but not overpowering in any way.

Sushi is something I crave almost daily, especially salmon when it’s served with lashings of fresh wasabi. So I inevitably went for one of their sushi platters – the Shomi. This consisted of one california with salmon and avocado, three salmon sashimi, two salmon nigiri and two tuna nigiri. Served beautifully on a large wooden serving plate, I adored the presentation. The california might have been my favourite, tightly wrapped and fresh, I used up more than half my wasabi on four of these alone.

With such generous portions, I ended up taking half my sushi home with me to enjoy for lunch the next day.

Which of course…magically left a little room for dessert. We shared their recommendation “Death by Chocolate”. Described as “layers of hot dark chocolate cake, chocolate brownie, crunch, chocolate mousse, simply delicious!” and that’s exactly what it was! It also came with some fresh blueberries, a lovely little surprise hidden beneath some light foamy cream, that gave a lovely little crunch and sweetness to balance that chocolate overload.

For me this was the perfect dessert to share as I don’t have too much of a sweet tooth; but this was the perfect way to end a truly delicious meal.

The Verdict

Service 4/5
Drinks 5/5
Food 5/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Value for Money 4/5

Overall Rating 22/25

Information

Monday – Friday: 12:30–3:30 pm, 5:30–10:30 pm
Saturday: 12:30–10:30 pm
Sunday: 5:30–10:30 pm

Address: 162 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4EE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oshiboridundee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oshiboridundee

Reservations: https://oshiborirestaurants.co.uk/events/

Lennox Eats Local Dundee Series | Episode 1

April 30, 2024Leave a comment

The Cannon, Union Street

Starting my Lennox Eats Local Dundee series strong with The Cannon, one of my favourite cafes in Dundee’s City Centre. This beautiful little café is is run by an incredible team of locals. I’ve actually posted about The Cannon on my Instagram page around three times in the one year I have had the page, and to be honest, the third post isn’t likely to be the last! I absolutely love this café for several reasons.

The first being that you always get a warm welcome and great service, no matter what. For example, I once visited where there wasn’t a single seat free, the team were clearly rushed off their feet and incredible busy. However, they still came over as we entered, with bright smiles and kind words. And despite being unable to get a seat, I still went away happy to have not been shoo’d out the door. No rudeness here ladies and gents!

Another reason this is one of my favourite cafés is their consistency of high standards and great products. I’ve never had a bad experience with their food or drinks. When ordering the same thing, it comes out the same and to cooking (or baking!) perfection each and every time.

And finally, the price – I don’t know how they keep their prices so low in 2024, but every single time I go to pay the bill, I get even further delight by it being around £20 for two people including drinks.

My favourite savoury options are their bagels, generous with fillings and only around £7 each; their bagels are a great choice. Especially the smoked salmon one – three huge slices of smoked salmon with a great balance of rocket and cream cheese!

Not to mention their Avo Eggs, just £7.50 for a lavish amount of crushed avocado on soft bloomer toasted bread, topped with perfectly poached eggs, rocket and a feta crumble. For those of you as greedy as me, you also have to add on some halloumi for that extra salty goodness.

Those of you with a sweet tooth and like something on the sweeter side for your breakfast or brunch, then this is the place for you. Their French toast is outstanding, and when I say the portions are generous, I mean it! Prepare yourself for lashings of Nutella, Biscoff or whatever your topping of choice is, with the fluffiest French toast you could ever wish for.

Their pancakes are American style, huge, fluffy and f***ing fabulous, lathered in toppings and sauces. I’m probably the only person in my close group that doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but even with that being the case, I always have to steal a big mouthful (or two) of the sweet dish whoever I am dining with has ordered!

Now, I’m just going to say it, I hate Starbucks, their coffee is rubbish and they don’t bring us locals anything but high prices and crappy coffee. The Cannon have fresh coffee options that are always lovely, strong and flavoursome, with the option of syrup sweetness or alternative milk – and of course, they do takeaway drinks. They do sensational milkshakes and iced coffees for those of you who love a cold sweet drink too!

📷 Greedy me enjoying their Biscoff Milkshake

So, please, ditch your morning coffee conglomerate stop and enjoy incredible takeaway drinks with the comfort of knowing that you’re supporting local 💛

The Verdict

Service 5/5
Drinks 5/5
Food 5/5
Atmosphere 5/5
Value for Money 5/5

Overall Rating 25/25

Information

Open 7 days a week 10am – 3.30pm.

Address: 11 Union St, Dundee, Scotland, DD1 4BN
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Cannon-100075697967918/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecannondundee/

Reservations: Walk-ins only

The Maker, Dundee

December 28, 2023December 29, 2023

An exciting new bar and restaurant has arrived in Dundee’s Perth Road, offering us locals an elevated gastro style dining experience, alongside finely crafted cocktails and beers. The Maker is situated across the road from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, with an almost Scandinavian feeling refurbishment the art students would be proud of. Pastel colours alongside modern lighting, clashes in a unique, strangely harmonious way with the building’s original classic Victorian cornicing (which The Maker owner, Chris, explained to me they had found boarded up and hidden away while doing the renovation… what a sin it was to hide such stunning architecture).

Owned by Dundee’s independent “engineers of beers”, this is 71 Brewing’s newest venture. Just two weeks after opening, we were invited to try out their food and cocktail menus.

The Cocktails

Let’s start, like we always do, with cocktails. Considering their Spritz Menu princes range from just £4.50 – £6.50 and their cocktails are all under £10, this price point is pretty damn good.

I opted for their Tropical Martini, a gin based mix with lots of bitter tones, as my first drink. Topped with a unique dill oil, I felt rather posh sipping on this. The martini was a little strong for Dominic, who enjoyed their Pornstar Sour, a fresh and citrus cocktail made with vanilla vodka, passion fruit, fizz and egg whites.

We also tried their alcohol-free Sangria after the meal, which was fruity, sweet and delicious. And finally a Bellini from their extensive Spritz Menu; a subtle and tasty mix of the classic peach and fizz. A lovely finish to the meal when you’ve eaten so much that a dessert is completely out of the question…

The Food

Which brings us nicely onto their food. Being such a lover of recommendations, surprises and tasting menus, one of my favourite things to do on an invite is to ask them to simply bring us their favourites – what dishes are the stars of the menu, what does the chef recommend? Hell, I unapologetically want the best of the best. And boy, did they deliver!

Although void of any cooking, I have to mention their olives. They were quite literally some of the best I’ve ever had. Huge, firm and perfectly balanced in their briny bitterness, these were topped with dried herbs and chili flakes. £4 for this wee pot might seem a little steep, but genuinely it’s not.

They then brought out their pretzel sticks, which came with an unctuous, oozy cheddar and beer fondue at the side. While the fondue was one of the more delicious cheese sauces I’ve had, mainly because of the subtle aftertaste of hops from the beer; I was heartbroken that the pretzels were missing the quintessential chunks of salt that I look forward to most. Perfect for those on a low sodium diet, but devastating for those of you with a slight salt addiction like myself. Taking into consideration these are just £5 though, I can’t complain. The little pot of macaroni cheese seemed to be, rather cleverly, made from that same fondue style cheese and beer sauce that comes with the pretzels, making it rich and decedent – again only £5 for this pot of pleasure.

Our fourth, and very welcomed, small plate was their halloumi fries, the classic 2018 crowd pleaser. But The Maker’s twist on these? A delicious Irn Bru chutney on the side for dipping these crispy, salty, delightful chunks of halloumi into – perfection. £7.50 feels a little steep for “some cheese and chutney” but this is a must try for any Irn Bru fans.

📷 The mix of small plates we shared, alongside our first cocktails.

When they brought us their “Cola BBQ Pork Belly”, I must admit, I was worried. It looked fantastic, chargrilled and vibrant, but the food snob within me cried “Cola? Really?”.

Well, I’m happy to report that I was wrong; this was my dish of the day. Poor Dominic barely got to try a mouthful of this incredible plate of food. The pork is sous vide, making it fall apart tender and soft, then finished on the grill to give it a smoky, barbecue finish pairing nicely with the sweetness of the Cola. Served with a beautiful corn puree, gnarly grilled broccoli and charred corn, all for a reasonable £14.

The second main we shared was their Chicken Gyros which will set you back £15. A thick and fluffy flatbread, topped with herby, impressively soft pieces of chicken, alongside tzatziki and salad. This was a fresh tasting dish if it weren’t for the side of fries it’s served with would be incredibly light.

📷Cola BBQ pork belly with corn salsa, charred corn and broccoli.

Another huge bonus to note is the food was piping hot, something I really appreciate when dining out – there’ nothing worse than lukewarm plates of food. None of that here!

The Atmosphere

The Maker has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, the kind of restaurant and bar you can dress casually for lunch, while having some delicious food and drinks. Although we visited during the day, I can see this being a really nice date night spot too – when you don’t want to dress to the nines but appreciate good food. The team behind The Maker are strikingly friendly, welcoming and we genuinely had a great laugh with them throughout our visit.

The Verdict

The Maker feels like one of those places you’ll default to on a weekend, to have some drinks and treating yourself to some tasty nibbles with friends. The team have successfully elevated your typical gastro pub food, with unique and delicious twists on some classic dishes, all wrapped up in a nice “chill out” setting.

We also noticed they have a great range of gluten free options on their menus, as well as catering for vegetarians and vegans.

Their diverse range of cocktails – and of course their craft beers – gives everyone something they’ll love. What a great addition to Dundee’s ever growing food scene.

Service 5/5
Cocktails 4/5
Food 4/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Value for Money 4/5

Overall Rating 21/25