Finding a pub that’s tastefully decorated, welcoming and serves good food can sometimes feel like searching for the Holy Grail.
Thankfully The Talisman in Park Gate ticks all those boxes, plus more.
We have driven past the pub in Bridge Road hundreds of times, and while we’ve been aware that there’s been an overhaul (owners Hall & Woodhouse spent £1.3m doing the place up last year), we have never had reason to stop.
Meeting a friend after work on a Saturday made The Talisman the ideal spot with one of us coming from the Meon Valley and the other from Southampton.
What immediately strikes you as you park up and enter, is that the front you may have seen when driving past is not actually the entrance. Around the back there’s a large outdoor seating area, complete with fairy lights and outdoor heaters, with a path up to the entrance, which should technically be the back door. It has a large car park, and is much bigger than you would imagine from the front.
Once inside, we were greeted by the friendly team, and shown to our reserved seats. The pub has seven different sections to choose from, such as the conservatory, a reading snug, a large bar area and more, all with their own identity.
We were sat in a William Morris-themed room with huge chandeliers. Impressive.
It was also pleasing to see that despite all the fancy décor, the venue has not lost its identity as a pub with a large wooden bar at its heart.
The menu fits neatly onto one side of A4, with 11 starters and 11 mains to pick from. The dishes are all carefully selected and reflective of the Great British pub. There’s fish and chips, burgers, pies and so on, but the pièce de résistance has to be the steak – at £28.
We order two to follow our starters of squid tacos – which come served with sesame slaw, gochujang mayo and crispy rice noodles – and grilled lamb kofte – which comes with coconut tzatziki, rocket, chilli, mint and pomegranate molasses.
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The starters are tasty, and generously portioned. However they are nothing compared to the steak.
It comes as a 28-day aged sirloin steak, with grilled flat mushroom, beef tomato, bearnaise sauce, watercress and triple-cooked chips.
In fact, everything else on the plate might as well also take a back seat. The steak is the real star of the show. It’s so easy to eat, easy to cut and as such, it easily disappears.
For pudding – although I am not sure how we managed it – we ate a sticky toffee pudding and a chocolate brownie. Also delicious, but also definitely second fiddle to the superstar steak.
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Around us are lots of groups, from birthday parties to anniversary meals, couples on dates, families and groups of friends, however different each group’s reasons for celebrating in The Talisman, there was a common theme – enjoying good food.
No one is made to feel rushed, everyone served by friendly staff and the place has enough room not to feel crowded (it can seat up to 200).
Our bill for two with drinks came to just under £100 - The Talisman is clearly not the cheapest place to eat out, but it does make a great special night out. It was also nice to see a Blue Light discount being honoured on the table next to us.
If you are looking for a relaxed place to impress friends and loved ones, then look no further than the Talisman.
For more go to talismanparkgate.co.uk/
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