carbon14 Blog

Sunday brought us to Castle Howard, in the rain. After browsing the farm shop in the courtyard, we decided to try the Courtyard Café for lunch.

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Because of the rain, it was busy in there, and we were advised that there would be a delay until they could find us a table. They helpfully told us that there were three other eateries in the grounds of the estate, and they had set up some seats inside as a waiting area because of the rain. We wandered around the plant center for a while and then went back to the café when things had quietened a little.

As it was, with at party of five we still had to wait a little for a table, but the temporary waiting area was comfortably and didn't feel too much in the way. When our table was ready, there was no sense of cramped space.

I had fish and chips. That's not quite what it says on the menu, but it was beautiful. A sturdy piece of cod, cooked in a light frothy beer batter, enough for the flavour, but not so much as to be heavy and greasy. The chips were thin, and nicely browned, cut from a flavoursome seasonal potato and served with a tangy tartare sauce and a minted pea puree. At £9.50, I think it's a very expensive plate of fish and chips, but the quality and flavour were such that it compares very well in the “Stately Home Eatery” stakes.