Dinner at The Nag’s Head Inn
Emma Bate spends an evening eating at The Nag’s Head Inn - does it live up to expectations?
First impressions
The Nag’s Head Inn describes itself as a unique country pub and restaurant tucked away in Knaphill, near Woking, in the northwest of Surrey. With both Woking and Brookwood train stations nearby, it is well connected to transport hubs such as Clapham Junction and London Waterloo.
Having just been freshly renovated, the Nag’s Head is certainly beautifully furnished. Walking in from a bleak and cold December night, we were enticed by the cosy and warm feel radiating from within. With striking marble table tops and stylishly upholstered booths, there is a definite opulence to the space. The addition of fairy lights strung up immediately struck the right balance between style and home comfort.
The menu
The menu offered a vast array of pub classics, from rib eye steaks and gourmet burgers, to traditional British fish and chips.
Yet it didn’t stop there: with pizza, pasta and sharing mezze boards (plus a Sicilian lemon tart) available too, there was a real continental influence at play within the menu.
Dining with my vegetarian companion, I chose the sea salt and black pepper squid to start (£8.75), followed by the chef’s special rack of roast lamb with dauphinoise potatoes (£24). Whilst a little overdone, the lamb boasted a rich combination of flavours, tied together by the accompanying jus.
My table mate opted for a mushroom extravaganza, selecting the port and cheddar mushrooms (£7.95) ahead of the sauteed mushroom risotto (£18.25). Whilst she reported the dominant taste of the risotto seemed to be the sun-dried tomatoes rather than the mushroom, it was certainly packed full of sumptuous veggie surprises from artichoke crisps to sticky pickled dates.
To cleanse our palettes, we finished our meal sharing the sticky toffee and rum pudding (£8.25) alongside the baked apple tart (£7.95). The former certainly won us over much more than the latter, with the striking ginger ice-cream pairing fantastically well with the dominant toffee and rum flavours.
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The experience
Visiting during the awkward ‘Twixmas’ period between Christmas day and New Year, it was perhaps not as busy as one may find it on a typical Sunday afternoon where roasts are on constant demand from the kitchen. However there was still a relaxed and cosy atmosphere, even with only a handful of families dining with each other around us. As we arrived, staff were clearing up from a wedding reception which had taken place there that afternoon, demonstrating the focal point it has within its immediate community.
What we liked…
The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, providing a homely yet stylish service.
What we didn’t…
Whilst extensive, the menu offered so many choices it was difficult to narrow down. With pies, linguini, and charcuterie all on offer, it seems the unique British identity of this freshly renovated gastro pub was slightly lost. Less is always more.
Final thoughts
A cosy yet stylish gastro pub, perfect for a meal after a chilly countryside walk.
The bill, please
- My three courses came to £41 altogether, with my dining companion’s coming in at £34.15, with alcohol an additional cost.
- Whilst we opted for wine, for the cocktail lovers out there you can grab two for £15 Mon-Thurs. A deal we’ll drink to!
