Review of 'Restaurant 22'

A delightful restaurant in a bit of an unusual location. Restaurant 22 has to be one of the most difficult restaurants to find in Cambridge but once you do you will never forget what you have experienced.

Nestled amongst sets of row houses you could be forgiven to miss the restaurant differentiated by it's neighbors only by a small sign and menu on a placard out front. Entering the front room of the house (through the small cloak room) the main floor is a small affair only seating 26 (an upstairs room, for small functions, seats 12). You are welcomed warmly by the owner, David Carter who shows you to your table – Have I just intruded on someone's home dinner party? No, this is indeed a restaurant and a very good one at that.

The reasonably priced set menu is seasonal and regularly changes with a good mix of both vegetarian and meat-eating dishes. When we visited on a Tuesday (they are closed Mondays) the tables were all booked. Before ordering we were offered some lovely canapés – small but very tasty.

It was a bit difficult selecting from the wonderful selection of dishes on the set menu but we finally decided. I started with the arancini of basil and mozzarella (with a salpicon of seafood in crustacean sauce) which was very tasty – the arancini (deep fried risotto) was crispy yet appropriately creamy and the seafood was very tasty (and fresh) with a lovely seafood sauce. My companion's leek and sorrel tart was good with a light crispy crust.

My main was the roast breast of corn fed chicken with braised leeks and truffle scented pommes purée. The chicken was unbelievable flavourful and moist – the best chicken I can ever remember and the accompaniments very much accented the flavours of the chicken. Delightful. According to my companion her mushroom and walnut crepes were also very good indeed.

Pudding was also enjoyable with our raspberry soufflé prepared to order and arrived at the table still very warm. Light and not too sweet. Perfect.

Not only a fantastic atmosphere and food but also a very reasonably priced restaurant. I can find no fault at all.

Rating: “I have absolutely no complaints”

Review Date: 2007-03-13


Cuisine: French

Address: 22 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX

Location: Cambridge (England)

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Telephone: 01223 351880

URL: http://www.restaurant22.co.uk/