AD – My meal from Orton’s Brasserie was gifted in return for this review.
The things we can and cannot do are constantly changing in these times and being able to write a full-blown blog post review feels like a luxury right now! I respect that some people still aren’t ready to indulge into some of the things “normality” brings and others are trying to navigate their way into bringing it back into their lives safely. I do still enjoy supporting small businesses with the occasional takeaway but it was felt great to be sat back in a restaurant, enjoying great food.
In this post, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a new restaurant in Leicester, based in the heart of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter. An area of the city which has so much potential to become so much more in the future!
Like with many local businesses, Orton’s Brasserie, has had to adapt to the current situation. Their launch date was delayed by 4 months, giving them the time to prepare to make their mark on the food and drink scene in Leicester.
About Orton’s Brasserie
Orton’s Brasserie is situated in the heart of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter, opposite the gorgeous Curve Theatre. Those familiar with this area of the city will know that this venue was formally known as the Queen Victoria Arts Club.
Orton’s Brasserie has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure their restaurant aligns with government guidance and still enables an enjoyable dining experience for its customers. There’s the addition of a new outside garden (great for the summer months) and entrance space making the venue more flexible for social distancing. Orton’s Brasserie has anti-bac ‘fogged’ all of their chairs, tables and surfaces to give them long-lasting protection. The team have also introduced wrapped cutlery and disposable menus, ensuring as little contact with multiple people as possible.
This restaurant is fundamentally a brasserie and bar, full of options whether you want to come for brunch, lunch, dinner or even just to enjoy a couple of cocktails on a Friday night. Orton’s Brasserie is incredibly modern and stylish, it has striking artwork on the walls, stunning light fixtures and a warm colour palette making it a fantastic place to dine. The future of Orton’s Brasserie is very exciting and will make a good venue in the upcoming months when the cultural sector re-emerges through the pandemic. It would be a great spot for a pre-theatre dinner, especially being on the Curve’s doorstep.
The food.
Orton’s Brasserie pride themselves on serving up “classic British dishes, presented in a contemporary fashion“. Their fresh twists on traditional favourites is clear from their menu, it is on the limited side to what I would have expected, however, there’s something for everyone. Food is served between Wednesday-Saturday, Mondays and Sundays are for cocktails only whereas Tuesday is for Tapas ‘N Tini’s.
The restaurant’s chef has decided to create two unique experiences for their guests to enjoy; if you are just out for some drinks after work then there’s a Bar (Tapas) Menu available. Their A La Carte menu is for those seeking a coursed meal to enjoy the time with your friends or loved ones. We were offered two courses on our visit; we decided on a Main and a Dessert each from their A La Carte Menu.
*this menu is subject to change soon due to seasonal options. Find out about the latest menu when it arrives here.
For the main I had ‘Chef Andy’s Chicken’ (£14.95). This dish was beautifully presented, the flavoursome pan fried free range chicken breast was served with a tarragon infused mashed potato, wild mushroom fricassee and charred corn. The dish although simplistic was packed full of flavour, I could of easily enjoyed 2 rounds of this meal alone.
Jordan opted for the ‘Belly and Beets‘ dish, I knew he would go for this considering he is a huge fan of pork belly. His only complaint for his dish was that the crackling, cooked wonderfully, had not been scored making it a small challenge to get through without sending food skittering onto the table. But once the crackling was mastered the meal was incredibly enjoyable, the meat from the pork belly was wonderfully tender and melted in the mouth while the pureed beets (not normally featuring in Jordan’s palette) added a wonderful contrasting flavour and texture to the dish.
For desserts we both opted for something different. I needed to satisfy my sweet tooth so was instantly drawn into the ‘Chocolate Fondant’. This one is definitely for fellow chocolate lovers; a chocolate fondant with its gooey centre and notes of burnt caramel and popcorn on the side. It wasn’t as rich as I would have expected but served with vanilla ice cream, it balanced it out right. This chocolatey heaven was exactly what I needed to finish off my dining experience at Orton’s Brasserie.
Jordan went for the ‘Eton Mess‘ served “deconstructed” – in other words strawberries, cream and miniature meringue with edible flowers all piled together. A tasty end to the meal and a fun way to serve a traditional dish, again he only had one complaint which was he wished there had been more meringue!
Overall, we really enjoyed our first visit to the new Orton’s Brasserie. We managed to sample some of their food during lockdown when they delivered us a brunch so it was really enjoyable to experience dining with their team. The food was flavourless and beautifully presented, it felt far more luxurious than for its price and would definitely be somewhere I’d enjoy with both friends and family. I make good use of the Curve so I can see this being a new spot before enjoying some of the great British theatre there is on its doorsteps. It’s a well needed addition to the area in Leicester.
I’d definitely recommend Orton’s Brasserie if you’re looking for a new restaurant to try in Leicester city centre.
Orton’s Brasserie is open 7 days a week with food served between Wednesday-Saturday. You can find out more about the restaurant and book your table by visiting their website here.
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