Hearty homemade food is a sumptuous feast at Deptford's Birds Nest **** (From News Shopper)
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Hearty homemade food is a sumptuous feast at Deptford's Birds Nest ****
4:50pm Monday 1st February 2010
NERVOUSNESS washed over me as I approached the Birds Nest pub in Deptford.
The exterior was ramshackle with dishevelled curtains hanging from the upstairs windows.
Its less than smart appearance, coupled with a pair of locals stood outside left me feeling that this pub was for regulars only.
As I clumsily negotiated the two pairs of double doors, I braced myself: the music was sure to come to a halt and threatening glares would be cast my way.
However, I was pleasantly met by a dark wooden interior with the bright January sunshine beaming through.
The regulars were too intent on reading their Sunday Times and petting their puppies to bother sizing me up. I breathed a sigh of relief – things were looking up.
The chef, a friendly Liverpudlian lady in fancy-dress and glittering emerald eye shadow, greeted me as I sat at a wooden pew.
She recommended the Sunday Roast – either chicken, pork or beef for £7.50, vegetarian options were also available.
I plumped for the roast beef and waited for its arrival as I sipped on a cold pint of Bishop’s Finger.
After a short wait and a read of the paper, I was presented with a large steaming plate of food. It looked like proper no-nonsense, homemade fare, perfect for a cold winter’s day.
I dived straight in for a roast potato – it was golden and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
So far so good – the dish passed the potato test. The carrots, peas and broccoli were cooked perfectly and had a firm bite to them.
They were delicious smothered in ample amounts of sumptuously velvety gravy.
The Yorkshire pudding was satisfactory as was the meat – I prefer my beef a little rarer.
The surprise highlight of the dish was an innocuous-looking mound of red cabbage, which was a rich buttery and sweet sensation.
All in all, I completely demolished the lot. As my plate was taken away, it looked suspiciously like I had licked it clean. I hadn’t. Honest.
As I was busy digesting, a little girl walked around the pub proffering a tray of pretty little cakes to a mixture of grungy, young and middle-aged clientele.
A jumble sale with all manner of bric-a-brac was also underway.
If you want hearty, homemade food in a friendly and down-to-earth setting, then the Birds Nest is the place to go.
The Birds Nest in Deptford offers hearty homemade grub at great prices.
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