The Croft, Bancroft

TOTAL TEAM RATING

Maurice's Review 

Venue: The Croft is a classic bistro style wine bar and restaurant, I often visist for a drink there during the week and a friendly team of staff welcome you. They have a good range of wines and lagers, but not much real ale. The place is well decorated and kept clean and tidy. The only comment I would make is in the year or so I have been visitng I have still not managed to get the loo to flush!

Wine: I had a nice bottle of Five Track Shiraz, which went well with the food. This was one of the cheapest reds on the menu at £17.

Starter: Paris Garlic Mushrooms: £4.50

A generous portion of mushrooms well cooked, but still with all the natural juices and flavouring. The melted blue cheese and garlic was both strong in taste but complimented the mushrooms perfectly. I really enjoyed this starter, but a nice piece of bread to help mop up those lovely juices and cheese at the end would have been perfect.

Main: The Croft Burger £13.00

Obviously I had to try the house special The Croft Burger, this is a hand made beef burger topped with melted cheese, smoked bacon, free range egg, mustard, gherkin and onion rings. This is a monster burger and doesn't disappoint. The burger is clearly 100% beef and very tasty and the mixture of the mustard, egg and bacon is great. Has to be eaten with a knife and fork way to big to handle by hand, but this was a good thing. Chips, well normally chips are chips but I must admit these were excellent, nice and crispy and still fluffy. The only poor thing was the bun, a little dry for my liking. Lastly there was a deal on 2 burgers and save £5, Mick also had a burger, but I am afraid they didn't take the £5 off, until requested.

Service: Service in the Croft is always welcoming, friendly and efficient. The staff are excellent and open to have a laugh, whilst always being professional. Normally I would have given a 5/5 especially with the complimentary cocktail shots which was a great touch. However we did have to move tables at the start.  One of the dishes was now off the menu, but we didnt know until after ordering, and the discount for the burgers were not taken of the bill. However I still some of the best staff in Hitchin.

Service and venue: 4/5
Food and drink: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5

Harry's Review

A nice friendly bar, but not one that I use often. No real ales on draft, but they do have bottles e.g. St Austell Tribute and also a keg Stout on draft which is quite drinkable.

For starter I ordered wild boar pate, for main the game pie. Unfortunately was informed about 5 mins after ordering that the game pie was not available, so not a great start! Opted for the chicken supreme with potatoes and green beans instead.

The portions for both were generous, a good thing! The wild boar pate was very enjoyable, served with warm local bread, herby butter and mixed leaves. Great tasting pate and 3 decent sized slabs of it.

The main however was not quite so impressive. There was a fair sized portion of nicely cooked new potatoes, crisped on the outside. Also a mountain of green beans, but a relatively small chicken breast at least compared to the size of the veg portions. The chicken was nicely cooked and dressed with a tasty wild mushroom sauce, but something was over-salted, may well have been the green beans. 

The burgers ordered by Maurice and Mick looked good, especially the piri-piri chicken burger. Next time I am eating here, I will go for a burger or steak. 

Also was too full for a pud, so that will have to wait until next time too!

So overall very positive, it was a great evening and just a shame that the game pie was not available and the main I had didn’t quite cut the mustard.

Service and venue: 4/5
Food and drink: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5

Micks Review

Starter: Breaded Camembert

Nicely presented - was a mixture of hot and cold temperature, although it did not spoil my enjoyment.
 

Main: Speciality burger - Chicken Piri-Piri - 

This was the first time I had tried this meal and was pleasantly surprised, again well presented very very tasteful and slightly spicy but very enjoyable. With regards to the chips, I was amazed absolutely fantastic, not burnt, crispy or under cooked spot on.

Service and venue: 4/5
Food and drink: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5

Visit The Croft at: http://www.thecrofthitchin.co.uk/ for details of their opening hours and menu selection.