Mr Sloan, Restaurants

1269 Restaurant Bar & Grill

During our wonderful stay at the recently opened Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire which we reviewed for the January 2016 edition of the magazine, we had the pleasure of dining at 1269 Restaurant Bar & Grill, the hotel’s destination bar and restaurant.

Named after the year the neighbouring town of Beaconsfield was first given a charter allowing an annual market for trading livestock, 1269 Restaurant Bar & Grill specialises in livestock, game and butcher-style preparation.

Signature dishes created by award-winning Head Chef Dean Crews, previously of the Charing Cross Hotel, include Josper roasted Buccleuch Estate Beef, aged for 28 days in 1269’s in-house ageing room and salad of Denham Wood Pigeon, choucroute, parsnip and speck ham.

Designed by SuperFutures, the team behind Chotto Matte and Barrafina, the statement pieces of the restaurant will be a freshly hung meat display, a Whisky vault and a bourbon focused drinks menu to rival any London bar.

Upon arrival at 1269, we were warmly welcomed by the friendly and knowledgeable waiting staff. The restaurant menu is interesting and has a varied selection of seafood and meat. The starters include oysters, cornish mullet, pork knuckle and a salad of locally shot wood pigeon. The main courses include choices from the Josper grill.

All meat is prepared in house and where possible is sort from local producers. 1269 offer Buccleuch Estate beef 35 days, Himalayan salt rock, Glenarm organic steaks, and Txogitzu beef. The steaks come in a variety of cuts from ribeye, rump and Wanger. If beef is not your thing but you wish to try the Josper grill there is chicken, lobster and the market special to keep you satisfied.

1269 also provide a selection of main plates including a 24hr pork belly and glazed cheek with truffle mash, seared and poached monkfish loin with roasted chicken wings. If a flakier fish is what you desire there is also a choice of stone bass with seared squid, chorizo, barigoule and samphire. Vegetarians have a choice between roast mushroom and rainbow chard gnocchi, parsnip, parmesan or Josper roasted carrot, and spiced aubergine truffled burrata.

For those with a larger appetite who wish to share and experience a selection of meats and fish there are 3 sharing platters to choose from.

We choose the following dishes from the delectable menu…

Squid ‘a la plancha’ with chilli, tomato and herbs was spicy and succulent.

Roasted chorizo and beetroot hummus with soda bread tasted as good as it looked.

Pork ham hock, smoked chicken and carrot terrine with mushroom chutney. The fresh flavours burst on the taste buds. This was simple but perfect for a light dish.

Below is the succulent monkfish and chicken wing with potato and vegetables.

Here is the 24 hr slow roast pork belly and pork cheek with truffle mash and broccoli. The pork flavours were strong on the palate. The only criticism was the skin was soft for those wanting crisp crackling.

The lobster with thermidor sauce and clams was garnished with lemon and cooked to perfection in the Josper grill. This added a subtle taste enhancing the flavour of the meat making the dish unique in its own right.

To finish we had the chocolate mousse with banana ice cream, and white chocolate and passion fruit puree which looked stunning on the plate and was light and creamy in texture.

My dining companion had the lemon tart with raspberries and pine nuts which was rich and creamy and the perfect end to a delicious meal from Head Chef Dean Crews.

With its proximity to London and such a delicious menu on offer, we anticipate that 1269 Restaurant Bar & Grill will have wonderful first year and we look forward to returning soon.