Portland

The first Michelin starred restaurant I’m going to lightly criticize at my own risk!At “Portland,” you can choose an à la carte menu with one, two, or three dishes, or 5-course tasting menu. We chose the 5-course tasting menu for me and a 3-course one for my partner in crime.Here’s a breakdown, in descending order of interest:▪️”Welcome snacks”, including a macaron with mushroom paste on buckwheat, a mini meat pie (sausage roll, one of the traditional dishes of British cuisine), and salmon with large pepper flakes in the background – the last one is decent, but nothing exceptional.▪️”Heritage carrots” with a delightful salty cheese foam sauce.▪️”Roast Cornish monkfish” – an extraordinarily tender fish with broccoli and kale. The best dish on the menu, along with:▪️”Sika venison” – tender venison with pieces of beetroot, crispy capers, and horseradish.▪️”A ravioli of Devon crab”, shellfish bisque, and green apple – a large crab dumpling.I doubt a Michelin star could be earned with just the following dishes:▪️”Tartare of hogget and smoked eel” – an interesting combination with a light smoky note, but quite tough to chew.▪️”Sirloin of Highland beef, Hasselback potato, caramelized onion, and Bordelaise sauce” – sounds grand, but the meat was difficult to chew, and I would strongly recommend against it.The desserts didn’t disappoint. The portions were large, and the flavor balance was on point, so we confidently recommend:▪️”Apple tarte tatin with rum and raisin”.▪️”Dark chocolate tart with Jerusalem artichoke ice cream” – served if you order the 5-course tasting menu.It’s hard to say if I would recommend this restaurant for a visit. For a first Michelin experience, probably not – you won’t get the emotions that come with an introduction to high cuisine. For a lunch with friends or for those already familiar with the Michelin world – why not.