Midsummer House
| Midsummer House | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Rating |
 (Michelin Guide 2005) |
| Street address | Midsummer Common |
| City | Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Seating capacity | 55 |
| Website | Official website |
Midsummer House is a restaurant located in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. In 2001, the restaurant was damaged twice from flooding caused by the nearby River Cam. After winning a Michelin star in 2002, it won a second in 2005. The chef patron is Daniel Clifford.
Description
The restaurant is located in a townhouse on the bank of the River Cam, next to Midsummer Common.[1] The location of the restaurant has been a problem in the past. Twice in 2001, the river overflowed its banks and the restaurant was flooded. In February, the water made it into the wine cellars. In November, with over 5 feet (1.5 m) of water covering the foundations and causing extensive damage to the floor of the dining room, the decision was made to close the restaurant for a month and redecorate at the cost of £100,000, including ripping up the damaged floor and replacing it.[2]
Daniel Clifford took over as head chef in 1998.[3] He became the chef patron of the restaurant in 1999.[2] The restaurant is owned by Russell Morgan, who also owns the catering company Crown Catering.[2]
Menu
Daniel Clifford's main course of pork, savoy cabbage, apple and shallot from the BBC television show the Great British Menu is featured on the menu. For the desserts, apple sauce is served in a test tube and an apple Tarte Tatin is served with a garlic and bay leaf ice cream.[4] Other flavours of ice cream served at the restaurant have included cardamom and horseradish, and a caramel sauce spiced with cumin.[5]
Reception
In 2010, Matthew Norman, who attended the restaurant for The Guardian, said that the main courses were "a minor letdown," but that the dessert he tasted was "glorious."[6] Amoj Rajan reviewed Midsummer House for The Independent in 2011, describing the menu as "cleverly balanced" and a "faultless parade of beautifully crafted plates," and gave the restaurant a score of nine out of ten.[1] Food critic Andy Hayler visited the restaurant in January 2012, giving the restaurant a score of seven out of ten on his review scale meaning that there is a "high level of ambition and individuality, attention to the smallest detail, accurate and vibrant dishes."[7] He described some of the dishes as "clever" and well balanced and thought that the desserts were the best of the dishes on the menu.[4]
Midsummer House won its first Michelin star in 2002.[2] It was awarded a second in 2005, becoming one of eleven restaurants in the UK and Ireland to hold two stars; it was the only restaurant to be elevated to that level that year.[8] It has been awarded five AA Rosettes, elevated to this status in the 2014 AA Awards.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rajan, Amol (16 October 2011). "Midsummer House, Midsummer Common, Cambridge". The Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Harmer, Janet (15 May 2002). "After the flood". Caterer and Hotelkeeper. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ "Daniel Clifford, Esq's Biography". Debretts. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hayler, Andy. "Restaurant Review – Midsummer House". AndyHayler.com. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ "Midsummer House, Cambridge". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ Norman, Matthew (30 January 2010). "Restaurant: Midsummer House, Cambridge". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ Hayler, Andy. "Food Rating System". AndyHayler.com. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ "Chef celebrates restaurant honour". BBC News. 21 January 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ "Midsummer House Restaurant". The AA.com. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
| ||||||||||||||
Coordinates: 52°12′45″N 0°07′40″W / 52.2124°N 0.1277°W