WITH THE exception of the stalwart Yarbridge Inn, our last six reviews (including this one) have been of venues opened since the pandemic.

The Heron, run by the team behind the acclaimed The Cottage, Shanklin, is Ryde's welcome addition.

Unsure of what to expect from oyster mushroom scallops, Cat was thrilled with the surprisingly meaty cylinders of seared mushroom pate. The peppery note was soothed by pea puree and a twirl of affilla cress.

The other starter was the rather suggestively named 'pork taboo'. The meat - doused in sticky pork reduction - had a soft smoky flavour, and was flecked on top with gems of crispy crackling. A petite dish full of character.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Grilled lemon sole from The Heron, Ryde.

Grilled lemon sole was a gloriously summery affair. The fragrant pale fish and corresponding potato and celery salad were spotted with freshgreen aromatic herb oil and tiny verdant tangy shoots.

Sweet bacon jam and salty fried mushrooms took the tastes of Cat's roasted garlic-stuffed chicken to another level; an imaginative combination of flavours, well-presented.

Sometimes a meal can have a dud dish, or perhaps a chef who's inspired with savouries might have lost creative momentum by the time it comes to the desserts. Not so at The Heron; all three courses were magnificently curated combinations of taste, texture and appearance.

Isle of Wight County Press:

A glorious dessert from The Heron, Ryde.

Highlights of our afters were the vast disc of firm white chocolate engineered to resemble honeycomb. Honey itself was represented in an ingenious clear gel; an intriguing way to boost the sweetness of the fruit pudding.

Our other dessert had a magnificent interpretation of salted caramel. Slightly thicker than the norm, this intensely flavoured component was more toffee than sauce. Making its presence felt under the sensual almond and chocolate crèmeux, it embraced a dark sponge like a soulful lover.


You can probably tell by that last sentence that Cat's three courses at The Heron inspired her to think about love. The love of doing a job like this - who wouldn't want to be paid to write about food - and the love of the local enterprise and awesome talent, which brought this wonderful meal to her hometown.

Eat at The Heron. You will not be disappointed. Take your date; not only will you get a superlative dinner, attractively presented and at an unfathomably decent price, you might even fall in love.

MATT AND CAT'S BILL

Starters 2 @ £4 £8
Mains 2 @ £11 £22
Gratin side £6
Strawberry dessert £7
Chocolate dessert £6

TOTAL: £49

RATING: Five stars: Exceptional - one of the very best places we have tried

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Heron, 2 Castle Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2EP.

Tel: 01983 567192

Web: heroniow.co.uk

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