Feeling autumnal at Bramley’s Brasserie

What better week to visit Bramley’s Brasserie, on our stunning University of Nottingham campus, than when it’s been announced that the original Bramley apple tree in Southwell which still bears fruit today has been shortlisted for a national award? I heard the new autumn menu was available, just as the leaves started to fall from the trees around this beautiful venue, so I branched out for a visit. The floor to ceiling glass in the foyer and restaurant never cease to please the eye and visiting around 7.30pm in September, I managed to catch the sun setting and appreciate the fairy lights in the trees which started to appear.   We started our meal with a drink in the bar, not finding it hard to pick from the cocktail list the one that has been really popular during summer 2016 – the Aperol spritz. Well it might be my last one of the year so why not? Perfectly mixed, if you haven’t tried it Bramley’s is a great place to start. Even though it looks bright orange and sickly it’s in fact quite the opposite. It’s pleasantly bitter and doesn’t interfere with your taste buds if you’re eating. Yaqoob and his team are great, always friendly and professional. He walks us over to our table which is like a mini booth for two, I really love it because in such a big spacey room you still feel like you’re in an intimate little place. Perfect for a date night with my partner. Our starters arrive, I get prawns in chilli, coriander and garlic butter and they’re so much more than the description! They’re meaty king prawns in a spicy and smoky tomato sauce which has got a real kick to it, completely undersold in the description. So glad we ordered a bottle of rioja to go with them. Duncan had game terrine, which he loved and in his Yorkshire accent said “it’s a big wedge is that love”, which I interpreted as him being very impressed with the portion size.   For my main I carry on the ‘fish supper Friday’ theme and go for the monkfish salad, and yet again it was completely undersold on in the description, it was the warmest and most filling salad I’ve ever had. It was delicious served with warm new potatoes which had been roasted with fennel – I loved the flavour combination. Duncan has the Jamaican jerk chicken which we were surprised to see on the menu but not disappointed. He said it was very authentic using chicken thighs which are his favorites. It’s the weekend so we managed to do the whole three courses, and guess what I had? The bramley apple crumble of course. It was a generous portion and served with both custard and ice cream, they go so well together. Duncan had a baked blackberry and vanilla cheesecake and for a man who doesn’t usually have a desert, he managed to clear his plate. They sent our tummies over the edge and we were both pleased we were walking back home to Beeston (it only took twenty minutes) but oh they were so worth it. If you don’t know the story behind the name of Bramley’s Brasserie, it’s a really interesting one. The clever people at University of Nottingham have cloned the original Bramley apple tree in Southwell to preserve its legend and fruit for the future. The young trees can be found on the University campus and the restaurant is aptly named after the tree too.   I hope this write up has inspired you to visit this unique restaurant and enjoy a meal in their inspiring surroundings. The autumn menu is the perfect excuse to go.  If you are feeling inspired please vote for Southwell’s Bramley apple tree for Tree of the Year 2016 before 9^th October – its rich history and it’s fruit’s international popularity is worthy of the title http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/tree-of-the-year/