Review of Festive Christmas Lunch Menu at Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth

If you're a fan of fine dining, but can't afford the price tag that often accompanies it, then you can't go wrong with the Greenbank Hotel's new lunchtime offer through December.

It's quality food but at a Christmas cracker of a price tag - and you can even tie it in with some present shopping in town before or afterwards.

Christmas at the Greenbank Hotel (Image: Newsquest)

Head chef Bobby Dalton Southworth has come up with a festive three-course menu from which you can pick two courses for £22 or enjoy all three for £26 between 12.30pm and 3pm, Monday to Saturday.

It features the likes of warming spiced carrot and coconut soup, and belly pork with bubble and squeak croquettes, while of course it wouldn't be complete without roast turkey and Christmas pudding.

Christmas pudding with brandy cream (Image: Newsquest)

My lunch guest and I started with a tian of poached salmon, and chicken and duck liver pate with Cointreau gel.

She described the salmon as one for the fish lovers, with smoked mackerel coming through first followed by the more subtle flavours of salmon and whole prawns, while you could taste the chicken and duck livers in the pate without the flavour being too strong.

A great start and it just got better.

Naturally I couldn't review a Christmas menu without turkey featuring somewhere in it, so I tucked in to beautifully moist individual turkey crown wrapped in bacon, accompanied by roast potatoes and pigs in blankets, with root vegetables, sprouts and broccoli served separately on the side.

Turkey crown with root vegetables (Image: Newsquest)

I was impressed to see extra gravy presented in a little jug alongside automatically, sparing the diner that awkward request for 'a bit more please'. How civilised.

However, while not wishing to do a disservice to all the other elements, which were excellent, for me though the cranberry and sage stuffing layered on top of the turkey was the star of the show - flavourful without being too much of any one flavour, it was just lifted the entire meal.

On the other side of the table my guest was tucking into the root vegetable and mushroom bake, which also contained, spinach, macaroni and Italian cheese.

Although somewhat dominated by pesto this was perfect for her.

Root vegetable and mushroom bake (Image: Newsquest)

It may have only been lunchtime but there was no way we were going to pass up pudding, so onwards into the full three-course experience we went.

And thank goodness we did as otherwise we'd have missed out on arguably the best two dishes of the meal.

My friend went down the 'classic festive fare' route by opting for the Christmas pudding - although it turned out to be anything but predictable.

"So good I can't even describe it," were her exact words in fact.

But I made her try, and so she told me about moist pudding and brandy cream before raving about the mulled berry compote on top that gave it an extra edge, elevating it above your standard Christmas pudding.

Meanwhile I was in raptures about the chocolate orange delice (another festive favourite flavour combination) - dense, full-bodied chocolate was complimented by tart orange sauce and fresh clementines to take the edge off the richness. It was faultless.

Chocolate orange delice (Image: Newsquest)

I must also reserve a special mention for the spiced apple juice I had to drink, which was beautifully warming with subtle spices; although there's also a mulled wine option if you fancy something stronger!

So why not make a day of it by doing some Christmas shopping at Falmouth's many lovely independent stores (unashamed plug for town's businesses here as, let's face it, they can all do with some support this time of year) then head on up to the Greenbank for a festive lunch with a view, as a present to yourself!

Tian of poached salmon with smoked mackerel and prawns (Image: Newsquest)

Chicken and duck liver pate with toasts (Image: Newsquest)