FRIAR TUCKER

The Star Inn
Batley Road, Kirkhamgate,
Wakefield
Tel: 01924 374431 

Friar Tucker and his maid paid a visit to The Star Inn at Kirkhamgate to try the culinary delights of the family run village pub and restaurant.

Upon arrival a warm welcome was given by Andrew and his staff, there is quite a choice of dinning areas, you can relax and dine casually in the bar area, or if you feel a little more adventurous there is a lovely outdoor waterfall patio area, (ideal if you have children as there is also a large enclosed beer garden adjacent to the patio area), and last but not least a beautiful restaurant to the rear of the pub.

Friar Tucker and his maid decided they would be a little more formal, they ordered drinks from the bar and perused the extensive menu and specials board at their leisure eventually ordering meals to eat in the restaurant.  Even though the pub was very busy there were no lengthy delays before they were shown to their table.

The menu is extensive and the specials board adventurous offering a variety of foods examples being deep fried filo triangles, lightly grilled goats cheese, poached fillet of Scottish salmon, tuna and mozzarella fishcakes to name but a few.  There is an early bird menu Monday to Friday 5.30pm - 7.00pm, Saturday and Sunday 5.00pm - 6.30pm this is great value as you can have a starter and main course for £7.25 per head again a varied choice is available examples being soup of the day, shallow fried spam fritters, large Yorkshire pudding with varied fillings, farmhouse grill and lasagne.

The main menu has a choice of starters ranging in price from £2.95 to £4.95, fresh salads are priced at £7.95, you can choose from something as simple as an omlette to a rack of pork, there is a full range of chicken dishes with rice, including hot Thai chicken and a variety of pasta dishes.  Deserts are mouthwatering, all priced at £3.95 and include pavlova, peach melba, sponge puddings and a variety of sundaes, tea, coffee and liqueur coffee's are also available.

Friar Tucker and his maid chose the garlic mushrooms and home made soup to start with, then home made steak pie and slow braised shoulder of lamb and finished the meal with jam roly poly and custard.  All the food was piping hot and tasted delicious, staff were extremely helpful and polite and a very enjoyable evening was had by both.

The Star offers a lunch time menu, large Yorkshires with various fillings, filled jacket potatoes, sandwiches in a choice of bread both open and closed and of course the traditional ploughmans lunch.  There is an A-La-Carte menu available Saturday evenings 5.30pm - 8.30pm, a childrens menu and smaller portions for the smaller appetite are available and Sunday lunch is served as two sittings, 12.00 and 2.00, great value, 3 courses for £9.95 (however booking is advised as it is very busy).  Yet again, Friar Tucker and his maid have found a little gem in The Star and will of course be revisiting as soon as possible.

Reviewed August 2009

The Kirklands Hotel
Leeds Road
Outwood
Telephone: 01924 826666

Friar Tucker and his lovely maid visited the Kirklands Hotel, Leeds Road, Outwood to sample their traditional Sunday Lunch.  Frank and Sally moved into the Kirklands in October 2009 and are now in the process of making it into a friendly, family orientated public house. 

Meals are served Wednesday to Saturday lunch time 12.00-2.00pm and Sunday lunch is served from 12.00pm - 3.00pm. 

Upon arrival a warm welcome was given by Frank and Friar Tucker and his maid were shown to their table in the restaurant.  The atmosphere was relaxed and very friendly, there was a choice of soup or prawn cocktail for starters, both Friar Tucker and his maid decided they would have the mushroom soup which was served with a hot bread roll and was delicious.  Main course had a choice of two meats, roast beef and roast pork along with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, mash potato (which was lovely and creamy) and yorkshire pudding.  Vegetables are served as a side dish so you can help yourself to as much or as little as you desire and a very nice and welcome sideline was a dish of bubble and squeak which was very tasty indeed.  There is a choice of sweets ranging from hot puddings to cheesecakes, although both Friar Tucker and his maid were full to capacity after the starter and main course so did decline the offer of desert (even though they looked extremely tempting).  Coffee is also available to end the meal at your leisure.

The food is all home cooked by Sally and was very tasty, service was excellent and there was no rush at all to finish your meal.  Smaller portions are available for children and those with a small appetite and prices are competitive with starters costing £2.95, main course £5.95 and £4.25 for the smaller portion, deserts are well worth the money at £3.50.

Throughout the week at lunch times there is a varied menu, there is a choice of jacket potatoes, scampi, fish and chips, cumberland sausage in a giant yorkshire pudding (served with beer gravy) and liver and onions to name but a few, you can either eat in the restaurant or dine in the pub itself.  On a Wednesday lunchtime there is a 'Pensioners Special', one course meal for £3.95 and Sally prides herself on making a hearty meal for the senior citizens, some of the favourites being home made pies and stews.  The Kirklands caters for all types of functions including  parties, weddings and christenings and the function room will hold up to 50 people.  Thursday evenings is quiz night (which includes a free supper) .  Again another venue that Friar Tucker thoroughly enjoyed and is well worth a second visit.

Reviewed February 2010