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The Stag at Mentmore

Buckinghamshire, Mentmore - Modern British - - ££

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Very Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Good

An impressive stone edifice just off Mentmore’s village green, the Stag was famously rescued from closure and taken into community ownership by 42 local shareholders in 2020. An extensive lockdown refit has resulted in a classy, capacious modern interior with parquet flooring, a backlit bar, pricey-looking wallpaper and a wood-burner. Best of all, though, is the congenial feel to the place, helped by happy locals and friendly, laid-back staff. The menu holds plenty of interest, especially in the evening when ‘pub classics’ (burgers, pies, steaks) are joined by more elaborate, contemporary compositions. Adventurous touches abound, although some ideas work better than others. To start, a diminutive fillet of coconut-cured sea bream made a fine pairing with tangy grapefruit segments – though sugary candied chilli was a questionable addition. Likewise, pickled beetroot happily partnered a boldly flavoured goat's cheesecake with a topping of grated walnut – but...

An impressive stone edifice just off Mentmore’s village green, the Stag was famously rescued from closure and taken into community ownership by 42 local shareholders in 2020. An extensive lockdown refit has resulted in a classy, capacious modern interior with parquet flooring, a backlit bar, pricey-looking wallpaper and a wood-burner. Best of all, though, is the congenial feel to the place, helped by happy locals and friendly, laid-back staff. The menu holds plenty of interest, especially in the evening when ‘pub classics’ (burgers, pies, steaks) are joined by more elaborate, contemporary compositions. Adventurous touches abound, although some ideas work better than others. To start, a diminutive fillet of coconut-cured sea bream made a fine pairing with tangy grapefruit segments – though sugary candied chilli was a questionable addition. Likewise, pickled beetroot happily partnered a boldly flavoured goat's cheesecake with a topping of grated walnut – but was the blob of apple jam needed? There were no complaints about a juicy main course of roast duck breast with mouth-watering blackcurrant jus, boosted by some assertive spicing: cinnamon in the well-filled duck-leg pithivier; star anise in the shredded cabbage. Our sumac-marinated pork chop was also a neat, highly savoury idea. Puddings can be equally intricate affairs, note the rich, intense (and highly enjoyable) dark chocolate crémeux with cherry and kirsch compôte. Otherwise, drinks include 1847 ale (produced for the pub by the local Tring Brewery), and an adroitly annotated wine list hopping between the Old and New Worlds. In summer, the beer garden comes into play at this proudly community-focused enterprise.

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VENUE DETAILS

The Green
Mentmore
Buckinghamshire
LU7 0QFGB

01296 534450

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OTHER INFORMATION

Separate bar, Wheelchair access, Parking, Family friendly, Dog friendly

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