Restaurant Review: Byron Brings it Proper

Byron Proper Burgers

Don't let the sleek lines and clean design fool you, Princesshay's newest restaurant, Byron: Proper Hamburgers, is definitely about the food, and they're not messing around.  You see, the guys behind Byron are into American burgers - like really into them - and they've done their research. They've drawn from some of the States' finest establishments and most indulgent bun based cheekiness to inspire a menu with a few across-the-pond nods that you won't see at most other British burger joints. Delivered with style and ease, Byron is a welcome addition to the city centre dinnersphere.

Me and my meat eating wing man hubby popped in for an indulgent lunch, taking advantage of the best summer since 2004, for a little al fresco dining. Our friendly server greeted and seated us, and we got down to business.

Byron in the sunshine

We kind of went for it, starting out with the Tortilla Chips which came with a lovely fresh tomato salsa and a guacamole that might just be the best in the city - no really - both chunky and fresh. For the mains, I had the Veggie Burger of Portobello mushroom, goats cheese and Mediterranean veg with an order of courgette fries, and a glass of cloudy lemonade. And my carnivorous comrade had the Smokey burger with a portion of skin on chips and a side of macaroni cheese all washed down with a Brew Dog pale ale.

Lunch for two at Byron

For little old vegetarian me, my veggie burger was as good as any I've had, but the courgette fries(!) are something I only seen in the states and Byron were in fact BETTER than what I've had there. They were crispy, crunchy, perfectly seasoned and really worth the visit on their own.  My lemonade was just like mom used to make and, for research purposes, I sneaked a taste of the mac n' cheese and can attest to it being as rich as any of Uncle Sam's offerings. Vegetarians & vegans can also try the avocado salad or mix up the veggie burger with additional/alternative sides like sliced avocado, crispy fried onions and jalepenos as well as a selection of cheeses and sauces. 

The summer special: The Smokey

My partner also had high praise for his Smokey burger, saying that it fully lived up to its name with the taste of well...smokiness, coming through every bite.  All that smoked cheddar, smokey barbecue sauce, crispy bacon and crispy onions perfectly complimented his medium rare Scottish beef patty and made for some very happy dining. His beer was a light, deliciously malty, day time pale ale called Dead Pony Club by Brew Dog, part of a collection of quality craft beers available for on site.

And for puds, I had the brownie and he had the cheesecake. My brownie was hot and deliciously gooey and topped with a scrumptious drizzle of chocolate sauce. My husband's white chocolate cheesecake was an entirely different affair. This chilled cheesecake on a biscuit base, was decadently rich and well accompanied by the blueberry sauce.  A perfect end end to proper lunch.

And the kitchen were so quick as well.

Inside it's like a film noir set. Love the backlit factory windows.

Kudos to Cosy Club: A visit to Exeter's new eclectic eatery

Simon says 'Hello'

'So what exactly is a 'Cosy Club?' I asked @CosyClubExeter on Twitter before their 15 April opening.The reply came back with cool confidence, 'Think gents club meets village hall meets cricket pavilion!' and as I tread the wooden floor boards to my table, taking in the artwork and ambiance, it all became clear. Cosy Club is that wonderful combination of modern and vintage, quirky and classic, polite and relaxed. It's the kind of of place that that you could show up wearing your finest threads or your comfiest jeans and feel like you fit in.

Exeter Cosy Club

I popped in just five days after the opening to see what all of the buzz was about and wasn't disappointed. The place was a twitter with couples, parties and families perched on delightfully mismatched chairs and benches. The waistcoated staff were friendly and welcoming.  And I just couldn't stop staring at the lampshades.

The food is as eclectic as the decor with a mix of tapas, burgers and quality mains. We ordered two pints of the deliciously malty local ale, Falls Over by Exeter Brewery, and a set of burgers one beef and one veggie for supper. My veggie burger had just the right amount of structure with a crunchy exterior and mushy centre. The fries were perfect too and washing it down with the best pint of real ale I've had since the Exeter CAMRA Festival of Winter Ales, made it all the better. For pudds, we had matching apple tarte tartin which were lovely and cinnamonny and made me happy.

Exeter's branch is the 6th Cosy Club to open in the UK, joining a roster of award winning branches in Taunton, Bath, Salisbury, Cardiff and Stamford. This charming edition to Exeter's dining scene is just what Southernhay needs. The Jack Wills-esque atmosphere makes it classy enough to sit alongside places like Southernhay House and Magdalen Chapter. While the Bike Shed-lite quirkiness makes it funky enough to bring in young blood that might not otherwise venture down the Georgian Street of an evening. And the fact that it's open for Breakfast Lunch Dinner and Drinks is an extra bonus for people like me who like eating at random times of day! Must visit for breakfast/brunch sometime to try what looks like an epic vegetarian breakfast.

Cosy Exterior

Eating Out: Exeter Taste Card Independent Restaurants

Chain Restaurants in the Tastecard Programme

It might be said, by some, that I am...tight...that I pinch my pennies or more accurately that I gather them from throughout the the house, into a jar and then take them down to the Coinstar machine at Sainsbury's and cash them in for pounds before sticking the pounds back in my miserly pockets. I recycle, I reduce, I reuse, I get creative with accessories from charity shops, I make curries with left overs, and I am a big fan of Martin Lewis's MoneysavingExpert.com. And it was Martin, appealing to my frugal nature and great appreciation for tasty food, who led me to the TasteCard.

If you're not familiar with the Tastecard, then I should explain that this magical card allows you to get 2for1 deals or 50% off your bill the next time you saddle up to one of their participating eateries. There is normally a fee to sign up, but we were able to get a free 3-month trial and it's been pretty sweet. It works all over the UK but in Exeter there are tons of places to cash in on the action. While most of the Tastecard hook ups are at chains, if you would like something outside of the Pizza Express/Prezzo/ASK/Zizzi/Bella Italia faux-talian menu, here's a run down some of the independents on the list.

Bar Venezia
This is one of the most popular destinations on the Quayside. When the sun comes out, their picnic tables are full to the brim. They serve Mediterranean food, sheesha and also hold Salsa and Zumba classes.

Dance Class at Bar Venezia

Oriental City
This might be Exeter's classiest Chinese restaurant. Located on Pinhoe Road, they have a massive menu and the decor looks less like something that you'd see in an Exeter suburb and more like what you'd expect in Singapore. It's also one of the only places in town that you'll come across the lazy-susan feasting tables that seat about 10 people.

The Olive Tree Restaurant at the Queens Court Hotel
I can admit that I haven't personally been to the Olive Tree, but their menu looks fantastic and their TripAdvisor ranking is more than solid. With more than 35 reviews they've got 4.5 stars and are ranked 28 out of 232 restaurants in all of Exeter town.