On Castle Street, in the former home of Kenneth Grahame, author of  Wind in the Willows, Badger & Co. have taken up residence. A restaurant and bar focusing on local and seasonal produce set in a stylish and quirky dining room, this place ticks all the boxes if you’re looking for some classic British fare in a nice environment.

A quick browse of the menu and I already knew I wanted the pot of Homemade Soup with Crusty Bread. The soup was pumpkin and tomato and was rich and velvety with perfect seasoning. The bread was homemade too and was really tasty, with lashings of butter.

We also had Pressed Shin of Beef wrapped in Pancetta served with Parsnip Puree. The beef was soft with a deep rich flavour, the pancetta not only held the whole thing together but offered a salty kick. The parsnip puree added a bit of sweetness which cut through the richness of the beef.

For main course we had the Scottish Game Pie (duck, hare and venison) with stout gravy and the most light puff pastry top I’ve ever had. The meat was tender and melted in the mouth and the gravy was packed full of flavour. This was hands down the best pie I’ve had. I also had a side of homemade baked beans, because what’s more Scottish than pie and beans?

We also had twice cooked Ayrshire Pork Belly with Chargrilled Asparagus and New Potatoes. The meat and two veg style of this dish made it feel very British, which fits with the theme of Badger & Co beautifully.

For dessert we shared the BBQ Maple Cake served with Spiced Roasted Fig and Maple Clotted Cream. The cake was soaked in maple syrup and had almost a biscuit texture to it. The clotted cream was luxurious and the fig was sweet and juicy. It was one of the most interesting desserts we’ve had recently.

Badger & Co
Location:  32 Castle Street
Price: Starters between £4-£8, Main Courses between £10-£16, Desserts £6
Good for: Stylish dining with a modern take on classic British food that is full of flavour.