I won't lie to you - I'm not exactly a fine dining expert. But I do love well-crafted dishes, attention to detail, and new flavour combinations, so I figure that gets me some points.
Boston House is the second venture from the creator of city centre gem Bun Box, Tim Irven, who already had Michelin star experience under his belt before bringing delicious Asian bao buns and rice bowls to Norwich market.
The location of Boston House is fantastic. The corner location and expertly designed exterior make it an intriguing unit. Ed and I didn't sit outside, but the area is a good addition and would be a lovely spot to chill out with a cocktail on a warm evening.
Once seated, the menus arrived: a la carte, tasting, and cocktail. We ordered two cocktails to make use of the impressive bar at the front of the restaurant. The a la carte menu boasts a large range of dishes to choose from, with a few vegetarian starters and mains (the disclaimer at the bottom informed us that some of them can be made vegan on request).
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Our cocktails were well presented, light, and delicious. Ed had the Honeycomb Old Fashioned (£10.50) and I had the Peach Sunrise (£11), which were cheaper as the house have a buy one get one half price offer on Thursdays. I would definitely return to Boston House for a cocktail evening, as there were many on the menu I would have liked to try, and the bar area was very pretty.
For starters, we ordered the beef croquettes (£5) and the chicken liver parfait, which came with a side of fig chutney and two slices of potato bread (£9). Liver is definitely not my thing, so I only had one bite to try, but I could tell the quality was very high. The chutney and bread were fabulous, potato bread being a childhood favourite of mine.
My beef croquettes were also excellent. The crunchy coating was very satisfying and complemented the rich shredded beef filling. The pickle ketchup made a perfect garnish, and overall this was a wonderful start to the meal.
When it came to our mains, we ordered the stone bass with confit potato, shellfish bisque, and braised fennel (£22), and the Suffolk chicken with grilled artichokes, peas, and broad beans (£23). They were both delicious, well-crafted meals, but the portion sizes left us somewhat unsatisfied.
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In the age of cost of living crises and downscaled budgets, £23 for chicken and peas seems steep. The flavours were excellent and the produce clearly fresh (the greens were perfectly crisp and firm).
Setting
Understated but stylish, comfortable and thoughtful. They had some great music playing.
Value
Here lies my biggest issue with Boston House. The skill and care being put into each dish is apparent in many ways - from the careful flavour combinations to the open kitchen which allows you to see a master at work - but the mains are pricey for what you get.
Drinks
A wide selection of high-quality cocktails makes this a great venue for an evening of drinks.
Toilets
There is one large toilet around the corner of the bar which is spacious and clean. Make sure not to go through the 'staff only' door by accident, or you'll find yourself in the kitchen (though the woman was very understanding and pointed me in the right direction).
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Accessibility
There are a number of steps throughout the venue, so I would call to ask about accessibility beforehand.
Service
Polite and professional.
Highlight
The beef croquettes and the cocktails.
In summary
Great for a birthday or anniversary treat.
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