Food review, Arlingtons: ‘The food is so pretty - and dinner came with a free cocktail!'

One of town’s latest additions I've been dying to try is Arlingtons. Located on Museum Street, it was once a popular restaurant that thrived before lockdown – but sadly closed last year.

Thankfully former Moloko co-owner Zoe Cutting has taken on the Grade II-listed property, throwing open the doors to the new-look Arlingtons a month ago.

Arlingtons on Museum Street, Ipswich (Image: Danielle Lett)

I ate at Moloko last year – and thoroughly enjoyed the experience – so I couldn’t wait to see what this place had to offer.

I always look at the menu online before I eat out anywhere, and what particularly jumped out at me was the two and three-course set menus for £20 and £25, respectively.

Not only could you choose between a handful of dishes, but it came with a cocktail (either a peach bellini or an Aperol spritz), glass of prosecco or a pint of beer included in the final price. Available between 5pm and 8pm Wednesday and Thursday, that’s great value for money if you ask me.

Peach bellinis (Image: Danielle Lett)

I met my mum after work on a Wednesday afternoon and we made our way there. When we arrived and stepped inside, we noticed how pretty the décor was. Upon entry, there’s a floral phonebooth (perfect Instagram fodder), and a door to the bar (this however was closed when we went).

Inside Arlingtons (Image: Danielle Lett)

The restaurant is located upstairs (there is also a lift), with a private dining room to the side, just before your make your way to the main dining hall.

And what a gorgeous space it is. The high ceiling with a central skylight allows natural light to flow in beautifully, and the fairy lights throughout give the whole place a warm, cosy ambiance. As a food reviewer, it made my job easier when taking photos.

Now onto the food.

I ordered the crispy deep fried goats' cheese (served with red onion marmalade), while mum went for the fricassee of woodland mushrooms served on toasted sourdough, and we both had peach bellinis to drink. Before our starters arrived however, our waitress, Eleanor, came over to the table with complimentary soup starters. She said the chef was trying out a new recipe, and we were more than happy to oblige and give it a taste test.

Mediterranean soup starter (Image: Danielle Lett)

Made from Mediterranean vegetables, courgettes, peppers, shallots and seasoned with pepper and garlic, it was delicious, warming and definitely packed a punch. I certainly hope this gets added to the menu as a seasonal starter this autumn/winter, as I’d definitely order a full-size serving.

My goats' cheese was amazing. Coated in what I believe were panko breadcrumbs, it had a nice crunch as you bit into it. The cheese itself was smooth and creamy, and the side of sweet red onion marmalade was perfect. You couldn’t have asked for a better starter.

Deep fried goats cheese (Image: Danielle Lett)

The fricassee of woodland mushrooms served on toasted sourdough was plentiful. Jam-packed with an assortment of freshly-picked mushrooms and served with a smattering of greens and an edible flower, it’s the perfect starter if you’re feeling autumnal. And once again, would look good on your Instagram feed.

Fricassee of woodland mushrooms (Image: Danielle Lett)

I have to say, the place itself, and every dish we were served, passed the photogenic food test. Each dish was beautifully presented and tasted as good as it looked.

For mains, I had the beer battered haddock fillet with hand-cut chips, mushy peas, and tartare sauce, while mum had the roulade of chicken with goats' cheese and sun-blushed tomatoes, new potatoes, salad, and a honey and mustard dressing.

Beer battered haddock and chips (Image: Danielle Lett)

I’m a sucker for restaurant-made fish and chips, and this piece of haddock was crispy, not at all greasy. My only complaint was that the chips were too thick, and felt slightly undercooked. If they were cut a bit thinner, and maybe double or tripled-cooked, they’d be perfect. Other than that, no complaints.

The chicken roulade was delicious - the honey and mustard dressing was especially fantastic, and the chicken wasn’t overcooked. My only suggestion would be to get rid of the salad though and maybe swap it for cooked vegetables such as broccoli or honey-roasted carrots, as the salad was warm (due to being next to the hot chicken and potatoes).

Chicken roulade (Image: Danielle Lett)

By this point, we were both pretty full, but we’d opted for the three-course menu and ordered all of our dishes right at the start, so we knew we had to commit.

Cheesecake of the day (Image: Danielle Lett)

I went for the cheesecake of the day served with ice cream, and mum had the Eton mess. Both portion sizes were generous – my cheesecake was creamy, smooth and topped with fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, while mum’s Eton’s mess was the stuff of dreams. Plenty of fresh fruit, meringue and whipped cream.

In total, we both ordered three courses for £25, and two half pints of San Miguel (£2.60 each), so our bill came to £55.20.

Inside Arlingtons (Image: Danielle Lett)

All in all, Arlingtons is a great dining spot and I definitely recommend it. It’s great value for money, the portions sizes are just right, everything looks beautiful, and the service is top notch. I’ll definitely be going back – I may have to head there for brunch next time though, as I spotted Oreo French toast on the menu and that’s something I absolutely need to try.