In Bath, England the food choices are bountiful. Bath restaurants meet the needs of most. If you’re interested in memorable meals, consider the notable Pump Room and Jamie’s Italian Bath. The Pump Room is given a starred review by many guidebook writers. We decided to follow their suggestion for lunch and splurge at this famous landmark. The impressive vaulted ceilings and enormous glass windows provided a cheerful ambiance which takes patrons back centuries. Classical artwork decorated the expansive walls.
Upon entering the elegant dining room for our lunch reservation, we heard a pianist, a violinist, and cello musician performing classical music. We were disappointed when the music abruptly ended shortly after we were seated.
Our server asked if we were interested in trying the spa water that contains 43 minerals. A decorative fountain was displayed on one side of the room.
We passed on this novelty. Instead we focused on ordering our meals. Ira and I chose the special fish entree for the day. The fish was placed on top of a bed of vegetables. The blackened skin was facing upwards.
One of our dining guests picked this vegetarian item, truffle roasted cauliflower.
We shared a collection of simple vegetables and garlic bread. These items were excessively expensive.
Even though the food fell short of our expectations, we enjoyed the atmosphere in this exquisite dining room. After lunch, we took a leisurely tour through the adjacent Roman Baths. A separate postings will talk about the time spent at the Roman Baths.
Before returning to London, we surveyed our dinner options. We had heard that Jamie Oliver had opened a restaurant in Bath-Jamie’s Italian Bath. Unlike the Pump Room which was centrally located, Jamie’s was off the beaten track. Finding the inconvenient location was well worth the effort. This second Bath restaurant was a true delight.
The most impressive appetizer was a special bruschetta that can be seen above the bowl of chips.
Everyone ordered a different homemade pasta dish. This ravioli was in a marinara sauce that included mushrooms and freshly grated cheese.
The Penne Arrabiata with bread crumbs was seasoned appropriately.
The smaller sized portions were the perfect size. In the future, we will be happy to visit one of Jamie’s other locations.
I usually favor quality of food over a special or unique experience. However, in some instances the memory is worth the outlandish cost of visiting a landmark. The Pump Room and our previous visit to the Florian cafe at Harrods are definitely two places worth trying. Jamie’s, on the other hand, will lure us back due to the freshness and tastiness of its entrees.
Sandra’s Bio
Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon. Sandra’s memoir highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. She is a licensed Colorado teacher who has taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad as well as college level courses. Sandra is married and has four adult sons.
The memoir was a finalist in the Travel category for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the 2013 International Book Awards, the 2013 National Indie Book Excellence Awards, the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and received an Honorable Mention award in the Multicultural Non-Fiction category for the 2013 Global ebook Awards.
If you’re interested in travel, follow Sandra’s latest adventures on Examiner.com.
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