The Old Forge Seafood Restaurant

Seafood Restaurant with rooms, recommended as 'a must' by food critics in East Anglia. The Old Forge is a 14th Century former coaching station with forge and is steeped in history. It was a resting place for pilgrims journeying to nearby Walsingham Abbey and has a figurine placed on the wall which is a sign that the building has been blessed spiritually. It is mentioned in Chaucer's A Pilgrim's Progress.

The Old Forge has been completed refurbished and taken back to its original style of York Stone floors and bar, beams and a warm welcoming atmosphere. The original iron hooks are still in the restaurant where the horses were tied ready to be shod.

Colin and Sarah, his wife, are both experienced in the field of first class accommodation and cuisine. Colin, the chef proprietor, trained in France and has worked in Inn on the Park and Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Fresh seafood is the speciality and Colin has invented many of his own dishes which are immensely popular with local regulars who dine at the restaurant. Simple touches such as using the exquisite shrimps from The Wash topped on succulent pieces of fish make such a difference to food. Local crayfish tails cooked with different spices, many of which are grown in the garden and lobster cooked in its own juices are a must. Lobster, crabs and oysters are purchased daily from the infamous fishermen on the coast at Blakeney and Wells next the Sea and prepared with many of Colin's secret recipes.

Local sirloin steak is also on the menu but the emphasis is on seafood. If you don't feel fishy we would be delighted to discuss another menu in advance of your booking. We do not like to exclude anyone including children.

A special pre-theatre menu is on offer for people visiting the Thursford Christmas Spectacular - visit our website for an example.


MENU

SET MENU
Half a dozen local oysters
Potted Shrimps
Seafood Salad
Artichoke Vinaigrette

Dressed Crab Salad
Poached salmon in a cream and mustard sauce
Crayfish tails provencale
Sirloin steak if you don't feel fishy!!

A LA CARTE STARTERS
Half a dozen oysters from the new Blakeney Oyster Beds
Home Made potted shrimps
Dressed Cromer crab
Home Made crab pate
Sizzling tiger prawns the Spanish way
Hot crayfish tails in garlic butter
Scallops in a black bean sauce
Grilled sardines
Half a dozen snails in garlic butter
Mediterranean crevettes hot in garlic and parsley butter or cold with garlic mayonnaise
Chestnut mushrooms and prawns in garlic and parsley butter flambed with Pernod
Sweet pickled soused herring served with horseradish
Baked crab au gratin
Home made lobster soup

MAIN COURSES
A melody of lobster, salmon and sea bass in a creamy lobster sauce
Roasted monkfish stuffed with prawns and anchovies served with a brandy mayonnaise
Grilled dover sole
Whole local sea bass baked in the oven and stuffed with garlic and parsley butter
Grilled marinated swordfish or cooked the Sicilian way
Poached salmon in a cream and mustard sauce
Grilled halibut with lemon and parsley butter
Baked fillet of sea bass with white wine, cream, tomato and tarragon
Monkfish with smoked salmon and capers
Roasted North sea cod topped with brown shrimps from The Wash
The Old Forge Bouillabaisse

SPECIALS
Fruits de mer - Seafood Platter consisting of local lobster, crab, mussels, oysters, clams and much more - in classical French style
A sautee of lobster, prawns, scallops and mussels in garlic and parsley butter
Seafood casserole
Lobster baked in its own juices, flavoured with Pernod and topped with mozzarella cheese
A zarzuela of fish - this is a Spanish dish with white fish and shell fish cooked in white wine, cream and tomatoes
A half or whole lobster grilled in garlic and parsley butter or cold with mayonnaise