Midsummer House

Firstly this place is gorgeous looking and inviting in location. However I found it hard to find and would make people aware of this as well.

Secondly, i found the wine list one of the most daunting experiences in my life with the vast array of choices and level of pricing. This may mean I was out of my depth , but if you feel the way I did then rely on the exceptional sommelier. His knowledge and the trust that could be place din him to provide wines within our price range and quality was a real high point.

The menu was well shown and the ability to choose from the two versions helped. However having picked the less expensive (£72.50p.p. at my time of attendance) the extra that were added during the meal seemed exactly like those as part of the more expensive choice and I would have been deeply disappointed if the extras had cost me another £20p.p.

The food itself was lovely and tasty and the mixture of flavours and textures shows extremely gifted cooking and sophistication along with a keen eye for detail and art style presentation. Most would probably state that’s the reason its sitting with 2* Michelin rating.

The service was again of a high class, yet the atmosphere was lacking and there was a distinct impression of being aloof. if a restaurant can be!!

Would like to try again to see if it was just my initial feelings or if my first impression is the correct one.

Midsummer House is certainly the best restaurant I am aware of in Cambridge and worth a visit if in the area, although I am not convinced it is worthy of the levels of praise or certain is it worthy of its accolades.

Arriving a little early for our table was were seated in the ‘bar’ which is a very small rectangular room upstairs with two clusters of tables and chairs. These were already occupied so instead we were given two wooden chairs and held our drinks until one of the tables were vacated. It did have the distinct feel of a waiting room. Bit strange.

The dining room itself was nice but did now feel very much like sitting in a conservatory, although perhaps I was more aware of my surroundings after the ‘bar’ experience. The menu was tasting only as we were having dinner at the weekend – with a choice of two, ‘taste of the market’ £130 with wine, or ‘taste of midsummer’ – £165 options with wine. I would usually opt for a tasting menu rather than dining a la carte but it would have been nice to have a choice. There also seems little point choosing a Wine if the sommelier has already paired each course in advance, so bowing to superior judgement I reluctantly handed the heavy Wine list back.

The meal was interesting – if a bit of a foam party. Some predictable dishes but also some real flourishes of excellence including a Jack Daniels and Honey shot. The desserts were also notable. Service was good although altogether the whole experience felt a little conveyor belt and the atmosphere was slightly flat. Sit down, eat this, drink this, nod agreeably and then leave £450 lighter.