Review: Red Lion, Burnsall

After our post about the pubs that stand in as the Drovers Arms in All Creatures Great and Small, it had me craving a day out in the Yorkshire Dales. Autumn is such a beautiful time to be there when the leaves are all changing to orange and red.

So the dogs were packed up into the car and off we went for a country walk followed by a pub lunch at the Red Lion in Burnsall.

Although the pub is much bigger inside than in appears from the exterior and features a rabbit-warren of different rooms, it still gets very busy at lunchtime, but we didn’t have a problem finding a seat at about 3pm after our walk (they serve food all day, unlike many country pubs).

I opted for the steak and ale pie that came with mashed potato, carrots, parsnips and kale.

The clearly-homemade pie came stuffed to the brim with big steak pieces, the extra gravy being served on the side instead of filling space within the crust. The mashed potatoes and root vegetables were all well-cooked and added a big punch of sweetness to the otherwise very savoury plateful. I am not a huge fan of kale at the best of times, so this definitely didn’t blow me away, but that was partly because it seemed to have only been blanched or steamed without much seasoning. Overall though, the whole dish was hearty and satisfying and just what the doctor ordered after a long chilly walk.

Scott opted for the French onion grilled cheese sandwich which was on the special lunch menu.

Having had no clue what to really expect from the initial description, I was surprised by this dish in a wonderful way. The outside of the bread had a perfect crispy crunch, while still being soft and pillowy on the inside. The mature cheese was tangy and the perfect complement to the sweet caramelised onions (of which there were many). The chips were also very good, even if they were overshadowed by the sandwich itself.

Fo dessert, I went for the white chocolate and Irish cream tiramisu.

I am somewhat of a tiramisu snob, I have to admit. I love it to be soaked in booze and/or coffee, with a decadent cream. This version was a little underwhelming because you really couldn’t taste either the Irish cream or the white chocolate. It was a perfectly acceptable trifle, with cake and cream layers, but I wouldn’t order it again.

Scott opted for the apple, pear and cinnamon Charlotte pudding.

The presentation of this was lovely as it came served in its own cast iron skillet and personally, I love that they serve it with both custard AND cream. The cinnamon added a warming autumnal flavour to the apple and pear, although I felt the crust was slightly stodgy (but I appreciate that to ensure that the fruit filling doesn’t escape from something like this, you need to make it fairly thick).

I would have to say that I really enjoyed our visit to the Red Lion, Burnsall. It is the perfect place to enjoy a pint after a walk in the Dales and the different rooms inside all have their own character and some have cosy fireplaces, too. The desserts, for me, were a little underwhelming, but to be honest, it is hard to find a pub that can really conquer dishes outside of the classic sticky toffee pudding or ice cream, so I do tip my hat to them for at least trying something different.

The main courses were really hearty and delicious and would definitely be my focus on my next visit.