Usually we go away for our anniversary. A looked forward to annual treat where we get to have a night away from the kids with a guaranteed lie in – Bliss! Maybe there was something in the fact that this year we were celebrating our 13th anniversary. As unlucky for us, circumstances meant that we couldn’t get a babysitter. So we ended up camping with the kids instead. But kids or no kids, we still wanted to celebrate our anniversary somewhere special. And so after some digging we decided that The Beach House Restaurant Oxwich seemed like a perfect choice.
After opening in 2016 The Beach House Restaurant made its way on the Good Food Guide and this year it has been listed as AA Restaurant of the Year. So we booked for a table of five. Slightly nervous if I’m honest of taking all three kids to such a fine dining restaurant.
First Impressions of the Beach House Restaurant Oxwich
The Beach House is decorated in a New England nautical style with cool blues and sandy tones. The original artwork that dons the white wooden panelled walls are all seaside inspired too. Unquestionably there is a beach vibe going on. Subsequently when you walk in there is a much more relaxed and informal feel than that encountered at most fine dining restaurants. Luckily for us, it turns out that the Beach House Restaurant Oxwich is indeed very family friendly. Not only were our kids welcomed but there were others also dining there with children in tow too.
The small terrace out front rewards you with the most magnificent views across Oxwich Bay towards Three Cliffs. On a sunny summers evening it really is the most idyllic setting. Inside, whilst the views aren’t as panoramic, the tables are strategically placed to ensure you can still capture the stunning view.
Head Chef Hywel Griffith is a Welsh chef who is clearly passionate about locally sourced seasonal produce. The menu is small, with just a choice of 5 starters and 5 mains. There is also a very tempting tasting menu option of either 5 or 8 dishes which can be accompanied by a wine flight. On this occasion we opted for the a la carte menu. But I would love to head back there again and try the tasting menu, more likely when we don’t have the kids with us.
The Food at the Beach House Restaurant Oxwich
For an amuse bouche we sampled a bite size pastry cup filled with broad beans, with fennel and lemon dressing on top of a velvety cheese mouse. I had the lactose free option of a spoon full of broad beans with a lemon dressing. It was delicious. A simple fresh appetiser which put us in the mood for what was about to follow.
Next up was the home cooked bread streaked with lavabread. Now I’m not a fan of lavabread, I know its a welsh favourite but I just don’t get it. So I have to eat my words here and admit that I really did like it. The lavabread provided a lovely salty sourness and it was perfect for mopping up my pea veloute.
Oh, I haven’t mentioned the pea veloute yet have I! This was an appetiser of an exceptionally smooth creamed pea soup with a hidden crispy chicken bite at the centre. The veloute was topped with a black olive and garlic gel. It was heavenly. The only negative was that my boys both tried it and loved it too which meant I had to share it with them. My husband somehow managed to devour his creamed sweetcorn veloute completely on his own.
I tucked into the perfectly tender Swansea Sea Bass (£16) for starter. This was tandoori roasted alongside a succulent sweet roasted onion and a bite size parcel of crispy pork shoulder. Again, I absolutely loved it.
My husband opted for the Atlantic Prawns (£15) served in a spicy seafood XO sauce with samphire. He devoured it so quickly that I didn’t even get to sample a bite. He did however confirm that it was delicious.
For mains, I stuck with fish and opted for Brill (£25) in a summer vegetable nage. The salty samphire worked well with the tender thick fillet of Brill. The broth was light and translucent with the pea and broad beans providing the heady heights of summer. The crispy chicken skin hat was a nice touch and added some crunch. It was a pleasant dish, all elements indeed cooked perfectly, but at this point I am slightly kicking myself for ordering the Brill following the Bass.
My husband opted for the pork belly which was accompanied by the most creamy smooth mash and a bite size of pork parcel which cleverly tasted of pork pie. I kicked myself for not ordering it myself.
Rather then opting for dessert my husband chose the cheese board with a selection of bite sized cheeses and posh crackers. Plenty of welsh cheese locally sourced which was great to see. I had roasted pineapple with sorbet as a lactose free option which was delicious. It was all a perfect end to a pretty meal. Then as a surprise, when we could barely fit in another mouthful they brought us a plate of macaroons and some sweet bites to celebrate our anniversary which was a thoughtful touch.
Eating out with kids at the Beach House Restaurant Oxwich
Some fine dining restaurants will only offer a smaller portion of the dishes on the menu for kids. I never mind this as an approach but it can be tricky with fussy kids and my youngest is exceptionally fussy. Here they offered a full kiddies menu with the usual suspects of fish goujons, Chicken Nuggets and Pasta. They offered them at a youngsters or a teens sized portion. Even though my boys aren’t teenagers yet, their appetites are and so we opted for the teens dishes for them.
The food was all fresh, nothing processed. Just really good quality nuggets with a crispy coating and goujons with crisp batter. The chips were proper chips too and it took all my will power to not to finish them off when my little one didn’t manage to clear her plate.
For dessert two opted for the chocolate cake while the other opted for the ice-cream with chocolate sauce. The chocolate cake was very generous, which was just as well as with its rich chocolate gooey sauce it was very moorish.
We were very conscious that we had three kids with us and tried to keep them quiet and entertained with colouring in etc. When we moved inside (as it got a bit nippy outside) they even provided a separate table for them next to us so that they could colour in and have more room.
Our Verdict of the Beach House Restaurant Oxwich
Clearly you rate a restaurant on whether or not you would go back – and hands down I would go back to the Beach House Restaurant Oxwich tomorrow. I can’t really give it a better review than that. I loved the food, the setting and the decor all in equal measure. At last a fine dining restaurant which isn’t so stuffy. Absolutely loved it!
Additional Information:
Family Friendly Rating: ****
Ambience: *****
Food: *****
Overall: *****
High Chairs – Yes
Baby Changing – Yes
Childrens Menu – Yes
Dog friendly: Yes – Outside Only
Address: Beach House, Oxwich Beach, Gower, Swansea SA3 1LS
Tel: +44 (0) 1792 390965
Website: www.beachhouseoxwich.co.uk
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My mouth is watering as I read this, sounds really scrummy!