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The Bottom Line
Simple, good quality English and Continental dishes, friendly efficient service and modest prices in a family run, roadside restaurant. Well located for touring in the South, The Orchard features mostly local produce, private parking and a large garden of mature fruit trees.Hallelujah - Someplace Nice to Stop
Anyone who drives from London toward the South Coast knows that a body could die of thirst before spotting a decent place to stop for refreshment. Heading across Surrey and West Sussex along the main routes to Brighton, Littlehampton and points further west along the coast, it quickly becomes apparent that there are almost no places to stop for more than a cellophane wrapped sandwich from a gas station.The counties are among the most affluent in England and while there may be some lovely restaurants for expensive and leisurely lunches and some wonderful country pubs hidden away down treeshaded lanes, the scenic A23 and A24 are bereft of quick eateries. I discovered The Orchard recently on one of those drives when I would have paid in blood for a cup of coffee or even a Big Mac.
Inside The Orchard
Housed in a former train station (for a disused line, now part of the Downs Link trail), The Orchard is unpretentious, friendly and right next to the A272 which links the two main southbound routes (the A23 to Brighton and the A24 toward points further west). Recently freshened up, its sunny rooms are simply furnished with wooden tables and chairs. The day I visited, it seemed to be filled with a mixture of local people - couples and families - and passers-by who, like me, had been surprised to find it.The Menu
The Orchard is open all day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner:- Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to noon. A full English breakfast, with two slices of bacon, two sausages, egg, mushroom, tomatoes, black pudding, toast, marmalade, tea or coffee costs £5.95. There's also a range of eggs, beans, cereals and porridge. There are even Cocoa Pops for your cranky younger passengers. This is classic, old fashioned English breakfast fare.
- Lunch from noon to 6 p.m. includes:
- a big selection of filled baked potatoes
- panini, sandwiches and toasted sandwiches
- salads
- omelettes
- soups
- main courses - steak and kidney pie, boiled gammon (a British ham joint)and parsley sauce, fish, sausage and mash, lasagne.
- Dinner An evening menu, served after 6 p.m., changes every two weeks. It includes:
- a range of starters priced from £4.25 to £4.75 (curried parsnip soup, goats cheese tart and, talk about English, jellied eels)
- mains at £11.50 to £14.50 (poached chicken with asparagus and cheese, peppered steak, salmon goujoins)
- old fashioned desserts like black cherry cheesecake, apple and blackberry pie or cheese and biscuits, priced from £4.25 to £4.50
- Teas, cakes, chips (British for fries) and snacks are available at any time of day
A Satisfying Lunch
None of this is earth-shattering fare and it's not likely to get a listing in any foodie guides. But it is freshly prepared, served with a genuine smile, in generous portions, quickly and without a lot of fuss. I sampled a baked potato stuffed with cheese, a huge salad and coffee for about £6. The enormous potato was really baked, not microwaved. Best of all, the restaurant is easy to reach along a main east-west road that links the main routes south. It's a place I will remember the next time I'm driving past or hiking the Downs Link.The Orchard Essentials
- Where: Cowfold Road (A272), West Grinstead, West Sussex RH13 8LU, UK
- Telephone: 01403 865 693
- Price range: Inexpensive to moderate
- Opening times: All day, everyday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (last orders at 9 p.m.)
- Alcohol? Serves a full range of beer, wine and spirits.
