Tucked at the end of a winding lane, Breeze Restaurant is a perfect hideaway for those wanting to escape the stresses of everyday life. Within a stone's throw of the river, the view from the expansive windows and spacious outside patio is of quaint sailing boats and modern yachts.
Inside you'll find light wooden floors, tongue-and-groove panelling and leafy plants dotted around the airy interior; an air of subtle and understated sophistication pervades, giving Breeze its relaxed and elegant ambience.
Restaurateur Dave Mulleman is passionate about utilising the best produce, locally sourced wherever possible, and sometimes even bought fresh from London markets. Seafood is obviously a speciality, with a starter of calamari on a bed of shaved fennel, honeydew melon and sweet chilli sauce never failing to tantalise the tastebuds. Vegetarians will find the deep-fried Brie with cranberry sauce truly out of this world, literally melting in the mouth. For the main course, the roast rack of lamb in a Port and redcurrant sauce - reasonably priced at £11.50 - was expertly cooked, served with Duchesse potato, mange tout and the unusual touch of a scattering of fresh cranberries. It looked almost too good to eat.
A dessert of milk and white chocolate mousse, served with coffee cream and generous wedges of chocolate, provided the perfect indulgence to round off a delectable meal. All of our courses were promptly served by the friendly waiting staff.
Add in the carefully chosen wine list, including a superb Chilean merlot, and you have the recipe for a perfect evening. A charming feature of the selection is Cuvée Royale Champagne, as supplied to Queen Victoria when she resided on the Island at Osborne House. A meal at Breeze will certainly put the wind back in your sails, providing you with a culinary breath of fresh air worth reliving over and over again.
