Food review at The Honingham Buck did not disappoint

As we walked inside, the finishing touches were being made to the Christmas tree and the log burner was warming the place nicely. 

On a grey and rainy afternoon, The Honingham Buck could not have been any more picture perfect. 

And the menu’s offerings didn’t disappoint either. 

Full of variety and flavours, it was nice to read options that steered away from the norm or traditional pub classics.

It was hard to decide on a starter as there were lots of tasty choices ranging from pickled beetroot to cheesy croquettes and terrine or cured salmon.  

We decided to share and opted for marinated crispy chicken (£7.95) and pork and black pudding scotch egg (£7.95). 

A rich and nutty crumb made from peanuts, crispy onion, and sesame seed infused strips of chicken, which were served with flavoursome gochujang mayo, bread and butter pickles, pickled ginger, and a sprinkling of coriander. 

The showstopper for me though, was the scotch egg.  

The egg inside was cooked to perfection, with a gooey yolk centre (I overheard the waitress saying it took a whole day and 200 eggs to perfect). 

Arriving with a crispy and golden breadcrumb coating, it sat on top of a bed of homemade piccalilli full of crunch and deliciousness and fresh salad leaves. 

For the mains I was immediately captivated by the sound of the honey, chilli and garlic glazed aubergine (£15.95). 

Served with sweet coconut rice, which was cut through nicely with lime, this Thai yellow curry dish was perfection with its accompaniment of pickled Asian salad and coriander cress. 

In fact, this is a dish that would make me drive out there to eat it again without hesitation. 

Mr W. was in the mood for a burger, so the Buck beef burger served with American cheese, red onion marmalade, baby gem, pickles, and garlic mayo all inside a brioche bun (£15.45) was sure to hit the spot. 

And while it was tasty, the burger patty itself was a tad on the dry side. 

This was a hearty dish served with French fried and a mixed lead salad. Diners also had the option to add bacon for an extra £1. 

I already knew I was having a dessert before I began eating, because there was no way I was turning down a Bailey’s crème brulee (£8.45). Tis the season after all... 

Oh wow. Not only was this a large portion (and I am not complaining) it came with the salivating sides of chocolate ice cream and white chocolate shortbread. 

It was a winning dish which ticked all of the right boxes. 

Setting   

A rustic country pub set in a charismatic village in rural Norfolk. What’s not to love?  

Value   

The total bill came to £63.80, and that included two starters, two mains, a pudding, one soft drink and a small wine.  

I’d say that’s pretty good value and we came away feeling full and well looked after. 

Drinks   

The Buck boasts a lovely bar with impressive oak beams.  

There are all your usual choices for drinks, and Fentimans soft drinks are served too. The house white wine – Terre du Soleil – was stunning but it may have been too early in the day to finish a bottle. 

Toilets   

Clean and nicely decorated, exactly what you would expect to find. 

Accessibility   

There is an overflow car park at the rear of the building, as well as disabled access. 

There is also a sandwich menu for lunchtime diners, as well as vegan, gluten-free, and gluten-free alternative dishes. 

Service   

Friendly servers who were attentive and personable. The timings between ordering and food arriving were also perfect. 

Highlight   

The scotch egg was rather impressive, as was my curry, but I would love to go back for the cheese board (£10.45) which comes with Binham Blue, Norfolk smoked dapple, and Baron bigod – delicious! 

In summary  

The food here was lovely, the menu interesting and different from the norm, and the location was spot on. Well worth the drive out. 

Disclaimer  

Our food reviews are always independent. They are the opinion of the reviewer based on their experience of the venue when they visited. The establishment is not aware of our visit, is not informed we intend to write a review and bills are paid by the reviewer. The choice of places reviewed is also independent and is not based on venues which do or do not advertise in our publications.  

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