By Clare Wallace
The bustling and historic Camber Dock area of Old Portsmouth is home to Arbaristro – a relaxed and stylish restaurant and bar. Its heritage, formerly known as the American Bar goes back two centuries.
The building dates from the late eighteenth century and was apparently once a place where convicts were brought as they waited to be shipped off to a penal colony in the States - hence the name The American Bar. Abarbistro has whitewashed walls with blue window frames, and glass doors which give unrivalled views of the Spinnaker Tower.
Sitting down at the light wood tables, the feel of the place with its fresh striped upholstery and beach huts on the walls, is decidedly reminiscent of New England. As my friends and I perused the menus, we were served marinated olives, crudités with hummus and bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil by a friendly waitress. And our drinks order was soon taken.
We decided to go straight into the main course, but if you did want a starter they range from char-grilled polenta with balsamic wild mushrooms through to a smoke mackerel, lemon and herb pate to pea and ham risotto.
The catch of the day, was seared seatrout with sweet potato puree and salsa verde. We all, however, chose our main course from the standard menu. I decided on the arbaristro fishcake with spinach and Hollandaise sauce (£10) while another in our party chose beer-battered fish and chips with pea puree. Also on offer was sun dried tomato, leek and cashew blue lattice (£10) and south downs sirloin steak, fat chips and green peppercorn sauce (£18)
We did not have to wait long for our food to be served. My fishcake, was a huge, rounded one sitting on the bed of wilted spinach and covered in Hollandaise sauce. The taste lived up to expectations too. It had been made with salmon and pollock, but the taste was not too overpowering. Although there was no mash or chips with it, for me it was more than enough.
Dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for and some dishes can be served in children’s portions.
On the first Friday of every month between 5.30pm and 7pm (last orders 6.30pm) you can have beer battered fish and chips followed by eton mess, all for £10. You can of course just go and have a drink.
We did not have to wait long for our food to be served. My fishcake, was a huge, rounded one sitting on the bed of wilted spinach and covered in Hollandaise sauce. The taste lived up to expectations too. It had been made with salmon and pollock, but the taste was not too overpowering. Although there was no mash or chips with it, for me it was more than enough.
Dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for and some dishes can be served in children’s portions.
On the first Friday of every month between 5.30pm and 7pm (last orders 6.30pm) you can have beer battered fish and chips followed by eton mess, all for £10. You can of course just go and have a drink.
In fact Arbaristro also houses Camber Wines on the first floor where owner David Moore hosts wine tastings designed around four themed suppers: Italy, Spain, Burgundy and Alsace. These are hosted for a minimum of six people, maximum 14 people. The way the evning works is that there is an informal tasting of wines from the region, held in the tasting room followed by an authentic supper in the restaurant served by the chef.
Abarbistro is open from 11am until midnight Mondays to Saturdays, and from noon until 11pm on Sundays. You can park free of charge outside the restaurant or on Lombard Street, the street that runs down to Portsmouth Cathedral.
If you’re visiting Gunwharf Quays and want to get away from the crowds, Abarbistro is only a few minutes' walk away. With its great food and drink in a laid back environment, Abarbistro is well worth the visit.
Abarbistro
58 White Hart Road
Old Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 2JA
Tel. 023 9281 1585
www.abarbistro.co.uk