Arriving for our meal, it’s hard not to be impressed by the majesty of the beautiful lobby at the Hyatt Regency luxury hotel. Expertly designed to bring nature in from the outside, we are guided through a beautiful leaf archway to the Aria Restaurant.
They run two menus the “pre-theatre” menu and al la carte alongside an extensive wine menu too, from which I order a glass of Malbec for myself and Cotes Du Rhône form my dining partner. We ordered from the a la carte menu at the same time, as we’re decisive like that.
After a few minutes our wine arrived at the table, followed a few short minutes later by our starters: Pan seared scallops, cauliflower puree, chorizo crumb with crispy greens; and a Lobster bisque with salted croute and gruyère cheese. The scallops were beautifully cooked with a lovely sear and almost melted in the mouth, whilst the Lobster Bisque was bursting with flavour thanks to the tasty pieces of lobster hidden in the bowl. The gruyère cheese added a layer of texture and the salted croute was perfect for dipping.
Dishes cleared, we didn’t have to wait long before our main were presented. I went for the Goosnargh duck breast Served with creamed potatoes, cherries, and duck jus while my dining partner went for the Dingley Dell pork belly Dauphinoise potato, dried apple, roast cauliflower puree and asparagus with red wine jus. The duck was cooked perfectly. The skin was crispy, full of flavour and the meat still pink and tender. I loved the addition of the cherries adding a touch of sourness to balance to the richness of the jus. Again, the belly Pork was beautifully cooked and the skin almost like a thin bit of crackling. The cauliflower purée and dried apples were a real hit too both adding quite intense flavours. Both dishes we well executed complementing each part on the plate.
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Bellies groaning, we both asked for a breather before ordering desserts. This pause allowed us to take in our surroundings. The right side of exclusive, the restaurant was filling up with a mix of business people and families out to enjoy some quality time together. A couple of lone diners who (presumably) were guests at the hotel happily ate in the gorgeous surrounds before heading up to their rooms or out into the night.
Appetite restored, it was time for something sweet. I have always been more a fan of traditional desserts, so I went for the hot apple pie with ice cream, biscuit crumb and salted caramel sauce whole my dinner partner had the cheese board. Both again beautifully presented with a great selection on the cheese board. The hot apple pie was tasty, and I loved the salted caramel sauce. The pie was full of spice and as the ice cream melted each mouthful took me back to one of my favourite childhood desserts.
The Aria definitely delivered for us and have some great two and three course deals as well as the pre-theatre options too. As we left, feeling incredibly full, we both wouldn’t hesitate to come back and try more from their delicious menu. Watch out for the festive twists they are adding through December too.
