When I first heard about Resorts World itself I wasn’t sure about it – it sounded like a bigger Star City – somewhere I’m not really that keen on. So when the opportunity came up to have a look round, and eat at Waters Restaurant we decided that it was worth checking out, in that lull that is the time between Christmas and New Year.
Theres a whole host of outlet shopping, quite a few chain restaurants (think Pizza Express, Nandos, Las Iguanas) but also a few others, like Robata Bar & Grill, Waters and several bars and restaurants in the on site hotel. As well as this throw in a Casino and Imax Cinema and you’ve got a day out for the whole family really. It’s location near Birmingham airport will be great for some, and for us its actually our nearest Imax so I can see us visiting in future.
The main purpose of this trip thought was to visit Waters Restaurant – the venture by Andy Waters, who you may have heard of before or even eaten at – he’s been at the helm of both Then Queens in Belbroughton and Waters on the Square in Edgbaston. Chatting to Andy whilst we were there it was nice to his his vision for the place and how things had been going int he short time they had been open.
The interior of the restaurant is very well done, simple clean lines and furnishings with decorative features dotted around like large gleaming mirrors and elegant vases full of flowers.
They offer an A La Carte Menu as well as a Menu Rapide at Lunchtimes offering great value. We chose from the former.
To start I decided on the Linguini pasta with olive tapenade, oven dried tomatoes, basil and Parmigiano Reggiano (6.95). It’t not something that I would usually choose, the the oven dried tomatoes were really calling to me that day and they didn’t disappoint in the salty sweet juiciness. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the whole dish sung of the Med.
Lee chose the Steak tartare with mustard mayonnaise, pickled cucumber and coriander cress (9.95). A long term favorite dish of his this was definitely up there with the better ones. He commented that the texture was finer than usual as well which was an interesting texture difference. The beautiful delicate presentation really lifted it too.
Main course wise I went for Beer battered monkfish tails with lemon, tartare sauce and chipped potatoes (15.95). Lee chose Honey roasted fillet of pork, braised cheek with fricasée of broad beans, celeriac, chorizo and a honey spiced jus (14.50) he decided on his as it sounded like something just a little different, packed full of interesting flavours. The pork was cooked perfectly and the sauce was something really special. One of those sauces you could easily lick from the plate if you weren’t in such nice surroundings! My fish had he lightest batter and the thick chips were like fluffy pillows with a crispy exterior – possibly coated in semolina given the texture, but we weren’t sure.
I also really liked their choices of crockery and cutlery. Plates were simple but interesting and the way they would look and suit the food was obviously considered which was nice. And no gimmicks either! We were very full from the rich food but really wanted to try a couple of desserts. We chose a couple of the lighter sounding ones, although if I go back I want to try the Signature Pudding which involves Chocolate, Marmalade and Shortbread! Yum.
I chose extremely well though with my dessert of Mango ice with peppered pineapple, sweetened mango and coconut cream. This was incredibly refreshing, the coconut cream was like a creamy sorbet and the pieces of caramlised slightly peppery pineapple were divine. Little spheres of mango caviar that burst in your mouth were a real treat too. A perfect way to finish a meal. Lee’s delicately presented Lemon posset with fresh raspberries, raspberry sorbet and crispy meringue (6.95) was a shower of sharp and sweet flavours that were balanced really well.
We couldn’t really fault our meal at Waters. It was very flavoursome and all really well cooked and presented. Service too was very attentive whist we were there. The prices aren’t the cheapest, but as discussed many a time before on the blog, you get what you pay for, and the food here is well worth the money. So if you’re off to Resorts World and fancy something just a bit more special whilst you’re there I would wholeheartedly recommend Waters.
Disclosure: Our meal at Waters was complimentary but as usual, this does not affect our honest opinions.
