We were invited to The Oarsman Bistropub & Wine Bar in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and received our meal free of charge in exchange for this review. Words and pictures are my own.
The Oarsman on Spittal Street in Marlow, Buckinghamshire describes itself as a ‘Bistropub and Wine Bar’. From the classy but traditional-looking exterior – and even the warm and cosy pub interior – you might assume that it would serve your average pub grub, but this is definitely not the case. It’s so much more than that!
A dog friendly lunch at The Oarsman in Marlow
Marlow is around half an hour from Reading, but it’s a lovely town to visit, particularly if you happen to be dog owners as many shops there welcome dogs and there is a nice Thames walk if the weather is good.
When looking at the website to plan our journey, we noticed that The Oarsman had a dog friendly section and asked if we could be seated there, to avoid leaving Izzy at home on her own for a large part of the day. They replied and said that would be no problem, and so the three of us all headed to Marlow for lunch.
As you enter The Oarsman from the side entrance, there is a restaurant to your left, ahead of you is a central bar area, and to the right is the ‘snug’ with a handful of smaller tables. In the bar and the snug, well behaved dogs are welcome to come join their owners while they enjoy a meal.
We ate at 1pm on a Saturday and there were two other tables occupied in the snug, a couple and a larger group who also had their dog with them. We had a full three course meal and left around two hours later which was perfect; the service was quick but we didn’t feel rushed at all. It was a lovely relaxed afternoon well spent.
The menu at The Oarsman
The menu at The Oarsman is small enough to fit onto a side of A4 but has options for everyone, with meat, fish and vegetarian starters and mains. There is also a good selection of bar snacks, if you’re not feeling hungry enough for a full meal, and cheese and charcuterie platters if you want nibbles to share with a nice glass of wine.
Prices are on a par with what you’d pay at a similar venue elsewhere; certainly not cheap, but in keeping with the style of food and location. During the week there is a ‘plat du jour’ offer, where for £17.50 you can get a selected main and a glass of wine or beer.
The much larger menu is the wine list.
There are over 300 different wines to choose from at The Oarsman, from over 40 countries – I have to admit, it’s a tad overwhelming! They change the wines available by the glass each week which is a great way to help wine lovers try new things.
With help from the waitress, I selected a crisp Italian white Verdicchio to accompany the cod I chose for my main course.
There are also beers on tap as well as a cocktail list and all the other drinks you’d expect in a good pub.
Food
For a starter, I chose the thinly sliced beef and my partner went for the fish soup.
The fish soup came with baked croutons, rouille (an egg and oil sauce) and comte cheese, and the beef with small onion salad, gremolata and horseradish.
I tried both – for review purposes I mean – and while I was a bit jealous of the soup, the beef was so perfectly cooked. Izzy was very displeased that I managed to eat the whole thing with no regrets.
For the main course, my partner had pork loin with a side of crispy potatoes, while I opted for cod.
The pork loin came looking quite rare but it was explained that this was because it was aged. I’m not much of a fan of pork loin usually but having tried it, it was the best pork I’ve ever tasted; not dry in the slightest. I also stole a few of the crispy potatoes which were actually thin layers of potato cooked together in chips and served with n’duja aioli. They were glorious.
The cod was, for want of a better word, meaty. It was a really big piece which flaked perfectly and it was incredibly satisfying which I don’t often find fish to be. The accompanying capers and pine nuts were just lovely. The whole meal was wonderfully presented and tasted delicious.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our main courses, and, alas, there was only a bit of pork fat left for the very sad puppy. She never gets fed.
I’m not often a dessert person but the list was just too tempting, in particular the apple and pear pavlova. My partner went for the dark chocolate delice, primarily because he knows I don’t really like dark chocolate and wouldn’t nick any.
I didn’t think I would be able to finish it, being so full from the first two courses, but somehow we both pulled it out of the bag.
Our meal at The Oarsman was absolutely superb.
It was unpretentious, warm and inviting, and the staff go went of their way to make us (and our dog) feel welcome, and our meal enjoyable. The food was absolutely wonderful. The fact that you can take the dog along with you makes it the perfect place for a relaxed lunch, then a nice walk along the Thames.
It was certainly a step above anything I’ve eaten in any pub, particularly any dog friendly venue, and was honestly comparable to Michelin star meals I’ve eaten. The presentation was what you’d expect of a fine dining restaurant and the tastes were on another level – and unlike some more expensive restaurants, the portions were large, and filling.
My only criticism was that it’s not closer to where I live, because if it was I’d certainly have booked my return visit.
Fancy it? Find out more and book here!
Christmas at The Oarsman
This Christmas at The Oarsman you can indulge in seasonal dishes crafted with care by Head Chef Scott Smith and the team while sipping on special festive cocktails. You can see a sample menu and book here.
Where can you park for The Oarsman in Marlow?
Parking is available behind The Oarsman at Liston Road car park, which can be paid for using the RingGo app.
Is The Oarsman in Marlow dog friendly?
Yes – in the bar and the snug area you are welcome to enjoy a drink or a meal with your well behaved dog. We were brought a bowl of water for her and the waitress gave her a bit of fuss, which she loved! If you’re making a booking, I would definitely let them know you are bringing your dog with you so that they can reserve you a table away from the restaurant area.
Are there vegetarian and vegan options at The Oarsman?
Two of the seven options for starters and mains were vegetarian, but potentially not vegan. Ring ahead if you’re unsure or have allergies.