THE NORTON DOG (The Dog Inn)

Ixworth Road,

Norton,

Suffolk.

IP31 3LP

Tel: 01359 230440

Email: info@thenortondog.com

Website: www. thenortondog.com

OPENING HOURS MON-SAT 9.00AM – 11.00PM SUNDAY 12.00 – 8.00PM

SERVING FOOD MON-SAT 9.00AM – 9.00PM SUNDAY 12.00 – 6.00PM

Type of Restaurant: Traditional Pub Food

Type of Food: Good food from local, regional suppliers with a regularly changing and varied menu. Traditional Sunday Roasts

We have been using the Dog at Norton for more than thirty years but not really as regularly as we used to. The Dog to us is a good reliable alternative to other local Pub/Restaurants and is particularly convenient because of flexible opening times. It is a popular venue for diners who enjoy good traditional pub food.

We had some friends up for the weekend and were going to gig on the Suffolk Norfolk borders on Saturday evening where our son’s band was headlining at an annual Beer festival. Due to its’ flexible opening times The Norton Dog was an ideal choice for a pre- gig meal. We booked a table for six of us and a dog for 5.45 pm with a target time to get away by around 7.00. Straight in with the main courses Gladys and Andy ordered from the specials board a CRAB & PRAWN SALAD (£14) Eileen ordered the CLASSIC FISH PIE with Salmon, Smoked Haddock and White Fish in a creamy Leek and Pea sauce topped with cheesy sliced potatoes and a dressed side salad (£13 although £12.50 on the website) whilst Gary had the POT ROASTED GLOUCESTER OLD SPOT PORK BELLY served with dauphinoise potatoes and glazed carrots and sweet red cabbage with a cider gravy apple sauce and crackling (£14.50)

Mary and I (Charlie) chose the SRI LANKAN FISH CURRY, Cod Salmon & Tiger Prawns with Lemon Basmati Rice and Prawn Crackers (£14.50).

Unusually for our group five of us ordered sweets, while one just had another beer, the universal reasoning from everybody in the group was that the main course helpings were quite small and we still felt hungry. My Sri Lankan Fish Curry although a nice taste didn’t have the kick that I would expect from a curry. Gladys said that the Crab & Prawn salad was the size of a starter with very little crab served in a very small crab shell

We chose or sweets from the special sweet board below.

Each of the sweets is charged at £6.50. We had two Banoffee Tarts that appeared to be lacking in Banana and too much chocolate. My Crème Brule, although very nice, was not what I would class as a “Classic” with no hard glaze caramel. The Bakewell Tart and Cheesecake were ok but over priced in our view.

There is a reasonable wine list and a good selection of beers spirits and soft drinks. A pint of San Miguel was £4.40 a pint of Golden Bay bitter £3.90 a half of Lemonade and Lime £2.60 but a pint of Orange & Lemonade came in at £4.20 which I find very expensive.

Our total bill came to £139.10 plus a £5.00 tip working out at £24 per head for two courses and one drink.

Overall the quality of food is very good, just not enough, which in turn therefore does not work out as value for money. The Sunday roasts are always good value for money and on a different level. There is always a nice atmosphere in the 17^th century traditional pub and the staffs are very friendly. The Norton Dog is a good alternative for pub grub, give it a try.