The Golden Lion, Magor

Having moved into the Magor area in October last year, we undertook the high priority task of checking out our local pub, The Golden Lion. Both keen foodies, we embraced this task with some lip smacking relish!

Under the enthusiastic hand of the new hosts James and Julie Dawson, the menu has undergone a complete overhaul. The bar menu now comprises a wonderful selection from Tapas, good honest homemade shepherds pie to an excellent range of homemade burgers. Something for all tastes and budgets.

My wife was particularly delighted with the Spare ribs � and declared them without doubt the best she has ever eaten. No small compliment from someone who trained and worked alongside Albert Roux!

The restaurant menu and Specials board are particularly good. With a decent selection of dishes to suit all palates put together with an emphasis on fresh, good quality ingredients. Many of the starters (haggis, tagliatelle, Thai fish cakes to name only a few) are available as a main course � this is good news as we are able to indulge our fondness for the extraordinarily good haggis dish on offer.

We eat here at least once a week, often bringing friends and family and the standard of the food, presentation and service never disappoint. The emphasis on good quality fresh ingredients, a varied and contemporary menu along with the considerable skill of the new chef ensures that every meal is of the highest standard and a pleasure to devour. Subtle, tasteful changes to d�cor (and less subtle improvements to the cleaning!) have created a real country pub which reflects the character and flair of the hosts whilst retaining its village charm and appeal � something which so many pretentious so called �Gastro pubs� fail to achieve.

James and Julie are welcoming, affable hosts. Staff are attentive without being intrusive; each of them will readily try to accommodate any specific requirements. We have enjoyed the talent of the locals during many of the jamming music sessions and pitted our wits against CJ in the quiz. We saw in our First New Year as Magor residents at a wonderful evening at the Golden Lion complete with sumptuous buffet, live folk band and a piper to see in the New Year � all for under �20!

Our table is already booked for this year.

The exceptionally friendly service, superb food and relaxed surroundings make the whole experience of dining at the Golden Lion a real pleasure.

19 Nov 2009 13:55