Forgive
me for stating the obvious but The Hobgoblin is a typical Gloucester
Road-based establishment; complete with a ‘local pub for local
people’ ambiance (a largely student-centred clientèle) and an
acceptable level of grunginess that seems almost integral to what
we’ve come to recognise as BS7’s eclectic vibe. Besides all the
usual attributes, this pub's strength is its cuisine which was
unsurprisingly the factor which brought its whereabouts to my
attention – I mean, it’s rather a long shot from my last review
given that it's seriously lacking in the dainty department and yet as
an alternative, its fare constitutes that glorious three-point
comfort food ensemble: Meat, cheese and carbs. Modest eaters need not
apply, step aside...I’m going in!!
Date
and Time: Saturday 18 May 2013, 19:00
Name
of Establishment: The Hobgoblin (a.k.a. The Hob)*
Location:
69 - 71 Gloucester Road, Bristol
Reason
for visit: Erm…Meat, cheese and carbs!
With
an assortment of furniture; solid table-tops and bar stools intended
for dining and squashy sofas for serious slomping, this is a laid
back watering hole in which to kick back for a couple hours; a homely
space providing respite from the hustle and bustle of the Gloucester
Road strip. It’s both people-friendly and animal-friendly; the
latter meaning that a little interaction with the resident doglettes
may become part and parcel of your visit – this, in addition to
helpful service and value-for-money makes for an amicable ambiance -
you may suggest counteracting the pub's minimalistic décor and
shabby-looking toilets which really do appear to have seen better
days...!
The
menu is made up of a range of Tex-Mex style burgers and sandwiches;
with portion sizes to satisfy the...erm, generous appetite. The BBQ’d
brisket sandwich (£7.45), made with home-made blue cheese coleslaw
and the ‘Goober Burger’ (£7.95) - featuring bacon, a fried egg
and peanut butter (yes, really) - particularly caught my eye; the
combination of some of my favourite foodstuffs playing on both my
will-power and when it came to the latter, my curiosity! The star of
the show is undoubtedly the ‘Kraken Burger’ (£25) which, simply
speaking, comprises a grotesque amount of food, I quote; ‘a triple
bypass burger (that's 21 ounces of beef, people...), plus a portion
of dirty, dirty fries, 12 chicken wings, coleslaw, pickles and a
variety of sauces’ – phew! This is to be eaten within 45 minutes
in order to claim your dinner (enough to keep you going for the next
week I’d imagine) free of charge, plus a celebratory t-shirt and
the honour of having your name inscribed on the hallowed wall of
fame! Only one gutsy individual has achieved this to date; thus it's
clearly a force to be reckoned with!
The
girls and I shared the dirty dirty fries (£7.45) which were in fact,
really really good. Teetering above its platter-style base, this
sizeable feast had been fused into a peak with melted cheese (both
regular cheddar and blue) and contained an ample quantity of
succulently smoky pulled pork. Finished with a drizzle of home-made
coriander mayo, it's fair to say that cheesy chips will never be the
same again! That said, sharing is clearly the way forward here; the
chow-down that ensued slowing progressively as the carb-hit took
hold! In light of this, dessert was out of the question; though I
have on good authority that the Oreo and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie
is altogether uh-mazing – remind me to sport an elasticated
waistband next time...! When it came to liquid refreshment, we
identified all the usual suspects and at prices that wouldn't break
the bank – thus, the Sauvignon Blanc that the girls and I chose
came in at a mere £10.75 a bottle; proving an adequate accompaniment
to our edibles. Whilst we're on the subject of affordability, it was
noted that the student population are appropriately accommodated;
those with a valid NUS card able to bag a cheeseburger, plus fries
and a pint for just £6 on a Wednesday.
I
like that the fare is somewhat reminiscent of 'Epic Meal Time' and
that although we're undoubtedly talking purpose-built wow-factor,
this is not to the detriment of the overall tastiness, nor the
quality of the ingredients which really have been thoughtfully
sourced and prepared; with produce from nearby allotments, bread from
The Bread Store and meat bought-in from the local butcher shop. The
pulled pork is smoked in-house for up to 24 hours in an authentic
Webber Smoky Mountain BBQ which is no doubt testament to its appeal.
It's fair to say that you're not going to be hungry for 24-hours
after the gastonomical feast that awaits you and you'll either kill
it in the gym the next day (like yours truly) or lie for some time
with your stomach on a cushion like Brian Butterfield after treat day
(in the style of my very honest dining companion) but it really is
worth the necessity for recovery; this isn't epic meal time, this is
simply epic!
And
now for the second opinion...
My
dining companion gave The Hobgoblin a rating of 8/10 and in three
words, summed up her experience with: 'Meat. Fries. Happiness'.
References:
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