The Golden Lion in Padstow is a 14th century inn and the oldest pub in town. It is a proper old fashioned pub, frequented by regulars and packed out with tourist hungry to dine, it really is one of the more popular haunts in town.

This week we were lucky, popping in on the off chance and finding the last table in the bar to grab a meal and a pint.

I love finding places like this and we have tried a few times over the years to get in for a meal but hadn’t managed to get a table. While we waited I looked around the bar, locals bantering in the corner, visitors like us pouring over the menu supping their beers. It was like a real local pub and we could have been anywhere

GRILL MENU AT THE GOLDEN LION

I was really in the mood for a slab of meat and some chips so was all over the Grill section of the menu. I knew that the steaks would be at the pricier end of their offerings between £26 – £35 and while I don’t mind paying for quality I diverted my attention towards the Gammon and Chip that was a little bit cheaper at just under £20

It had been a while since I had this particular dish and what sold it to me was that you were getting both Pineapple and a Fried Egg. More often than not you have to choose one or the other but not today I was onto a winner already

GAMMON STEAK

This was without doubt the best plate of Gammon and Chips that I have had the pleasure to have eaten. The Gammon steak itself was huge, 10 oz and more, there was no shrinkage during cooking here! It was thick too a good half inch and with the fat left on it was still pretty juicy.

Unlike some gammon steaks it was not too salty, flavour wise it was just like a bit of lovely cured bacon, size wise it seemed to be cut from a mammoth beast!

What can I say! I really wasn’t prepared for the vastness of the plate put before me! I love a bit of gammon but I have never seen one as big or as good as this. My oh My I was winning dinner tonight for sure!

GAMMON, EGG & CHIPS

As well as that big Gammon Steak I was treated to some excellent accompaniments. Two soft juicy halves of tomato added some sauciness to the dish sitting alongside a big generous pile of juicy button mushrooms.

Taking a look at the egg sitting there on one end of the Gammon gives you a good idea of how big the steak was. Perfectly cooked with a nice runny golden egg and a scattering of pepper to add some seasoning. I could have easily taken another couple of eggs to cover the meat I reckoned that if you measure the steak in eggs it was 3 1/2 eggs long 😍

I enjoyed the crispy fried onion rings, the crunchy coating covered some soft slices of onion, nothing to complain about here. I have had some sad affairs in my time but these were in a different league! If these were served to my as a side dish or bar snack I would have been most delighted even better as part of my main.

The pineapple was interesting as it was a charred slice instead of the classic ring. It did bring out the flavour of the fruit much better although secretly I do cherish those that come out of a tin.

The plate was so full that the chips had to come in a separate tin and I had to devour a fair amount of the plate contents to fit the rest of them on. They were plentiful and if you like classic pub chips you would be happy enough with these.

I loved every mouthful of this dish and perhaps it would be churlish to suggest that I would have enjoyed a few spoonful’s of garden peas as well to complete the story? Well I just did so report me to the plate police 😜🤣

The Golden Lion is located at 19 Lanadwell St, Padstow, PL28 8AN as well as really excellent pub food you can also stay here as it is also has accommodation.

After we luckily snagged a table in the bar we saw lots of people turned away and we were sure that once we had left another lucky soul had happily grabbed our table!

The place is very popular and it is definitely a good idea to book. Next time we are in Padstow we will makes sure we have secured our table in advance we would not want to miss out on another opportunity to dine here!

The Golden Lion do have a social presence with their Instagram profile, Twitter feed, and Facebook page but looking at all three none are particularly active.