The Galley, Woodbridge restaurant review: “I had to stop my friend ordering more to take away!”

The Galley, Woodbridge

Restaurant review, The Galley Woodbridge. (Image: Archant)

Chef/patron Ugur was delighted this spring to win Best International Restaurant in the EADT Suffolk Food and Drink Awards – so I was compelled to visit to for myself what delights the menu had to reveal.

We started with a huge platter of garlic bread, nutty wholemeal and pitta bread, presented with such care and attention to detail (little covers over the creamy butter and whipped feta spreads, proper, diddy butter knives). Olives were plentiful and served with tangy pickled chillies.

My friend couldn’t stop raving about her starter of salt cod and crab fritters. I had to stop her from ordering a few more as a takeaway. Far from being dumpling-like and heavy, these were light, moreish little bites with a hum of the sea and snippets of herbs.

I relished every mouthful of the delicately fried courgette flowers stuffed to bursting with creamy feta. Rather than being cloying, the filling had a sharpness that kept it fresh-tasting, and the dill (not a herb I like) was so subtle in use, proving the refined palates of the kitchen team.

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Next up was a tender cut of pork loin, blackened with fiery North African spices and with fat so well rendered and crunchy I managed to eat the entire thing. The hot and sour sauce (no skimping on this) sliced into the heat of the pork, while a wedge of cooked polenta was just the ticket for mopping it up. A thing of beauty.

Also tried was a flaky fillet of seabass with smooth mash, vegetables and a subtly piquant jerez sauce to tie it all together. No fault to be found.

Fit to burst, and with the bite of chilli lingering on my tongue, it was the Turkish delight ice cream that caught my eye from the pud menu. Homemade ice cream is so hit and miss in restaurants – get it wrong and you’ve got ice crystals and a milky sweet pool of mush. This ice cream was silken and luxurious – on par with the great gelatos of Italy. And the rose flavour was distinct without tasting of soap and pot pourri!

The ‘sexy sticky toffee pudding’ (why is it sexy Ugur?) was equally delicious. The sauce was perhaps a tad too sweet for my dining partner, but I thought it was judged well against the dark smoky butterscotch notes of the plump pudding, squishy with dates.

Now I just need to find time in my diary to take my husband along.

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Ambiance

I don’t want to throw out too much hyperbole, but one thing I will say about this place is it’s got character. For starters you can’t miss it on Market Hill, with its bold exterior paint scheme! Inside is all brick and beam, and we enjoyed being tucked into the bay window where we could people watch. Upstairs was really busy and had a more formal feel to it. Everyone seemed to be having a grand time.

Drinks

Ugur loves his wine. There’s even a separate book for rioja! I was driving so stuck to a glass of the house pinot noir which was oaky and almost sherry-like in flavour while remaining surprisingly light.

Service

Ugur demonstrated what it is to be a good host. He displayed generosity and a genuine care for customers. Until I poked my head upstairs I thought we and the table beside us were the only diners in the restaurant – especially as the level of service had been so attentive where we were. Every customer was treated like a friend. And that’s quite a skill to master. We liked the bunch of free postcards given away with the bill at the end too.

Price

A bread and olive platter, glass of wine, soft drink, large bottle of mineral water and three courses came to £80 putting this place in the upper mid price bracket. Only four wines are available by the glass and most bottles are priced around £25 upwards. Both of us agreed we thought it was more than worth what we paid.

Parking

Possibly the only thing that lets this place down. There is very very limited parking opposite the restaurant and the car parks are a little walk away. But what better way to burn off dinner than with a stroll past some of Woodbridge’s independent shops?

Highlight

Ooh it’s hard to pick. But I’m going to let my friend have this one. I think she’ll be going on about those fritters for weeks to come.

In summary

Both of us turned up here having had a pretty rotten day, but the food, ambiance and service turned those frowns upside down. If you want reliably tasty food, made with good ingredients, this is a good bet.

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