LA GAVROCHE IS CLOSING, SO HEAD TO SHEFFIELD’S FAT CAT FOR YOUR GOURMET DINING NEEDS

August 2023. Sheffield.

We only embarrass our eldest son with our presence occasionally by in Sheffield, and he always seems happy to pop over for a Mrs RM roast/pizza in the Blind Monkey/pie and chips in the Fat Cat. There’s a theme there.

James is a big fan of the Fat Cat, and having had his first visit there when he was 2 years old I guess that’s only fair.

Perhaps more surprisingly, his Canadian visitor loves it too, and there’s few better examples of a multi-roomed traditional English pub with “Proper” food.

Just for a change, we swapped my favourite room on the left for the garden, it being the nominated day for summer this year.

“Choose me a beer” said Mrs RM.

As you’ll know I rarely care what beers are on, though the lack of Pale Rider is obviously a blow to some. Even more disappointingly, the Donnington bitter than Will had spotted 2 hours previously had just gone. Will has asked me to not reveal his thoughts on the Cotswold ****water.

But what’s this ?

Haven’t seen that for a while. Presumably it’s not the autovac version favoured in a certain Musselburgh pub, but we can’t have anything.

Not that I was having it, being swayed by this one I’d enjoyed in Lancaster last week.

OK, time for some pretentious beer and food matching.

“Three steak pies please”.

“What have you got us ?” asks Mrs RM, who’s only interested in the strength.

“It’s 6%”

“That’s fantastic”. And it is.

And so’s the pie and wedges and proper peas.

On a day I hear the sad news I may never get to try the “Carré d’Agneau, Artichauts Barigoule et Jus à l’Échalote” (£54) at La Gavroche, it’s comforting to know that proper Michelin* food is available for £5.95.

*Food that makes you look like a Michelin man.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

13 thoughts on “LA GAVROCHE IS CLOSING, SO HEAD TO SHEFFIELD’S FAT CAT FOR YOUR GOURMET DINING NEEDS”

  1. Worry ye not – lunatic prices still hold sway in Our Capital, La Gavroche or no La Gavroche. Just working on the away guide for trip to Hampton & Richmond Borough FC and a (didn’t even win, merely a “Finalist”) burger in local pub is £21. It’s all fine dining in the glorious National League South!

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  2. The “pie and chips in the Fat Cat” was certainly excellent last autumn.
    “and there’s few better examples of a multi-roomed traditional English pub with “Proper” food” with the Bull and Bladder, noon till 2pm Monday to Friday, being the best one I can think of.

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    1. I can certainly vouch for the quality of the pies, as well, Stafford Paul, following the visit I made last year.

      The prices too, are really keen and make pubs in this part of the country, look like racketeers.

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  3. “Man Badly Beaten In Yorkshire Village For Reminding Locals That Chips Were Invented By The French”

    I actually survived, but – apart from apparently telepathically writing headings for the Daily Mash – I also remarked to myself that when they invented what the Septics call French Fries, they also got the length-to-thickness ratio correct, only fried them once, at the correct temperature, peeled the potatoes first, and so and wisely avoided the various aberrations such as “seasoned skin-on”, “triple-cooked”, “wedges” and “chunky” which seem to be inflicted on us when most of us just want chips.

    Thank goodness for fish-and-chip shops.

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      2. Andy,
        Very underrated the Belgians, – chips, Belgian beer, Belgian billiards, Belgian hares, the Ardennes.
        I can’t think of what the French given us.

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      5. Andy,
        I don’t eat cheese but, yes, Mrs TSM bought me a bottle of calvados the Christmas before last as I’d never had it and it’s been drinking well.

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