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Serving: Mon., 4:30-11 p.m.; Tues. and Wed., 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thurs to Sat., 11:30 a.m.-midnight; Sun., 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Cuisine: Irish-inspired pub food. Prices: Entrees average $13. Scoring: Our Gourmet and The Dining Companion each grade a restaurant in six categories, for a combined total score of up to 100 points. Visit the Dining section of NewHampshire.com to read previous Our Gourmet reviews listed by town. |
Ambiance: 9.5/10
OG: When we first arrived, I felt kind of like I was in Disneyland. The Grail has a big Irish motif – the restrooms have whimsical names, there’s a paned window looking into one part of the dining room and one wall of the bar area is dominated by a painting of an Irish hillside. I expected animatronic Irish lasses to come out singing at any time. Add the stained-glass windows and choir loft (it’s an old church) and you definitely have a unique and fun environment. Score: 5
The Dining Companion: When I heard there was a place called the Holy Grail and it’s in a decommissioned church I was curious as to how well it was done and whether the neighborhood supports it. Upon arriving to a full parking lot at 5:30 on a Saturday, the answers were apparent. Score: 4.5
Appetizer: 16.5/20
OG: I started with the drunken mushrooms ($6.95.) Actually, I started with a Holy Ail, an English brew that I got in a whimsical Monty Python chalice, which kind of set the mood for me. THEN I got the drunken mushrooms, which consisted of Portabello and domestic mushrooms, dipped in a beer batter, deep-fried and served with a ranch dressing. The serving was large and the mushrooms delicious — juicy and cooked just right with a breading that was not too heavy. Score: 8.5
TDC: I ordered a Scotch egg ($7.95) — a hard-boiled egg wrapped in pork sausage, breaded and browned. Before you say “yuck,” it was actually tasty. The eggs were fresh and the sausage was slightly moist with nice flavor. Would I order it again? Probably not, but I had to try it. Score: 8
Entrées: 15/20
OG: The menu indicated the prime rib au jus is a house specialty, slow-roasted with an herb rub. It comes in two sizes: the Bishop’s cut (12 oz.) $20.95, and the Cardinal’s cut (16 oz.) $25.95. I ordered a Bishop’s cut and it arrived cooked as ordered, sitting in a pool of au jus. The meat was not the most flavorful I’ve ever had, but it was good; tender enough and a perfectly-sized portion. I was able to substitute so I could have the night’s special appetizer — black and tan onion rings, which were fat slices of onion, battered and fried. They were, indeed, tan, with black stripes, and were nicely sweet. Very good, but very filling. Score: 7.5
TDC: Staying with the restaurant’s Irish theme, I ordered the home-style shepherd’s pie ($11.95). This version had a mix of ground lamb and beef with onions, carrots and celery topped with mashed potatoes. It was good, but not outstanding. The gravy seemed a bit on the salty side and the mashed potatoes looked like they were just tossed over the other ingredients and not baked as a whole as the description stated. Score: 7.5
Dessert: 17/20
OG: The pumpkin cheesecake ($6.95) caught my eye and that’s what I ordered, but after I tasted TDC’s Key lime cake ($6.95) and he tasted my cheesecake, a quick swap ensued. The Key lime cake was like a whipped, creamy, lime-flavored cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and a light sort of icing. Not homemade, but still delicious. Score: 8.5
TDC: The pumpkin cheesecake also caught my eye, but being a gentleman, I went with the Key Lime cake and let OG go with her first choice. I love a good cheesecake and pumpkin is one of my favorites — this one was nicely made. It had just the right amount of pumpkin without overpowering the rich and creamy flavor of the cheesecake. Score: 8.5
Service: 8.5/10
OG: Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable when it came to the menu. She was also very busy. The place was hopping, but she seemed to keep her cool. Score: 4.5.
TDC: Our waitress was helpful, but I always try to engage our servers in a little small talk to find out more about the place, the menu, and other little tidbits. She was not very talkative, and was just all business. We were not overly rushed when we were eating our meal, but once we finished, they wanted to turn that table quickly. As we were readying to leave, I could understand why: It was very crowded with folks looking for a table. Score: 4
Value: 17.5/20
OG: I thought Holy Grail was a pretty good value. We had a good, solid meal that was above average for a price that didn’t break the bank. The atmosphere is fun and the service good. Plus I got to take home my Holy Ail Grail. How cool is that? Score: 9
TDC: The food was a good value, and the folks of the Epping area have a good one in their back yard. It is a good place at a good price. Score: 8.5
Total score: 84/100
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