Cumberland Arms

Flower-filled exterior aside, there’s nothing fancy about this local favourite. From the well-worn furniture to the order-at-the-bar chalkboard menu, it’s all very familiar. In summer, outside is the place to be, a young after-work crowd spilling into the good-sized courtyard. Inside, with its candlelit tables and open fireplace, is more suited to cosy winter catch-ups, the homely vibe only tarnished by the undeniable whiff of bleach. The food has a homespun feel too, with portions on the massive side and a Mediterranean-inspired menu that may not be particularly inventive, but is generally appealing with a good range of seafood, steak and pasta dishes. A tender chargrilled ribeye steak surrendered easily to the knife, and the taste buds, while roast sea bream fillets with chorizo and potatoes proved a pleasant, if safe, combination. The wine list covers most parts of the world, with a particular slant toward New Zealand varieties. Desserts were straight out of the 1970s, trifle and ice-cream among them, and profiteroles with chocolate sauce were familiar, unchallenging and safe – much like the Cumberland Arms itself.