Set in the gorgeous surroundings of Pin Mill, The Butt & Oyster is somewhat of a myth to me. Being recommended to me many times by family members, the opportunity to dine here was a point of huge excitement for me.

From pulling into the car park, the views are just incredible. With beautiful views of the river and the boats on the water, my excitement only heightened.

The day of the meal was particularly chilly but I imagine the outdoor seating area would be perfect for warm sunny days where you can relax with a cold cider and beautiful views.

The interior of The Butt & Oyster has a clear maritime feel and you can sense the history of the place from the range of pictures on the wall of Pin Mill through history.

Wanting to venture from my usual choice of a burger when I visit places I have not visited before, I was enticed by the specials board; in particular the breaded scampi and chips.

The scampi was impeccable. The pairing of the breaded exterior and the soft inside felt like heaven in my mouth. The scampi was perfectly cooked and, paired with a sprinkle of lemon juice, it tasted gorgeous.

The chips were also excellent and had the perfect crunch to fluff ratio. The peas were a miss for me but that is just my personal preference. I have never been a fan of peas.

The portion size was perfect for a lunchtime meal, however, I felt like I had a little room left for something sweet. The desserts menu was incredibly enticing. From a wide range of ice creams and sorbets to warm desserts such as the Nutella Bread & Butter Pudding, I was spoilt for choice.

In the end, I went for a sticky toffee pudding and I am very glad of my decision. The toffee sauce was perfectly sweet without being sickly. The pairing of the warm pudding and the cold vanilla ice cream was also perfect. I will admit, I am still thinking back to that pudding and almost salivating.

My companion had the Hoi Sin Chicken Poke Bowl which looked like a work of art. The vibrant colours of the bowl stood out to me and looked perfect for a light lunch. The kimchi, in particular, packed a real punch and, admittedly, I did need to quickly take a swig of my drink to help with the spicy kick.

All in all, they say don't your heroes as you may leave disappointed. However, after putting the mythical status of The Butt & Oyster to the test, I can safely say that this fan was not left disappointed in the least.

*Scroll on top picture for more images.

Shotley Peninsula's Hungry Hack always arrives unannounced, pays for the meal and so offers an unbiased opinion of the food and experience they have on that visit.

If you would like to recommend an establishment for the Hungry Hack to visit contact the editor: [email protected].

Read some of Hungry Hack's other reviews here:

Peninsula Hungry Hack review: A kickin' lunch at the Freston Boot.

Hungry Hack review: Loch & Quay's Sunday lunch.

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