After asking Instagram for some inspiration for a spontaneous Saturday dinner date, New Wave Brasserie came up several times and fortunately for us, they had a late table available.
New Wave serves only the finest-quality fresh fish and shellfish, mainly sourced from Cornwall, Devon and Scotland, and all their seafood is responsibly sourced.
We’ve known about New Wave Brasserie for a while, but as it’s not quite on our doorstep, it took a 25-minute drive on a balmy evening to finally check it out. The restaurant has a picturesque exterior, low-lit and cosy with twinkly lights, and we were greeted with a warm welcome.
The restaurant itself is smaller than expected. We were initially ushered into the courtyard, which looks like a wonderful space for warmer days, before being seated in a smaller dining room that’s perfect for private bookings. With just three tables, it’s an intimate sea-themed space, mainly lit by candlelight and beautifully curated.
We kicked off with a couple of non-alcoholic mojitos, which were refreshing and zesty, before diving (no pun intended) into a round of nibbles and starters.
We ordered the Boquerones (£5) after a quick Google (they’re white anchovies preserved in vinegar), a single oyster for Rachel served beautifully on a tray of ice with shallot vinegar and fresh lemon (£4), a half pint of shell-on prawns with alioli and sourdough (£9), grilled sardines, and charred tenderstem Broccoli with tahini dressing (£5.5).
Everything was incredibly fresh and flavourful.
I’m not usually a fan of anchovies, but the Boquerones were a surprise hit – smoky, tangy, and moreish. The prawns were full of flavour, the oyster (according to Rachel) was the best she’s ever had, and the sardines were perfectly cooked with a lovely char.
For mains, we shared the Shetland mussels with pancetta and cider cream, served with fries and sourdough (£28), and shell-on king prawns in garlic butter from the charcoal oven, served with salad and fries (£28). The mussels were fat and juicy, bathed in a cider cream that was rich but not overpowering, perfect for dunking more of that excellent sourdough. The prawns were equally divine: richly flavoured, beautifully cooked, and well worth the de-shelling effort. Even the salad was crisp and irresistible.
We genuinely cleared our plates and must have said multiple times how great each dish was. Who would have thought some of the best seafood we’ve ever had would be found in the Cotswolds?
We overheard a mention of a Michelin star, it sounds like they might have just missed out this year, but if they keep serving food of this quality and value, it surely won’t be long. Our meal came to around £50 per head, which felt like excellent value given the quantity and quality of what we enjoyed.
A 10/10 meal with standout service and a very well-deserved 5-star Google review from us, adding to their long list of fans. We’re already planning our return.
Leave a Reply