Make a date with Late at The Lawn

Anjla Sansoa-Twell meets the team and samples cocktails and tapas at Stokes’ new Late at The Lawn dining experience in the Bailgate area of uphill Lincoln.

A perfect choice for date nights, meeting up with friends, family celebrations or a fun outing with colleagues after work, Stokes’ new evening menu concept delivers a truly memorable dining experience.

Here you can enjoy a relaxed and casual evening out chatting while picking at a range of nibbles followed by sampling an extensive menu of delicious tapas style small plates, perfectly matched with all your favourite cocktails and drinks every Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until late!

The Lawn is a tranquil place to relax at the end of the week, with well spaced tables providing privacy with soothing “moody” lighting.

I met up with a friend and our experience from start to finish was a welcome one, especially from their front of house staff led by Sid Ashfaq, who seated us in a suitable spot and explained the different menu choices.

Coming from a well established background in hospitality, Sid’s experience shone through in his attention to detail. He was also on hand to help us with a few recommendations, which definitely lived up to their descriptions.

Menu choices for the “small plates” selection are varied, with gluten-free and vegan options catering for all dietary requirements.

The dishes are all freshly prepared and have been cleverly created to be shared and are served in waves, so you are constantly looking forward to what’s coming next!

Head chef Rory O’Connell’s experience shines through, offering a wide choice to suit every taste.

Vegetarians can enjoy dishes such as Halloumi Bites (deep fried halloumi with a sweet chilli dip), Cauliflower Fritters (crispy panko cauliflower florets with a katsu style dip) and Arancini (wild mushroom arancini balls with basil mayonnaise).

Vegans are well catered for too, with a choice of Falafel Bites (sweet potato and carrot falafel served with a raita dip), or choose a Vegan Burger from the griddle selection, served with field mushrooms and vegan cheese, while Confit of Salmon served with Waldorf salad, horseradish cream and beetroot jelly ticks the gluten-free box.

We were advised to choose three dishes each and share from their tapas style selection which was more than enough to satisfy our appetites. We opted for Chicken Katsu (£9), Pan Fried Sea Bass (£12), Beetroot and Red Onion Tatin (£7.50) plus a side order of Jenga Fries (£4) served with an amazing black garlic mayonnaise.

The menu choices were all delicious and it was good to have it confirmed that all ingredients are locally sourced, with meat from Pepperdines Butchers in Lincoln.

Cocktail hour
Cocktail Hour from 6pm to 7pm is the perfect way to start your evening as this one-hour window offers a great value “two for one” offer.

I must also mention that my friend and I have sampled many Porn Star Martinis in the past and l would highly recommend the Lawn’s recipe as being up there with the best!

The drinks menu (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options) is equally varied, with a good selection of wines, as well as Stokes’ famous blended coffees and teas.

The desserts are too moreish to resist; we opted for the Chef’s Selection of Assiette of Cheesecakes (£9) and Sticky Toffee Pudding (£6).

The service throughout our evening was friendly, fun and helpful, making the whole experience enjoyable.

Overall, there is so much more to offer here than just an eatery – this is a place where you can relax with no rush to leave, as food can be ordered at your own pace allowing a leisurely graze while spending time with friends, family or just on your own. Late at The Lawn would also be an ideal choice for private parties and celebrations.

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