The Spotted Dog
Flamstead, Hertfordshire
Less than a mile from the madness of the M1, Flamstead is a tranquil oasis. Horses trot down its main street, past the village stores, venerable flint-knapped walls and this well-loved neighbourhood pub. The Spotted Dog is the embodiment of a good local, attracting abundant praise for its ‘warm welcome’, ‘knowledgeable and friendly staff' and ‘sensational’ food. It was reopened in 2021 by a group of villagers (including executive chef Mark Jarvis, of Anglo fame) who have given the interior a bit of makeover: grey-blue or olive-green colour schemes now blend well with the low ceilings, bare floorboards and exposed beams, while a couple of bookshelves in the snug make things homely. Diners can eat here, in the more spacious back room or at the bar, with choice ranging from an array of enticing snacks (merguez sausages, perhaps) to a concise but regularly changing menu. From the latter, a well-presented wagyu steak tartare (with dabs of mayonnaise and a scattering of croûtons replacing the usual raw egg) could be followed by fillet of sea bream with a deliciously subtle wild garlic crumb and a mound of accurately cooked broccoli, plus copious tartare sauce (served warm and carefully balanced between creaminess and piquancy) adding extra class. Puddings follow a similar classics-with-a-twist theme: panna cotta might come with popcorn, salted caramel sauce and sweetcorn ice cream, while an exemplary rhubarb crumble (fresh from the oven, its finely sifted topping redolent of homemade shortbread) is enhanced by blood orange juice. Regulars also recommend the Sunday roasts, the vegetarian dishes (especially the ‘amazing’ confit cabbage with black garlic emulsion, pickled walnuts and beurre blanc), and a drinks list that encompasses local real ales, cocktails and a varied choice of wine (including ample by-the-glass options). ‘So proud to have this as our local pub,’ sums up Flamstead’s response to this venture.
