Northstowe may have a reputation for a lack of amenities, but for me, a shining beacon offers one of the best craft beer experiences in Cambridgeshire: The Northstowe Tap & Social.

It is also home to a fantastic kitchen that is frequently rented out to host different foodie events. So when I heard the award-winning Mucca was visiting, serving their acclaimed beef wellington as a roast dinner, I couldn’t resist swinging by.

First things first…

If you’re a true craft beer enthusiast, you will be in a blissful paradise at the Northstowe Tap & Social. Their wide and ever-changing selection is a testament to their passion and knowledge, with everything from crisp lagers, IPAs (including NEIPAs and DIPAs), pale ales, sours, and ciders. While they champion local breweries like Waterbeach’s Pastore, their selection isn’t limited to Cambridgeshire, so you will always be able to find quality brews from each corner of the country.

I started with a pint of the ‘house IPA’ – a fresh and easy going gluten-free beer that was the perfect accompaniment to the surprisingly warm and sunny autumn afternoon.

Mucca menu

The menu, which required pre-ordering several days before my visit, offered a variety of wellington options, including beef, salmon, and vegan, alongside a cauliflower cheese side and a raspberry vanilla cheese dessert.

A bit of beef!

My beef wellington arrived promptly and was presented in a minimalist style on a dark ceramic plate. The bright pink slice of Angus beef fillet jumped straight off the plate and into my heart. It was a thing of absolute beauty! The beef wellington was a carefully constructed piece of art without a single thing out of place and no sign of a soggy bottom (a common fault of many beef wellingtons). This was clearly a testament to the skill of chef William Hart, a man with a resume full of Michelin-starred restaurants, including our very own Midsummer House.

In fact, the beef was so tender that my knife glided through it with minimal effort. Biting down was a euphoric experience thanks to the impossibly juicy beef that was followed by a flakey pastry that combined into a diverse texture. Each bite had so much going on at once. So much so, in fact, that I found myself closing my eyes trying to savour every moment.

The accompanying elements were just as impressive, with the duck fat roast potatoes  reminding me that this was not just a gimmicky, one-trick roast dinner. Though few in numbers, each potato was executed perfectly, with a crispy light skin on the outside and a warm, fluffy middle.

The finely grated buttered cabbage blended into the ‘Mucca jus’ adding a lovely crunch, but the true surprise was a single, large confit herb carrot. Its incredible softness and delicate sweetness elevated the entire dish, and its vibrant orange colour almost outshone the beef itself.

Cauliflower & cheese

Finally, at a mere £3, the cauliflower cheese was an absolute bargain. The portion was generous and could happily serve two people. It was loaded with so much cheese that it spilled over the sides. Despite this, the cauliflower wasn’t drowned out (like at so many other venues), giving the dish a proper crumbly texture and a bold punch of cauliflower flavour shining through.

A unique roast dinner experience!

To put it simply, this was a roast dinner unlike any other. Mucca’s beef wellington is a perfect example of how a meal can be deeply comforting while also being incredibly refined at the same time. Usually, I find these sorts of things are mutually exclusive but Mucca have found a way to trigger the warm fuzzy memories of a childhood roast dinner while also offering a concise and complex fine-dining experience. It was a proud display of high-end execution from start to finish, from the impeccably tender beef to the perfectly crunchy roast potatoes, with a surprising sense of value with the cauliflower cheese. Set within the laid-back, welcoming atmosphere of The Tap & Social, it is clear why this pairing is so special, as you can also order a beer of equal quality and refinement at the same time.

If you’re looking for a roast dinner that defies expectations, this is absolutely one to seek out.

Thanks for reading!