“AD” – Why is this here?

On my quest to find the best Sunday roast in Cambridgeshire, I recently heard that Lot 25 in Willingham had launched a new menu.

I have been a fan of Lot 25 for some time, having recently been there to enjoy their new breakfast menu. Knowing the high standards they set, I walked in with big expectations for their new Sunday roast offering.

The Menu

The menu is limited and concise, yet still offers plenty to get excited about. The Sunday roast options included pork, chicken, beef, and a vegetarian choice. Sides could be mixed and matched, featuring classics like pigs in a blanket, cauliflower cheese, and seasonal vegetables.

I was particularly intrigued by the “Lot 25 Pie” that changes daily. Pies are surprisingly uncommon on modern menus, and even less common to be executed well, so that definitely caught my eye for a future visit.

The Transformation

It has been quite a few years since I last stepped into the main building, and it has been completely transformed. I remember watching the England vs. Germany game here when it was just one large hall with television screens.

Now, a second floor has been installed, allowing them to seat dozens of extra diners. The bar is still central, serving a selection of premium beers, along with a tempting display of cakes and desserts. It is a very pleasant place to be, with an abundance of natural sunlight coming in from the windows and great views of the surrounding area.

PORCHETTA-ITALIAN STYLE PORK BELLY

We decided to opt for the Porchetta Italian-Style Pork Belly and the Roast Sirloin of Beef. Both dishes were brought out in an impressive tower display, each component stacked beautifully and surrounded by a moat of thin gravy.

At the bottom was a selection of fire-pit roasted vegetables, including fennel, garlic and herb roast potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. In the middle was the perfectly cut centrepiece meat. Then, on top, was the Yorkshire pudding loaded with a Marmite-buttered hispi cabbage—a clever and unique twist.

My wife ordered the porchetta, which might just be one of the most beautiful examples I have ever had. It is made from deboned pork loin and then slow-roasted and filled with stuffing, resulting in an impossibly juicy and succulent piece of pork.

If that wasn’t enough, it is brought out with a light and crunchy pork crackling. This wasn’t the typical style of heavy and overly salty crackling, but a more delicate and airy one that didn’t leave you with an immense feeling of guilt afterwards.

ROAST SIRLOIN OF BEEF

The roast sirloin was an impressive display of grandeur. The portion was, in fact, so large that I struggled to finish it, and you could barely see the vegetables underneath. This wasn’t just a fancy Sunday roast but also substantial enough to satisfy the hungriest of regulars.

Underneath, laid the vegetables, with an incredibly fresh and crunchy broccoli with a lovely soft carrot. The roast potatoes were literally perfect, with an incredibly thick and crispy skin that was followed by a nice fluffy centre. In fact, I would go as far to say that these are the best roasties I have ever had in a restaurant!

I was left feeling a little underwhelmed by the Marmite hispi cabbage that seemed to be absent of any punchy marmite flavour. It was also a challenge to cut, especially on a rather busy plate.

I was impressed by the generous portion of horseradish, and though it lacked the face slapping spiciness I often yearn for, it had a thick and creamy body that added a mildly feisty flavour to everything it touched.

Three-cheese cauliflower

The three-cheese cauliflower (priced at a fair £4.95 to share) was a great addition to the meal. It executed exactly how I like it, with a considerable balance between cheese and cauliflower, allowing you to actually taste the cauliflower under a generous, yet not saturated, portion of cheese. The cheese added the perfect gooeyness, and the cauliflower had a satisfying crumble texture.

Cheese cake

We ended the meal with a lemon curd cheese cake between us. We nearly ordered one each and were incredibly relieved by our decision once it came out as it was bloody huge!

The cheesecake had a very thin crust at the bottom, which led to an imbalance of cream cheese and crust but offered a wonderfully zesty lemon flavour followed by a moorish creamy texture that definitely made up for it. It had a heavenly flavour while also being light and refreshing after a big meal. I am also starting to understand that Lot 25 is BIG on BIG PORTIONS!

Big & Beautiful

After being charmed by their breakfast menu, I was expecting good things from Lot 25, but even I was surprised at the sheer quality of this Sunday roast. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is one of the best I have had in some time. Both the pork and the beef were absolutely out of this world, and their roast potatoes were flawless.

​The main roast dinners hovered around the £20 mark, which isn’t unreasonable these days, and I don’t mind paying that price when I know I am getting portions in abundance. Lot 25 has done wonders with this space since I last visited. It is a genuinely pleasant place to be, serving up an exceptional meal.

​I highly recommend a visit!

​Thanks for reading!