“ad” – Why is this here?

If you’re hunting for a prime steak or a hit of fresh seafood in the heart of Cambridge, North Star is a relatively new face on the scene.  Having taken over the reins from the Little Rose, it sits bang opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum. In terms of location, there is no beating it for tourists and visitors.

The vibe & menu

They don’t overcomplicate things with the menu at North Star. The focus remains firmly on the steak and seafood which is all served in a space that feels genuinely warm and welcoming. It is the kind of restaurant where you can settle in for a long, sun-drenched lunch in the courtyard or retreat into the historic dining area in the winter with a decent glass of wine by the fireplace.

We were looked after by a delightful young lady named Holly, who has a reputation as their “smiliest waitress” – one she absolutely lived up to. She couldn’t do enough for us and knew the menu inside out. After a quick chat, we decided to put our evening in her hands and let her order for us.

Starters

We kicked things off with salt & pepper squid paired with a lemon and garlic aioli. They were the perfect light opener, offering a satisfying crunch against the creamy dip. The chilli prawns followed, sporting a spicy coating that really made them pop amongst the seafood spread.

As a personal fan of padron peppers, I was pleased to find these beautifully prepared; they brought a punchy, slightly bitter edge and a vibrant splash of colour to the table that was duly needed for a spread with mostly fish.

Finally, we tried the Carlingford oysters. These are ‘Great Taste’ award-winners, cultivated in Class A waters in Ireland, so expectations were high. Even though I can be funny about oysters, the quality here was undeniable. They were fresh, salty and with a dash of Tabasco really brought them to life with a spicy kick. Delicious!

The seafood platter

While browsing the menu, I couldn’t look past the shared seafood platter. At £90, it is a significant investment, but it promises a bit of everything: a whole native lobster, two jumbo seared scallops, four Argentine red king prawns, and steamed mussels.

The Argentine red king prawns were, quite simply, stunning. Big, meaty, and juicy – a squeeze of lemon was all they needed and you were good to go. The jumbo seared scallops were equally fantastic; succulent, buttery, and substantial. Crucially, they weren’t overly salty, making them very accessible for anyone trying scallops for the first time.

Lobster time!

Then came the star of the show – the lobster! At the time of ordering, they were down to their last half-lobster. This was disappointing but these things do happen. Even with this considered, the portion felt a bit thin. Once I had finished what I thought was half the meat, I realised the rest was just an internal shell. It felt like there was less meat there than in one of the king prawns. Even doubling that for a “full” portion it still felt a little anaemic for the price point. That said, the flavour was beautiful.

Does it feel like a competitive deal? Given the prime location in a historic pub opposite the Fitzwilliam, I’m inclined to give it some slack, but I’ll leave that for you to decide. It was, however, bloody tasty.

50-day aged Argentine

Their steaks are 50-day aged, grass-fed beef from Argentina – a significant flex indeed! We requested ours medium-rare and the kitchen nailed the execution. My initial thought was that the presentation looked a bit ordinary with minimal sides but once I took a bite, it all made sense. This is a steak that demands to be centre stage. It was soft, juicy, and bursting with flavour. This is beef in its purest, most appreciative form. If you are really into your steak then I recommend you give this a go.

Desserts

We ended the evening with a selection of desserts and cocktails.

I had the sticky toffee pudding and my guests had the crème brûlée and chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream. The desserts were all well executed text-book examples of the classic desserts. My sticky toffee pudding was a good size with a thick and incredibly sweet toffee sauce that mixed perfectly with the ice cream dolloped on top.

North Star has an impressive selection of cocktails (see here).  Being the end of the night after a big meal, I needed a pick-me-up, so I helped myself to an espresso martini – just what the doctor ordered! I am no expert on cocktails but it was beautifully made with a wonderfully thick and frothy body with a hint of vanilla that really punched through – I’ll drink to that!

Follow the star! ✨

North Star manages to balance a high-end menu with a selection that feels inviting and unpretentious. While the pricing on the premium seafood might make your wallet wince slightly, the quality of the ingredients and the warmth of the service make it a shining addition to Trumpington Street.

Thanks for reading

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