Our New Lunch Menu in Wells: Croques, Tartines and Garden Plats

David Schroetter

New on the pass

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Our New Lunch Menu in Wells

Daniel has written a new lunch menu, and it is on now. Lighter, more French, and built around three things we keep coming back to: croques and tartines, generous garden salads, and a board in the middle of the table. A few steps from Wells Cathedral, in Heritage Courtyard off Sadler Street.

Served12 to 2.30Monday to Saturday
Cooked byDanielTo order, every plate
Corkage£10Any bottle from the shop

Cooking with the season

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A menu written for late summer

The menu turns with the year. The braises and long-simmered dishes that carried us through the colder months have gone back into the winter repertoire, where they belong, and Daniel has brought in the things that suit a late summer lunch instead: salads, tartines, and produce that wants very little done to it.

The new arrivals are a tin of Ferrigno sardines served as a board, a fresh set of hors d'oeuvres, and three garden plats, which are salads in the French sense: a proper plate of food rather than a side. The croques and tartines have been reworked too, and lunch now runs midday to 2.30pm.

All served with dressed leaves and grated carrots

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Croques and tartines

  • Croque Monsieur

    £15.00

    Wiltshire cured ham, mature cheddar, sauce Mornay

  • Croque Madame

    £14.00

    The classic Croque Monsieur, topped with a fried egg

  • Smoked mackerel tartine

    £14.00

    Confit tomato tapenade, flaked smoked mackerel, herbs, lemon oil

  • Tomato and Comté tartineV

    £13.00

    Comté custard, sweet caramelised onions, heritage tomato salad

Two croques this season, with the Madame in its classic form: the Monsieur, with a fried egg on top. If you want the background, we have written a guide to Croque Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle.

Salads, served generously

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Garden plats

  • Salade PérigourdineGF

    £16.00

    Slow-braised crispy duck leg, grilled artichokes, pickled cherries, crushed pistachios, white truffle dressing

  • Salmon niçoiseGF

    £16.00

    Poached salmon, soft-boiled egg, marinated olives, confit tomatoes, fine green beans, mustard vinaigrette

  • Goat's cheese and fig saladV

    £15.00

    Grilled goat cheese, seasonal figs, roasted walnuts, onion marmalade and croutons

For the middle of the table

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Boards

  • Charcuterie board

    £15 for one / £28 for two

    Truffle saucisson, pâté de campagne, bresaola, coppa and chorizo, with toasted sourdough, remoulade, pickles and charcuterie sauce

  • Sardines by Ferrigno

    £12.95

    Served in the tin with house pickles, salted butter and toasted sourdough

The sardines are the one to try if you have not before. Conserverie Ferrigno tin theirs by hand in Marseille, and they are closer to a delicacy than to a store cupboard tin. Choose citron confit with preserved lemon, huile d'olive with Camargue sea salt, niçoise with tomato, olive and caper, or escabèche in spiced vinegar.

To start, or to pick at

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Hors d'oeuvres

  • Olives and artichokeVGN

    £7.50

    A classic bistro mix of marinated olives, sweet piquillo peppers and artichokes

  • Cervelle de canut

    £7.50

    Whipped goat's cheese, herbs, beetroots, honey, roasted walnuts and buttermilk biscuits

  • Whitebait and tartare

    £8.00

    Whitebait, house tartare sauce

  • GazpachoV

    £9.00

    Chilled tomato soup, toasted artisan sourdough

  • Pâté de campagne

    £10.00

    Remoulade, charcuterie sauce and toasted sourdough

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Sides

  • Somerset sourdoughV · VGN

    £5.00

    Salted butter, or oil and vinegar for a vegan option

  • Sautéed new potatoesVGN · GF

    £5.00

    Garlic and parsley

  • Bistro saladVGN · GF

    £5.00

    Pickled shallots and walnut, mustard vinaigrette

  • Bistro friesV · GF

    £6.00

    Chilli and basil aioli

  • TartifletteV

    £7.00

    Roasted potatoes, confit onions, alpine cheese

The shop is the wine list

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Something to drink with it

House wine by the glass is £8, or £9.50 for a large, red, white and rosé, all 100% Grenache with labels David paints himself. Beyond that, every bottle on the shop shelves can be drunk in for £10 corkage, which makes the whole wine shop your list.

Tell David what you have ordered and he will point you at something. A dry Loire white against the croques, something bright and coastal with the sardines, a light red with the duck salad. It is the part of lunch he enjoys most.

Come and eat

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Monday to Thursday9am to 4.30pm
Friday and Saturday9am to 7pm
SundayClosed

Lunch is served midday to 2.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and breakfast runs from 9am to 11.30am. The Pressoir, 10 Heritage Courtyard, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RR, a short walk from Wells Cathedral and the Market Place. Lunchtime tables are worth booking ahead, particularly on market days. First time visiting? Read how to find The Pressoir in Wells.

Food allergies and intolerances: please speak to our staff about the ingredients in your meal when ordering. Dishes and prices are correct at the time of writing and the menu changes with the seasons

More at The Pressoir

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