A Real Royal Welcome At Leaf Restaurant Within The Castle Hotel In Windsor

The menu, like the decor, is just as appealing with its promise to ‘nourish the mind, body and soul with a touch of elegance’. Leaf offers a delightful culinary experience combining classic British and modern European flavours. A skim read of the menu tells me that the focus is very much placed on local produce from the meat and fish to the tea and beers. Sustainability may be a buzzword for some but here at Leaf, I am told by confident staff, that virtually no produce is wasted.

Talking of which, the seasonally changing menu means one visit is not enough. During my visit, the restaurant celebrated World Earth Day in April with a special dish, that had been carefully selected to incorporate seasonal, locally sourced produce as well as helping the restaurant to actively work towards their zero-food waste principles. Thus, picking my main consisting of roasted cauliflower steak accompanied by chimichurri sauce and bean cassoulet was a foregone conclusion. It was simple yet seriously delicious and incredibly satisfying. I can’t believe that this favourite vegetable incorporated into UK dishes since the 17th century, would leave me wanting more.

Alongside vegetarian and vegan choices, there are plenty of comforting classics and light bites for meat and fish-eaters in the shape of roast chicken, smoked haddock fishcake and sirloin steak, I couldn’t pass on a plate of calamari alongside my cauliflower steak. Despite being full, every morsel was polished.

Sadly, this left no room for dessert but eyeing up my fellow diners’ sweet treats of Windsor Eton Mess (red berries, berry coulis, meringue, Chantilly cream) and Tropical fruit panna cotta (mango pineapple salsa, tropical fruit coulis) means that I will just have to revisit. Leafing through my diary, I can make it happen sooner rather than later.