Sharing a well-kept secret
The dining Room restaurant used to be one of Surrey's best-kept secrets. Situated above an Italian restaurant in Reigate High Street, its profile is modest - in fact you can easily drive past the restaurant without noticing it.
However, this is all due to change, as the fame of its chef is growing daily. Anthony Tobin, who has been in charge of the restaurant since its inception three years ago, is one of the regular stars of BBC2's Ready, Steady, Cook.
The 50-seat restaurant is one of six owned by Paul Montalto, who also owns Tortellini, the restaurant situated below the Dining Room. But Montalto is most often found at the Dining Room, chatting to the many regular diners as they consume 31-year-old Tobin's culinary delights.
Tobin's career includes five years as sous chef at Chez Nico, London, followed by a three-year stint at South Lodge, Lower Beeding, Sussex, as head chef. Tobin says his food is mainly Mediterranean with an Australian influence. "It's fresh, colourful and healthy," he adds.
Seafood is a favourite of Tobin's, scallops in particular. "There will always be a scallop dish on my menu. They lend themselves to maximum effect. Generally I cook the food I like to eat," he says. Scallops with caviar and a lemon-scented jus (£6.95), or scallops, aubergine and tomato confit with sauce vierge (£6.95), are typical starters.
Main courses include the popular dish of roasted John Dory fillets with crushed potatoes, tomatoes and olives (£14.50), and roast breast of chicken with garlic, sage and chilli oil and provolone shavings (£13.95).
Although vegetables are a component of his dishes, Tobin's customers like to order side portions of vegetables, which are charged at £2.75 each. Six side dishes are currently available, including potato mash with olive oil, and French beans with shallots and Parmesan.
Desserts, which include Armagnac and nougatine parfait with caramel syrup, and white chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries, all cost £4.95. A selection of British cheeses, which Tobin buys locally from the Cheese Shop (Tel: 01737 226554), includes Cornish Yarg, Tornegus, Cheddar, Stilton and Celtic Promise (£4.95). Coffee and petits fours cost £2.50.
The Dining Room offers an à la carte that includes five starters and five main courses, plus a menu du jour costing £13.95 for a choice of four starters and four main courses.
The à la carte menu changes every 10 weeks, the menu du jour weekly, and the desserts every six weeks. Average spend is about £35 per head, including wine.
The Dining Room is open from Monday to Friday for lunch and Monday to Saturday for dinner. Covers average about 60 a day, although on Friday and Saturday nights the restaurant will do 60-plus in one service.
The 25-strong wine list features a selection from around the globe. It tends to be dominated by France, but Spain, Chile, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and the USA are also represented. The most popular white is Kim Crawford Chardonnay 1996 from New Zealand (£15.95), while the Château Monbousquet St Emilion Grand Cru (£18.95) is the top-selling red.
The Dining Room, 59a High Street, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9AE Tel: 01737 226650
