FOOD REVIEW: Magnificent 7 eatery adds up to flavoursome fine fusion

Seven is the magic number for fresh fusion fare. Specifically No. 7 @ The Rum Rooms, a South Yorkshire restaurant boldly promising to ‘provide an elegant and exceptional dining experience, enhanced by attentive service and a warm and friendly atmosphere.’

But the proof, as time honoured phrase attests, is in the pudding. Safe to say delicious desserts, as well as equally appetising starters and mains, didn’t disappoint at this Doncaster fine dining discovery - which rather than mixing two specific cuisines, just describes its menu as ‘fusion.’

Let’s start at the very beginning. Suitably succulent pan roasted pigeon breast was the best, enveloped in Parma ham, alongside red onion and plum chutney. Always eager to give black pudding the green light, the addition of suet sausage was a welcome bonus.

Mediterranean vegetables, roasted with tastebud-tickling beetroot hummus and balsamic vinegar, amounted to a healthy but no less well received choice.

The main event posed a difficult decision but the lure of lamb proved strongest. It was a “special” true to its title with 8oz of butcher’s best rump served with mint and pea puree, pineapple hot sauce and the savoury delight that was sweet potato and coriander mash.

The latter accompaniment is product of several painstaking stages of cooking, chef explained, proving well worth the effort in terms of unusual yet most acceptable taste.

Jerk marinated ox cheek or spatchcock chicken presented further option conundrum but it was the latter, with a accompanying coconut rice, double cooked plantain, coleslaw and chilli oil, that won the taste test.

Both mains were presented nouvelle cuisine style but, thankfully, boasting bigger portions.

For desserts, we could only share what proved to be satisfyingly sticky toffee pudding awash with butterscotch sauce and cream. Washed down by a pint of Yorkshire Blonde, the feast acceptably cost just over £50 for two to complete value for money most favourable flavoursome repast.

Staff were attentiveness personified but even their good grace couldn’t inject any ambiance into the venue, which was subdued for mid-week early dining.

The Rum Rooms itself boasts a roll call of 50-plus rums - including Cuban specialty sharing teapots - as well as impressive parade of fine wines and long or short cocktails rejoicing in such names as Very Cherry Cola and Dark n Stormy to Old Ginga and Ting Wray.

Live acoustic music meanders through the rustic environs in form of live acoustic jazz to soul, latin-infused bosa nova to welcome covers (soundtracked here by Darren Eastell's acoustic take on The Cure's Love Song).

To book the 7 Market Road DN1 1LS establishment can be contacted at [email protected] and on 07443331008.