My wife and I decided to go out for food tonight but where to go? A couple of years I jogged down the cycle path from Blaenavon to Cwmbran.
As I came through Pontypool I remembered the path doing a dog leg off the route and into a narrow road going past a beautiful-looking pub.
It was a sunny day with people sitting in the garden and I made a note to try it out at some point. Tonight was the night I decided to track it down. A bit of googling and zooming in and out on Google Maps revealed it was The Little Crown in Wainfelin.
We arrived at around 7.30pm and the waitress walked us into the dining area. Nine other people were eating dotted around on various tables. Our eyes checked out the two-seater tables as we tried to decide where to sit. She said “no, spread yourself out, go on” and pointed out an empty four-seater and six-seater table.
It was a funny, warm, and welcoming comment that immediately made me think “I’m going to like it in here”.
We don’t have cringy “date nights”. I can’t eat food properly without reading a newspaper or just knowing one is nearby. Thanks to the kind waitress I had an empty seat next to me where I could park three unread papers from this week to catch up on. Bliss and my wife doesn’t mind. That’s love.
We shared a starter of pate with lightly toasted bread with pear and ale chutney (£7.50). It was a perfect way to begin the night. Light, tasty, and got my wife and I finally talking as the food distracted me from my reading.
My wife chose lamb shank- slow-cooked lamb shank in a rich red wine and rosemary sauce served with stilton mash and peas (£17.50). I went for Hunter’s chicken- a chicken breast stuffed with ham and Welsh mature cheddar and covered in barbecue sauce with peas and hand-cut chips (£14.99).
Words are important. A menu full of empty words that don’t match what ends up in front of you is frustrating.
The staff at the Little Crown can write well and serve even better meals. Both meals were delicious. My plate was taken away empty and the bone and scraps of lamb on my wife’s plate were kindly popped in a “doggy bag” as a treat for our pet.
As I left I chatted to a guy I knew from a Cwmbran boxing club who was with his partner. They said they had eyed up the lamb shank being carried from the kitchen towards our table and told us it was the best choice on the menu.
‘Blorenge Golden Ale’
What was the teeny-tiniest niggle for me? I’m almost ashamed to say it. My gorgeous pint of Blorenge Golden Ale (3.8% ABV) was served in a John Smiths glass. Yes, I’m that sad! I’ll just get my coat.
The pub has two seating areas- one that was used for dining this evening- and the other where a group of people were sat drinking, chatting and laughing. Just off the bar was a pool room where some friends were enjoying a game.
The Little Crown is a Little Gem. And our visit was all thanks to a sweaty jog on one summer’s day a few years ago. Thanks for the fab service and fab food.
🗺️ The Little Crown, Elled Rd, Wainfelin, Pontypool NP4 6DR
💳 Total bill was £58.19. This included two glasses of medium dry white wine (£5.40), a pint of Blorenge Golden Ale (£4) and a large diet coke £3.40.