After a recommendation to visit the restaurant Italian Connection II in Sleaford, myself and boyfriend Jay decided we would get a taxi in, and enjoy a good bottle of wine! Our taxi driver was extremely friendly and gave us a brief history of Sleaford, in terms of nightlife and places to eat. His perspective was rather bleak, and i began to regret choosing Sleaford as the place for a nice meal...but we arrived in the town and walked on towards the restaurant recommended.
First impressions of the place weren't good, with letters missing from the sign and decor similar to that of an 80's social club...things were not looking promising. With few options available, we entered the 'restaurant', only to be hit with a barrage of wailing customers, and we were told there were no tables. I know, i know, we should've booked...but still, a part of me was glad the place was fully booked.
We then carried on walking around Sleaford, with little expectation that we'd find anywhere to get a good meal. I believe it was instinct that i chose to walk towards the old mill, i was sure someone had mentioned another restaurant hidden out the way.
Lo and behold, hidden in the corner of the car park, we could see the sign 'O'Connells', with few options available, other than cheap pub food, we thought it worth walking a few hundred metres to view this hidden establishment.
To our shock, the closer we got, the more pleased we became. Upon looking through the window and a brief peruse of the menu, we decided the place looked rather like a pearl hidden in the seaweed. We were met by a friendly young man, who took us to our table. We looked at our surroundings, and were pleased with what we saw. As i have said, first impressions do count, and the decor was beautiful, a cross between modern chic and rustic farmhouse, with superb beams, complimented by serene lighting and furnishings.
Now to the important part. The food. The menu is not extensive, however there is definitely something for everyone. I chose the prawns cooked in a brandy and cream sauce to start with, probably not the ingredients i would put together, however the dish was a new sensation to the tastebuds. They got the portion size just right for me, and i finished the whole starter!
We both ordered steak for main course. There was just the right amount of time between the starter and main course, during this pause, the ever friendly water brought us a bottle of rioja, and uttered the line 'thankyou and thankyou very much', he was tentative and extremely polite, i could not fault the service.
I didn't know what to expect with the steak, however was hopeful after a delightful starter. The portion size for the main was enormous, in some ways i wish i hadn't had my starter. The steak was cooked the way i like it- rare, there were delicious home-made chips, and perfectly seasoned mushrooms, with salad on the side (i'm afraid the salad didn't get a look in). To top off this dish, i had a generous serving of red wine jus. It may sound like a simple dish, however, as a steak lover, i am amazed how many places get such a simple dish wrong. Although i couldn't finish the meal, i was a very happy customer.
We liked this restaurant so much, that we moved from our table to the sofas, and enjoyed a couple of after dinner drinks.
This restaurant was a gem in an otherwise flailing town. I would certainly visit O'Connells again.
My ratings would be as follows:
Service- 10/10
Atmosphere- 9/10
Food- 8.5/10
Price- 9/10
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