Review: Lunch at the Green Man Hodsoll Street

I always love trying out new places in and around Kent so when I spotted The Green Man just down the road from my paternal grandfather’s care home (he moved in a few weeks ago), I was drawn to this traditional looking country pub by it’s rustic charm, name and of course menu!

For those who don’t know The Green Man was one of the names given to a leaf clad Mummer (actor and entertainer) from around 1775-85. His role was of a chimney sweep character who walked encased in a framework of wood or wickerwork covered with leaves and adorned by a crown of flowers and ribbons. The Green Man would dance on May Day and other pageants at the head of a procession to clear the way.

The Green Man pub has a menu which changes almost daily driven by availability and their desire to provide variety. The menu usually boasts a host of delicious sounding dishes focusing on fresh fish and seafood but also including traditional meat and some vegetarian friendly dishes.

On my latest visit, on a Sunday, I went for the spinach & ricotta cheese cannelloni which was served with a side salad and garlic bread. I really liked the presentation of the cannelloni which arrived in a lovely rustic serving dish, hot from the oven. Garlic bread is one of my major weaknesses and I was delighted to find that the side dish was crunchy and flavourful, the perfect texture accompaniment for the soft and comforting pasta and sauce which were both well cooked and seasoned.

My only slight gripe was that the cannelloni was more like lasagne sheets served on top of tomato sauce than tubes of stuffed pasta, however, that being said it still tasted great. I award The Green Man 4 out of 5 stars and I will be back!