When looking for a place for a lunch with one of our friends, Dann came across the Rainbow and Dove Pub. At the moment, we are trying to go to every place to eat in all of Harlow this year, to see what the best places are. Neither Dann and I ever really pick pubs – it’s just something we aren’t that curious about, so it’s been fun to try new pubs and see what they are like. The Rainbow and Dove is an award winning independent pub with an ever-changing menu. They have a wine of the month, burger of the month, and tons of daily specials that are dependent on the produce that the pub has received, as well as pub classics that are always there.
Crispy Chili Chicken & Chili Brie with Bread
Dann and I both got some starters off of the daily specials menu, with Dann getting the Chili Brie with some soft bread. The brie was melted nicely and had a sweet and chili sauce on top, maybe a jam, maybe a honey, which went well. I got the crispy chili chicken, which was very crispy, nicely sauced, and very good! There was a fair bit of Chinese style food on the menu, which was interesting to see at a pub, so I didn’t want to try too many of the Chinese dishes in case they might not have been so great, but this really was.
Lamb Tajine & Roast Lamb
Dann got an African dish at the Rainbow and Dove Pub, which was interesting. It was a lamb tajine, which is sort of like a tomato-y stew, with some very tender lamb in it. It came with a couscous salad and some naan. Dann enjoyed it and the portion was generous, which was good to see. Dann said the flavors were really good and that everything tasted delicious. I go the roast lamb, which was very well seasoned and cooked, coming in a fantastic sauce. There was these cream-y, cheesy potatoes that I enjoyed very much and then some vegetables on the side. I do not like lamb that tastes very grass-like, but this one tasted very good.
Chicken Club Sandwich with Cheesy Chips
Our friend came out to lunch with us and ordered a regular-human sized lunch, instead of a dinner-sized lunch like Dann and I, but still ended up with a massive meal. The chicken club sandwich had an entire grilled chicken breast on it, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and cheese over the top. Our friend said the salad was over-dressed for him and that the sandwich was just massive! The chips and onion rings he got were good too.
Apple and Peach Crumble
I wanted to try one of their desserts, as they said Home Made and were on the daily special board, so I went with the apple and peach crumble. I was slightly surprised to find that this was all canned fruit; canned peaches and apples, which had a lot of super sweet syrup from the can in the bottom of the crumble. The crumble was good and the custard had a lot of vanilla flavor, but I just wasn’t a fan of the canned fruit.
The overall vibes of the Rainbow and Dove Pub was very local. When we arrived, right at opening, there were already some locals drinking outside at midday, and a few inside ordering some food. Everyone clearly knew everyone and were chatting. The building itself feels older, repurposed, and fun. The staff were kind and they do have a pub dog, called Stilton, so if you aren’t a fan of dogs walking around and possibly bumping into you, this is good to know! I liked Stilton and found him to be a fun addition to the atmosphere.
A lovely review of a pub I’ve been meaning to try for ages. Do they still have the limited opening hours? Also – tagine is a north African dish. Thanks!
Ahh I will correct the Tagine – I had no idea.
I followed the hours on Google – arriving at Noon on a Tuesday.
I hadn’t even heard of this pub and I’ve lived in Harlow all my life! Thanks for writing, I think I’ll visit – can’t see the brie on their website’s menu though 👀
The brie was on their Specials board, when you first enter, which – they said – changes with the produce they get in.
thank you, it looks great