Eating out at the Pot and Glass in Egglescliffe village
And you know a meal is exceptional when you find yourself trying – emphasis on the trying here – to cook it yourself the following night.
Before I make you think Iβm the next Gordon Ramsey (not Jamie Oliver, he is still not forgiven for his war on chicken nuggets when I was in school), I must admit I was using an Aldi kit.Β
I was tight on time, honest. Anyway, let’s just say I had a taste for Thai.Β
And the reason I gave that a go was because, earlier that day, as I sat looking into my overnight oats on a dull Monday lunchtime, my mind was elsewhere.Β
My mind was in the Pot and Glass.
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Yarm and in the heart of Egglescliffe village, this quaint pub is the epitome of a hidden gem.
And despite living on Teesside my entire life I had never been to visit the pub, which was taken over back in October 2023.
That said, I had been desperate to finally give it a try, especially due to its rave reviews online and strong word of mouth amongst friends and family in the area.Β
So I hopped in my car on a chilly Sunday eve and headed to the Pot and Glass with my food review friends Alex, Hannah, and Ben (yes, theyβre back for more).Β
Walking into the pub, you immediately get the feel that this is a warm and welcoming venue that is steeped in history. More than 300 years of history to be exact.
We were hit by the smell of a roaring fire as we walked over the orange and black chequered floor to the sound of regulars chatting in the front bar.Β
The venue felt traditional but modern at the same time, with exposed brickwork and wooden beams in the back dining area mixing with the cosy booth seamlessly.Β
It was exactly what was needed after a snowy and cold weekend.
While there was only one other table seated beside us in the room – which was nice as it felt almost like a private dining room – I could see several other reservations dotted around for later.
A polite staff member was quick to come over and take our drinks order while we took some time to browse the menu, which had enough variety without being overwhelming.Β
We decided to get a chefβs sharing platter to share as a starter (Β£19.50), which featured sticky chicken wings, chicken satay, duck spring rolls, vegetable spring rolls, and prawn crackers.Β
The platter – which featured two pieces of each of these items, as well as three dips – was quick to arrive. And we were quick to tuck in.Β
The succulent chicken wings and satay skewers were a hit, with all of us enjoying them alongside the dip trio of sweet chilli, peanut, and soy.Β
Both spring rolls were delicious, and the prawn crackers, of which there were plenty, were a nice touch and a welcome twist on the normal iteration.
The platter was great value for money and a great chance to try a good chunk of the starters, although I would recommend just sharing it between two if you’re hungry.
I also would have preferred to have the option to select which four starters are on the platter and to have even more of the lip-smacking sauces to dip into.
Then came the mains. I decided to go for my Thai go-to, chicken Thai red curry, with the addition of coconut rice for an extra pound (Β£17.50).Β
Itβs fair to say I was not disappointed.Β
The dish was delicious, warming, and had just the right level of kick. It was packed full of flavour, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much chicken was in the curry.Β
The coconut rice was to die for and the beans from the curry melted in the mouth. If the sauce was bottled and sold, I would be first in line to buy it.Β
In hindsight, I wish I ordered more prawn crackers to clean up what was left.
Ben decided to try the lamb Panang curry, which is a creamy coconut sauce with fine beans and kaffir lime leaves, served with plain rice (Β£16.50).
He said his curry was fantastic and was very pleased with the amount of meat included – the opposite of many places these days – and he more or less licked the bowl clean.Β
Of course thatβs a metaphor, although I wouldnβt put it past him.Β
Hannah opted for the sweet and sour prawn, served with pineapple, onion, tomato, and spring onions in a sweet and sour sauce with plain rice (Β£17).Β
She said the prawns were light and crispy, with the vegetables all fresh and the sauce tying it all together to make a plate full of flavour.Β
Alex chose the special spicy fried rice, which came with chicken, prawn, spicy sausage and rice and was topped off with a fried egg and spring onions (Β£17).
And it was a top rating from Alex too, who said the meal was good value for money with its generous portion size and boasted a tasty combination of flavours.
The food all came out quickly – albeit it was quiet – and the staff were happy to answer any questions we had about our meal choices.Β
Thereβs one thing we were all in agreement about the Pot and Glass – weβd love to go back.Β
When I do return I’d like to pop into the bar area and have a drink, which has a proper old traditional pub vibe compared to the quieter and relaxing dining area.
Overall, food was second to none across the board; fresh, aromatic, and authentic.Β
To be honest, Iβm not actually sure what I would order next time.Β
Because my curry was so good, Iβd be tempted to be a creature of habit. But, then again, everyone elseβs dishes equally looked bang on the money.
It’s a decision that’s left me repeatedly re-reading the menu online to see what I’d opt for. I suppose that is a vote of confidence on how good a meal was if there ever was one.
Pot and Glass
Church Road, Egglescliffe Village, Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, TS16 9DQ
https://www.potandwok.co.uk/
Open: Tuesday to Sunday. Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12pm – 3pm and 5pm – 11pm, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12pm – 11pm.
Ratings (out of ten): Food quality 8 Surroundings 8 Value for money 8 Service 8Β