"At the Swan in Walton on Trent, once synonymous with questionable service, the tides have seemingly turned in a most delightful fashion. Taking a seat, memories of past misdemeanours float in, but hopes of redemption are high. The steak was a glorious tribute to the bovine kind. Each bite was an elegant dance of texture and flavour, reminiscent of driving a classic car with just the right amount of horsepower satisfyingly smooth with no unnecessary frills. The pizza, meanwhile, wasn 't some pretentious overthought dish; it was honest, straightforward, and downright delicious. Like a well designed tool, it did its job perfectly. Now, the fish and chips, that most quintessential of British meals. Here, The Swan manages a performance akin to a perfectly tuned symphony, where the fish played the leading notes and the chips offered a harmonious backing. Crisp, flaky, and wholly satisfying. The cocktails? Exemplary. Each one a well engineered concoction that pleased the senses, like listening to a fine piece of classical music after a hard day’s work. The only hiccup, if you 'd permit me the pun, is their pronunciation of the drink brand Belvoir. It 's Beaver, chaps, not Bell voir. One does wonder how a place that 's mastered the culinary arts could fumble the English language. But in the grander scheme of things, it 's a minor gripe. In conclusion, a visit to The Swan is now an exercise in gastronomic satisfaction, a far cry from its once tumultuous past. Highly recommended. Cheers!"
