Meredith A.
Yelp
Trakol recently got a rave review in the Guardian, and it's clearly well deserved. My husband and I were lucky enough to go before the buzz reached its pick, but if you are going now you need to book well in advance (or go on a weekday at a weird time). However you get there, get there, because it's an amazing meal. It's located in the By The River Brewing Company complex, a great riverside addition to the area. The open kitchen shines through the dimly lit room, showing you the skilled chefs at work. As they put it, they are a "fiercely seasonal, nose-to-tail" restaurant, and it shows. The meat is local - I believe much of it supplied from our favourite butcher, Block and Bottle. All the snacks and small plates are great, but the "feasting" platters are the star. We went for the pork, which features pork belly, a huge chop, black pudding, and the crowning glory - half a roast pig's head! Plus delicious apples and potatoes. Have I mentioned yet that this place probably isn't for sanctimonious vegetarians? This place is for people who eat meat, respect where it comes from, and are willing to look their dinner in the eye. And shouldn't we? If we eat it, shouldn't we face up to the fact that pork comes from an animal, that was once alive, with a head? Plus, the pig's cheeks are so darn tasty, and the crackling on that pig was utterly glorious. We ate like kings. I'm thrilled for them that they're receiving such accolades, but annoyed it's so hard to get a table!