A MasterChef judge has heaped praise on a local restaurant in Stroud. Grace Dent- who was announced as Greg Wallace’s replacement on the show last month – called local bistro Juliet “one of those places where diners can lose track of time”.
Writing for The Guardian, Dent began by saying no one in Stroud would thank her for her review: “Not one soul in Stroud, Gloucestershire, will not thank me for my visit to Juliet. Despite being a magnet for the Cotswolds arts scene, the town has long slid under the radar of most folk fleeing London in search of fresh air.
“Deal, Aldeburgh, Hastings? Absolutely. But Stroud? Not so much.”
The MasterChef star went on to gush about the Juliet’s menu: “It has a crisp, pale, stylish decor and an atmosphere – and wine list – that lures you in to enjoy the “service non-stop” as the French still often call it. After those 9.30am madeleines and coffees, you can shift to a Suze and tonic while perusing the plat du jour, which on the day we visited was freshly made bullets of cavatelli in a rich duck ragu; on other days there have been mackerel in bisque and polenta with braised lamb and olives.
“In a discreet side room, named “the Piano Room”, there’s an upright joanna and convivial tinkling while you eat one of the daily offerings of bavette with peppercorn sauce and a side of ratte potatoes.”
Dent was particularly besotted with a duck mousse she ordered: “We began with a round of alcohol-free clementine gimlets and some crisp, herby sage panisse, followed by a round of oeufs mayonnaise with large, salty Cantabrian anchovies – the glossy, thick and fresh mustardy mayo was a particular delight. As was the smooth, rich earthiness of that pink duck mousse, which showcased beautiful, precise cooking.”
Dent, who is also known for her appearance on the 2023 series of ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!’, finished her review with a stark warning. This is not the place for walk-ins: “Juliet is seriously worth a schlep to Stroud, but you had better book well in advance. Right now, it seems, the locals are settling in for winter.”
Juliet is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 11pm on 49 London Road, Stroud.
You can make a reservation on their website.